[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/how-to-frost-seed-clover\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/how-to-frost-seed-clover\/","headline":"How To Frost Seed Clover","name":"How To Frost Seed Clover","description":"It may not feel like it now, but planting season is less than a month away.\u00a0 No, I\u2019m not talking...","datePublished":"2015-03-05","dateModified":"2018-10-24","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/author\/hagosto\/#Person","name":"Hector Agosto","url":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/author\/hagosto\/","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d7bfedbdc5ef3ed8f8df91eb37e1ffbe?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d7bfedbdc5ef3ed8f8df91eb37e1ffbe?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Legendary Whitetails","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/logo-legendary-whitetails.png","url":"http:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/logo-legendary-whitetails.png","width":522,"height":226}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Clover1-e1430854722334.jpg","url":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Clover1-e1430854722334.jpg","height":405,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/how-to-frost-seed-clover\/","about":["Hunting"],"wordCount":961,"keywords":["Hunting","Hunting Strategy","Tips"],"articleBody":"It may not feel like it now, but planting season is less than a month away.\u00a0 No, I\u2019m not talking about your typical spring time annuals like soybeans and corn, but rather using the planting technique known as frost seeding, as a means to plant clover.\u00a0 Frost seeding relies on the freeze-thaw cycle and early spring showers to establish quality seed to soil contact.\u00a0 As we approach spring, the soil awakens and actually begins moving up (freeze) and down (thaw).\u00a0 That up and down movement causes tiny little cracks, which ultimately suck in the small and hardy clover seeds.For most situations all you need is a spin seeder and a pair of boots to effectively frost seed a food plot. \u00a0Spreading the seed on top of the melting snow is beneficial in that you can see exactly where you have already seeded and also, it takes advantage of the moisture from the melting snow. \u00a0However, if you seed snow covered slopes, beware that fast melting snow can rush the seed off site. \u00a0Photo Courtesy of BuckAdvisorsFrost seeding makes nature do your dirty work.\u00a0 It essentially works the seed into the soil, eliminating the need for disking and\/or dragging.\u00a0 It\u2019s an effective planting method, one that saves you time and money.\u00a0 But, before you head out to the field with your spin-seeder in hand, make sure you abide by the following criteria:When should I frost-seed my plots?The timing can certainly vary year-to-year depending upon how long \u2018Old Man Winter\u2019 hangs around, but as a general rule of thumb, the best time to frost seed is when there are approximately 4-5 expected remaining frosts.\u00a0 Clover seed is very hard so it can withstand the potential to rot much better than other larger less hardy seeds (warm season annuals).\u00a0 Thus, it\u2019s common to see food plotters spreading it over the top of a thin layer of melting snow.\u00a0 To find the average last frost date for your area Click Here.What kind of seed\/forage is best for frost seeding?There are only a select few forages that work well for frost seeding.\u00a0 The effectiveness depends upon the size and hardiness of the seed.\u00a0 These are the reasons why most people frost seed clover \u2013 it\u2019s small, it\u2019s very hardy, it\u2019s attractive and nutritious to deer, and it\u2019s often one of the first plants to green-up in the spring.Use a clover brand specifically designed for deer consumption.\u00a0 Clover varieties intended for cattle are designed to be fed dry which is why they are very stemmy.\u00a0 Deer don\u2019t digest stems well.\u00a0 Therefore, a blend that produces succulent, leafy material will better suit a deer\u2019s nutritional needs.\u00a0 Nowadays, there are plenty of reputable food plot seed companies to choose from.Where\u2019s the best place to plant clover?Clover thrives in areas that have moist soils throughout the growing season.\u00a0 Thus, partially shaded settings can be extremely productive.\u00a0 Settings in which the site is covered by shade during the afternoon won\u2019t lose as much moisture to evaporation, therefore, north-south oriented strips and shaded patches are ideal.Clover is one of the first plants to green up during spring and offers deer quality forage during a critical part of the year where most of the woods is a biological desert. \u00a0Clover should be an important part of your food plot program.Precautions and PreparationFrost seeding is not ideal for everyone or everywhere.\u00a0 If the following conditions apply to you, I would suggest you don\u2019t frost-seed this spring.The quality of a crop is only as good as the quality of the soil in which it is planted.\u00a0 A soil test will tell you how much lime and fertilizer is required for ideal growing conditions.Obviously, frost seeding is only possible in areas where the ground actually freezes, otherwise you are simply wasting seed.\u00a0 An early spring sewing is the best planting method for these areas.Don\u2019t frost seed an area that has a lot of competing vegetation!\u00a0 Usually areas that benefit the most from frost seeding require some work from the previous fall, whether it be an herbicide treatment, tillage, or if you are overseeding an existing clover plot.\u200bYou will almost certainly lose the battle and waste your time and money if you try to frost seed an area that has existing grass and weeds that have not been treated.\u00a0 If this is the case, prep the area like you would any other food plot later in the spring, before planting clover.If you have any other food plot questions, please ask them in the comment section below.\u00a0 Otherwise, keep checking in with the Legendary Whitetails Community page as we will be covering all things food plot and turkey hunting throughout the spring!"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/#breadcrumbitem","name":"Legendary Whitetail's Blog"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/how-to-frost-seed-clover\/#breadcrumbitem","name":"How To Frost Seed Clover"}}]}]