Food Plots in Rocky Soil

[captdeepfry]

Ok guys, need a little help. I’m trying to figure the best way to put in a food plot on my property but it has so many darn rocks. The area I’m using use to be a loading deck when the property was logged and then I had it pushed a little wider. The problem is that there’s just so much rock, a disc will just bounce off of it and I’ve tried using a tine harrow and it won’t even penetrate the ground. Any thoughts on getting it ready or what to plant? Thanks!

 

[Deep River]

Pick up the rocks?

 

[Justin]

Sunday’s are for pickin stones......

 

[captdeepfry]

I wish. I even bribed my wife and kids to help me but there’s way too many rocks. These are the big slate looking rocks that are buried and semi-buried. When you dig them out, they’re about 2-3 feet long. We’ve used the ones we got out for fire pits and retaining walls.

 

[2nd Calling]

I plant without equipment other than a bag seeder over the shoulder, works just fine. I'd do a spring and fall rotation, after a couple years you'll begin to get a decent amount of new soil that might cover some of the rocks.

I do something similar to what Grant Woods does with his release strategy, but create my own mix that's better suited to our climate.

Good luck and have fun.

 

[bwfarms]

Rock makes poor soil. Either remove them or haul in dirt.

 

[MJ74]

Just spray the crap out of it a couple times this summer then again about a week before planting.
Plant Rye,wheat or oats.

 

[Eric Revo]

Corn feeder or move the plot. Sometimes you are just fighting yourself trying to plant where stuff won't grow .

 

[jug]

Frost seed Durana clover.
If the soil is clay underneath and the clover can make soil contact then it will grow. Frost seed in February

 

[Soilman]

Between the rocks and the area being compacted by the heavy logging machinery, I expect you are fighting an uphill battle. I'd probably look for a less rocky area somewhere.

 

[captdeepfry]

I appreciate all the responses. I’m going to try Jugs suggestion and see if it works.

 

[jug]

I appreciate all the responses. I’m going to try Jugs suggestion and see if it works.

Be sure to lime and once it germinate, lime some more. I have got Durana clover growing thru 2inches of gravel into my farm at Rockingham County. The gravel was put over the number 4 stone the loggers had put down to drive into to harvest the timber so I Know Durana clover will grow