I've got an idea to take a rake and clean off a large spot on a mature hardwood ridge behind my parent's house, then broadcast some type of throw n grow seed. Problem is right now the canopy of the trees would totally block sunlight (most of it anyway) from hitting the ground. I did this last year later in the Fall, and the combination of low light and falling leaf clutter choked the growth. Do y'all know of anything that would grow in that shade? Yeah, it'd get spotty sun during the day, but overall it's going to be shady. What about clovers? In the Winter it'd get plenty of sun, but I can't wait till then to do it.

I have used rye grass and lots of feetilizer with decent results in situations like you descride.

Clover and cereal rye are the most shade tolerant.

throw in grow is about 50% rye grass, probably $20 for 10lbs. last year, i bought bag of rye grass, crimson clover 20 lbs and 10lbs p.t. turnips. throwed ,raked it. A few days before it rained. it come up pretty good, it was an area like what you described. dont be stingy with the rake neither. Rye grass might not be there most favorite, but i can grow it in places were other stuff won't grow. Good for staging area.

If ryegrass will grow, so will cereal rye.

Interesting info fellas...thanks!

I have too small plots in places just like you described. I actually break the ground with a walk behind tiller. First cut down all the small saplings, limbs, and trees you can to clear the canopy as much as possible. Then blow off all the leaves clear all sticks, weeds, roots.... Then till, or rake. You need to rake really hard IMO and break up the ground pretty good. This is easier after a fresh rain. I spread wheat, oat, rye mix, and some triple 13, then covered with the back side of a rake. I do this about the first week in October when ever a rain event will occur shortly after you plant. Then will continue to blow off leaves as necessary throughout the season. Usually takes 3 times. Each of my plots now are about 20x20 yds and def encourage deer to travel through the area. I've been planting them for about 3 years now, and kill deer using them every year. Also every year cut a few more trees around the edge a slowly make the opening larger and larger each year.

Here is what 2 of mine look like

Another
Late season

Early season

Can cereal rye be just top sewn?

That is not consistent with what I have seen.

Man, it's a JOB to rake a large spot like that!

I use a walk behind tiller. It's still a large undertaking. Can't be done without help. It IS worth it though. When all you have is woods around these little honey holes can be very productive. Camera evidence said they used these spots almost everyday at some point during the daylight. They could just as easily be there at lunch time as they would 5 min before dark.

Oh yeah, cereal rye, is the best cereal grain for top sewing. My favorite cereal grain. I use on trails, skidder trails, and firelanes. I don't rake, fertilize, or lime the lanes, and it does well.

Took my rake up there today and knocked it out. Raked out a place about 50' long and perhaps 20' wide, cut out several small saplings, covered it pretty heavy with 10-10-10 and that Throw-n-Grow stuff you can buy from Walmart, then lightly raked back over it a little bit. Time will tell...

on the back,what were ingredients and %

Humh, I looked but don't quite remember...rye, rape, and clover.

I'm 99% sure it was this: http://www.evolved.com/products/food-plots/throw-n-gro-5lbs.html#.VACHV6NvAcU

It was like $11 or $12 at Walmart.

That has ryegrass in it, not cereal rye.

ikillbux
I told you they were gonna sale you some high priced rye grass.Next time buy 50lb of rye and the other seed buy the pound at seed store and you will get more for your money. Then you can spread more seed.

I know what you're saying...in the past when we've planted multiple large plots, that's precisely what we do. But for this little venture, that little bag was all I needed, and all I wanted to tote by hand 1/2 mile uphill in the woods in August! LOL

I still don't think he understands the difference...

ikillbux,

Ryegrass, which is in your BOB mix, is NOT the same as rye/winter rye/cereal rye/rye grain.

Ryegrass is MUCH less palatable to deer, and in cases where food is plentiful, they may not touch it at all. It is understandable that you don't want to buy more seed than necessary, but what these guys are implying is that you probably just wasted your money anyway...

Ah ha....I see what you're saying. In this scenario it isn't a big deal to me then, really don't have any grand expectations for that little raked out spot. I'm not confident it will come up anyway, not worth a darn anyhow. But if I was making a sho nuff food plot somewhere, that would hack me off to know.