It looks just like medium red clover and a client has some in the ground yet that is 23 years old. Still, deer also like to eat a lot of other things as well, but it’s not only this fact that makes clover such an excellent crop, as it also provides a number of major benefits to the deer, soil and any grasses, grains or other crops you plant alongside it. Disadvantages of Clover. This association resulted in red clover being perceived by some hunters as more of a “cattle clover.” However, I consider red clover to be one of the top clovers for deer. The ladinos are highest producers, alsike covers low pH and wet ground better and the white dutch works well for wheel traffic areas, logging trails, and as a percentage of clover mixes. Where it really shines is the following spring when it is one of the first plants to jump onto the scene. This perennial is a grassland and meadow species. While this may be more effort, red clover will usually stay palatable to animals for an extra month in the year when compared to white clover. White clover just might be one of the best all-around legume food sources for deer. Still, there are several different species of clover, each with its own countless number of varieties. Nonetheless, white clover has earned its spot in the world of food plots. Deer are attracted to red clover, but the white clover does have more appeal. Red clover: Red clover (Trifolium Pratense) grows somewhat taller than white clover, and it produces attractive, purple flowers. Ladino is a highly palatable and very nutritious forage for all classes of livestock. In fact, many of the seed mixes designed specifically to attract deer include other plants. White clover, in comparison, grows relatively short, and spreads using stolons (horizontal above-ground stems). I am out of seed and a local farm store only has red clover in stock. The clover is an annual bloom and you must plant it each year to enjoy the best yield. 20% each of 5 different clovers: Ladino, Mammoth Red, Medium Red, White Dutch, and Alsike Clover. In fact, many farmers simply wait until the forecast is for rain before planting, as the rain should sufficiently bury the seeds. Red clover leys are cut for silage at the end of May. Some people prefer the shorter varieties, while others prefer a ladino clover food plot, but it really all depends on how much grazing is done on the plot as the shorter varieties can more easily be overgrazed. In many cases, you may need to add lime to the soil to raise the pH. Unlike red or white clovers, it has no warm season value to deer. It also provides them with a highly beneficial source of nutrition to keep the local population big and healthy. It is in fact a balansa clover, which is its own type of clover, a type that is very much new and unknown to most of the USA. They are typically planted with companion grasses and used as a cover crop during crop rotation, particularly organic crops. White clover food plots for deer are easy to plant, last several years between plantings, and are great sources of protein for bucks and does alike. Disadvantages of Clover. The nitrogen helps fertilizer not only the clover, but it also deposits some of it back into the soil where it can be taken up by other crops you plant in the plot. In the complete profile in Quality Whitetails magazine I Successful food plots start with the right vegetation. Grazer, Select and Don are the recommended Ball clover varieties. But it doesn’t have to be—at least, not if you plant white clover. In a comparison of tall fescue versus perennial ryegrass swards in New Zealand, the tall fescue-based pastures had significantly higher carrying capacities because of a better clover balance (Stevens et al ., 1992). Clover lawns do have some disadvantages: It stains clothing more easily than grass. Tagearplanet.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. It is a Perennial legume that withstands heavy grazing pressure, tolerates acid soils and competes aggressively with weeds and grasses as commonly seen in food plot situations. During the establishment phase, grazing should be frequent and light to open pasture swards and allow establishment of legume content. Red clover should not be confused with crimson clover. The term Dutch clover is often used to describe the shorter to medium height crops, while ladino is the term normally applied to the largest varieties. Crimson is the clover commonly seen blooming in March or April on the interstate medians in the South. I bring you the best buying guides to help you to choose which tactical gear is the best for you as well as offering you a professional and fast service. Spraying usually takes out the clover, at least for a season, concedes the University of Missouri weed scientist. If you want to only plant clover, you’re best to use several different varieties that mature at different times to ensure food throughout the year. When it comes to successful food plots, many hunters, biologists and experts all agree that clover is one of the best. As mentioned, Patriot white clover is a close relative of Durana with better first year production but possibly somewhat less persistence. He’s … This high-protein seed option requires less maintenance than most varieties, too. Benefits of Using Clover for Deer Food Plots, The Dirty Gardener Deer and Elk Wild Game Mix, Selecting the Best Skinning Knife For Hunting, Stay Comfortable with the Best Turkey Vest, What’s the Best M4 Scope? However, deer do like it as long as it is kept in a growing stage and not allowed to mature. Bradley knows cows prefer to graze clean grass versus a weedy mixed pasture. White clover is an excellent companion plant for red clover when growing it in a field for easy foraging. Truth be told, any of these clover mixes could potentially be the best clover for deer in your plot. The first question you obviously want to ask yourself about anything you are considering planting in a food plot is whether or not the deer will eat. Amigain red clover can be sown in early autumn or spring at 4-6 kg/ha (Superstrike®) in permanent pasture mixes with white clover, ryegrass, tall fescue or cocksfoot. I plant a mix of a lot of things, because, from a nutrition standpoint, I want the protein from clover to feed the deer as close to year round as I can. Crimson clover is another type of clover that people grow in the Southern States. 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