Ask The Biologist

Made in the Shade

Made in the Shade

By Bob Humphrey

Food plots don’t have to be big, nor do you need a lot of equipment.

QUESTION: I have property to hunt in Chadds Ford, Pa. My question is, what type of food plot do you suggest for a shady area? — Darren

ANSWER: That’s really tough to answer without a lot more information. In order to give you accurate advice I’d need to know things like slope, aspect, soil moisture and intended size of the plot, just to name a few.

However, as you refer to shade, I’m going to assume you’re talking about a small plot in the woods. In that case I would suggest you go with one of the blends specifically designed for low-maintenance hide-away plots. Examples include Whitetail Institute’s No Plow, Secret Spot and Bow Stand and Evolved Harvest’s several Throw & Gro varieties.

Planting requires minimal effort. Begin by clearing the ground of duff and leaves with a rake of leaf blower. I prefer a rake as it scratches the soil. Then broadcast the fertilizer and seed, either by hand or with a hand-held spreader.

An area of 400 (20x20) square yards calls for one 50-pound bag of Triple-19 fertilizer and three to four pounds of seed. Obviously you’ll need more of both for a larger area. Finally, walk over the area a few times to tamp down the soil. This promotes better seed-to-soil contact and enhances germination. If you want bigger plots but don’t own any heavy equipment you can use an ATV and small implements.

Copyright 2024 by Buckmasters, Ltd.

Copyright 2020 by Buckmasters, Ltd