Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Quality Deer Management Took the Alfalfa plunge

Planted a field in some Bulldog 805 a few weeks ago. Put some fertilizer on it ahead of rain a week ago. It's germinated, so we shall see what happens.

I may try to plant some this fall, depending on how this one goes and what the rain situation looks like.

Lockjaw, i hope you have great success. Please post your experiences. Ive thought about trying this myself. I dont have the time to dedicate to it now but i will later

Thank you sir. I will start posting some pic's so everyone can see how it does.

I’m looking forward to seeing your success with this

So where was your ph when u planted. I want to try this next year which is how long it will take to get mine right.

I believe alfalfa needs ph right around 7.0 to survive and do well

Anyone know what chemical you can spray alfalfa with to kill native clover? Friend of mine has had issues with it choking out his alfalfa in the fall/early spring

Don't think that's going to be possible unless you have RR Alfalfa.

I hope to try alfalfa soon. Is it better to plant it in the spring or in the fall?

I didn't test it. I did testing about 4 years ago and limed (ag lime) based off that back then, but I added extra pellet lime to this plot the following year, about 1800 pounds worth. I may test it if I think its not doing well. It says this one likes a ph of 6.5. I can adjust it in a hurry with Procal if I have to. Plot is about half an acre, and I need 2 tons per acre according to soil tests.

I expect to have some set backs with it. For starters, I think I am about 4 weeks later planting it than would be ideal for a spring plant. I haven't had the best success with clover planting it in the spring, I get better production if I plant it in the fall, so I will add some seed this fall when I plant too. I am more concerned about getting adequate rainfall and getting the stuff up high enough to shield the soil before soil temps reach 85 degrees. I will probably do a heavy application of fertilizer this weekend to boost it.

Most of my really productive clover plots required a second seed application, and I really just add more seed each fall. That seems to be the best method for me to keep one really lush. I am going to see what happens going into fall. My hope is alot of it survives and then I can supplement it in the fall planting with another 10 pounds, and have a really good spring next year. I will probably not plant cereals on it in the fall either, just brassicas and annual clover.

I'll take some pictures this weekend if the weather is good and post them so you can see what its doing.

That's what I figured but didn't know if some sort of alfalfa specific herbicide existed.

I would suggest reading up on over seeding alfalfa with more alfalfa seed. I think I recall reading that none of the secondary seed will sprout due to the established plants producng soem type of toxin to prevent it.

HHS is correct overseeding will not work with Alfalfa

What I looked at says you "can" do it with a newer field, less than one year old. It said once past the one year mark its better to start over on a new field due to the toxicity.

So.... I may get lucky.

https://imgur.com/a/P9ePLIj

Not sure if this will work.

Na, didn't work

Following. I have two 1 acre plots that I was going to plant in alfalfa last fall but was told not to waste time planting plots less than 3-4 acres in size with high deer density. I'm working on getting a 3 and 4 acre plot ready for fall.

Let's try this. Took it friday, when I was out yesterday, it was thicker.

I have only had that issue with soybeans. If I plant something with them, like clay peas, sunn hemp or buckwheat, then I can get a much better result.

You don’t have many deer though. I have a little over an acre in 3 plots at the house and my deer decimate anything I plant in the summer now. But I saw as many as 17 deer in one plot this year.