clethodim, I think. It kills the grass but not clover. Not cheap, but a little goes a long ways. This and cutting a couple times is what I do.

 

Yep, clethodim (Select type products) is one to take out grasses, or the fop chemistries (Fusilade). That's what they use in agricultural bean fields to kill volunteer corn, specifically Roundup corn. Should be able to find generics around at the farm store to get that taken care of. They are a growing point disintegrater.

As for the other weeds, you're going to have to watch what chemistry you use there. There are selective herbicides that will target other broadleaf weeds, but not hit the clover. See below for some ideas.
http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/wil.../wildlife-management-food-plots/315859-getting-weeds-grass-out-clover-plot.html
Any product will have a label that says what weeds they are effective on, just check it out to make sure you're good. This chemistries tend to be a little pricey.

I will say though I don't suggest using Roundup or 2,4D like I was seeing on some of the links I found when I googled for a reference for you. Different chemistries, but the Roundup will take out, theoretically, whatever it touches, the 2,4 D won't kill grasses, but will target the broadleaves and make them grow themselves to death (messes with plant hormones). Either way, it might not fair well on your clover.

 

I started a 1 1/2 -2 acre clover plot early this spring.the struggle with weeds is real!I have mowed twice this yr just clipping the weeds and not touching the clover.The clover is starting to look pretty good.I'm hoping with cooler weather that it will start to pop.I also intend to frost seed this coming spring to fill in bare spots and thicken the entire stand.

 

Mowing is usually enough for clover. Mow it a few times each summer once it has flowered and it should choke out most of the grass and weeds. You'll still have some but you should be able to get a really good stand with herbicides. If you want a "tv" plot with absolutely no weeds or grass then you'll need to spray.

 

Best thing you can do to control weeds in clover is to mow it.

Second, you can use grass selective herbicide.

Third, mow it.
Fourth, mow it.

 

Should have put some antler dirt down!

If weeds really do become a problem you can make a rope wick applicator and use glyphosate.

 

Are there certain times of the year that are better to mow clover?... How low do you cut it?

I planted some last fall with oats and turnips and had a fantastic stand of clover all spring. Weeds start to get pretty bad this summer and I bush hogged about the end of July. I hope it comes back in this fall, but wondered if I'd hurt it mowing it too low or cutting it during the heat of the summer?

 

Mow it high and def fertilize it. Maybe mow it spring and late summer? dont worry about it, itll come back. especially white clovers.

 

2-4-DB for weeds. You can not use 2-4-D.

Cleth for grass.

Both chemicals need a surfactant. It makes the chemical stick to the plant. Both the grass and the weeds will be controlled better when they are small and actively growing. Don't spray when it's dry or immediately after mowing. It's easier to control a small problem than a big one. Don't put off mowing and spraying if you really want to control weeds. But remember, a lot of what we call weeds the deer calls food.

 

Clethodim is the best product for grass weeds. Mowing does control broadleaf weeds fairly well, but grasses tolerate mowing fairly well, so a little chemical assistance may be needed if you have a lot of grasses out there. I like to high-mow 3 times a year. The heat shouldn't be a big deal, as long as there's a good amount of soil moisture to help the clover bounce back. The other key is making sure you don't pile up a huge amount of debris on top of your clover. That can stunt it pretty badly, so you'll want to rake the trash off to the side of the plot, if there's a large amount of it.

Last bit of advice: DO A SOIL TEST BEFORE APPLYING FERTILIZER!!! There's no sense in adding fertilizer, if you don't know what the soil needs! Have the soil tested for P, K, and pH. Clover does best in neutral soil, so lime will usually end up being the cheapest fertilizer you can use. Also, try to find a fertilizer that doesn't have any N in it. Legumes fix their own N, so adding more will just feed the weeds.

 

I used Hi-Yield Grass Killer (Sethoxydim) for killing the grass and later on, used 24DB (butyrac) for the broadleaf weeds. That and mowing has done wonders for my clover plots. I plan to come back in the winter and frost seed to fill in where some of the grasses and weeds were. The first year I planted, I planted oats as a nurse crop to keep the deer from eating my clover too low and also so I could have something to hunt over since the clover wasn't ready to hunt the first year.

 

24d will kill most weeds and if there is some grass in the clover the deer will eat it also.

 

Mowing, unless there are thistles in the mix, then we spot spray.

 

I spray the Grass killer and mow twice a year if its a wet year 3 times .I will mow the final time over Labor day weekend .Here is how it looked in early July .I expect it to be over the knee in height with some volunteer grasses in two weeks when I mow it .You can see just a small amount of grass barely showing then .The seeds lay dormant in the ground then when turned grow as they get wet and close to the surface .It just can not be avoided and part of the thing .I have 5food plots all were replanted this spring .

 

Raptor is the best you can get for spraying clover

 

Same here...

 

24D will kill your clover. Make sure to get the 24DB.

 

I have sprayed many a lawn with 24d and it has never killed the clover.

 

Clethodim does a nice job with grass, mowing does a good job with most other weeds. Spray in mid-May, mow around Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day if you want clover all year and aren't planting something else in the fall.

Personally I'm fine with weedy clover plots. I don't spray them anymore and only mow twice. The deer use the plots just as much as when they're pristine, they'll eat wildflowers, ragweed, etc. right along with the clover.

 

I use Arrest herbicide

 

It's almost impossible but try to get your plot as weed free as possible before even planting clover. Spend a couple years planting something else first. Plant clover in the fall after you spent the summer removing weeds, I use a disc. In the spring after the clover gets about 3" tall and the weeds are growing, spray it with clethodim to control grasses and butyrac 200 to control broadleaf weeds. Spray again a couple weeks later if more weeds are growing. If the weeds get too big it's hard to kill them. Fertilize with 6-24-24 at 200 lbs/acre in the spring and again around August 1st if needed. Mow it in June at 8 to 9". Then mow it again in August up high to only clip the tops of the weeds but leave the clover as tall as possible. The deer will have more to eat if you leave it tall in August. If you follow these steps every year a clover plot will last you 5 or 6 years and not cost you very much. I'm sure other people have other ideas but this is what I do for the most part.

 

I have several clover patches and I mow them tall a couple times a year ahead of a rain and spray with a mix of clethodim and butyrac 200 when they get weedy. I have one patch that is full of some kind of water weed lookin stuff and I gotta get my butt out there to spray it.

 

Youre right. Butyrac was double the price of 24D.

 

I get my butyrac online at keystone solutions.

 

If you mist 24d you can always go back and spot spray anything that is left in 2 weeks.

 

Round-up mixed at half the normal rate also works. They use 1.5 oz. per gallon of water. Spray your clover in May when it's growing good after a good rain. It might stunt the clover a little but it will bounce back and your weeds will be dead. This is an old Ed Spinazzola trick. He writes foodplot books if you haven't heard of him.

 

Mowing works best for food/cover.
The chemicals in the right amounts will make a prettier plot.