Frost seeding new paths

[djd]

Recently we had some ponds put in deep in the woods of our property. The large machines made paths ranging from 20 yards to 50 yards and 5 yards in width. My question is can we frost seed these with a rr seed and just spray the weeds as they mature. Soil samples have been taken 6-6.2 not bad, low in npk and trace medals but we can fix that. What would be the best to seed if this is possible?

[Terrific_tom]

I do not know of any RR seed that can be frost seeded. I think your best bet would be to spray a couple of times and do a late summer/early fall planting. How shaded are the trails? If your sun light is minimum, a clover planting would probably be your best bet. I am sure North Jeff or someone else will have some ideas for you.

[koz bow]

Do these paths get good sunlight? 2-4 hours of direct sunlight per day? Do you have heavy wet soil, or well drained soil?

RR being mostly soybeans and corn - without solid sunlight, that would be a challenge. Good soybean seeds will grow just about anywhere, but without sunlight they will struggle. Not a frost seed candidate.

Clover is an option, but PH is at the low end of the scale and you will need some good sunlight to grow it. It can be sprayed with glyphosate and other chemicals once it comes up, but will need to mature first.

I have had good luck growing chicory in poor soil with little sunlight, and in many areas the deer love it . They won't touch it on my place, but they won't touch brassicas either, but I have some spoiled and fat deer. It does require a lot of nitrogen.

Another option might be buckwheat. I have never planted it, but I do know people who have. You PH is great for it, it is a great rotational crop, and not only does it act as a herbicide for those weeds, but also is a great crop to till under and build the soil with. It is one of the most tolerable crops for poor soil conditions.

As I am not an expert, based on not knowing your conditions exactly, you might want to try planting buckwheat, continuing to lime and build your nutrients in your soil and then some time at the beginning of Sept, spray the entire path system with glyphosate, and then a week later till it all up and plant winterwheat or rye. Or you could mix in your clover seed then for a spring crop and a nurse crop of wheat or rye.

The question would be - Can you frost seed buckwheat? I do not know the answer to that.

[Terrific_tom]

The question would be - Can you frost seed buckwheat? I do not know the answer to that.

Frost will kill Buckwheat. You will have to wait until there is no chance of frost before planting.

[Ed Spin04]

djd, you may want to compliment those water holes or ponds. If you put them in for the benfit of the deer, you may want to think about carrying that theme further. Deer do need and will go to water, however an open water source puts them in a temporary disadvantage as they drink and they know it. Correctly made water holes can be dynamite hunting. You can hunt over a water hole or not. To enhance your chances or just have deer use it more during daylight, think, cover surronding that water source. You can also create cover in the lanes as mentined leading to these ponds. The lanes can be tall stiff grass such as switch grass or a blend of warm season grasses. You can add brush and conifers to the grass planting for additional cover. The above is not forage but it can be a combination cover and forage if legumes such as competetive birdsfoot trefoil and kura clover is added to the warm season blend. Travel lanes of this blend should be 15 feet wide minimum with 30 feet recommended. If it is 60 feet wide or more it also becomes a bedding area. That five yard width lanes you mention in thick woods is too narrow for good results, (possible excessive shade) think more like 15 yards, which may mean tree chopping. Now, I suggest that you look at the big picture. Part of the big picture is connecting the dots. Water holes should be connected with thick travel lanes to deer bedding areas and to food sources with you waiting in ambush in the travel lane or water source or forage area, remember that lane is a natural bottle neck and will be used providing it creates a feeling of security for deer, (tip, the taller the cover in the travel lane, the better) your ambush location is not easily seen, it is chosen correctly based on the wind direction and accessed with separate lanes that are quiet. Good luck djd.