Weed killer for food plots: what to spray and when

Last updated 2026-07-24

what is a food plot and why does weed control matter

A food plot is a planted area, usually a quarter acre to a few acres, seeded with forage that deer and other wildlife will eat. Landowners plant them on owned or leased ground to give deer supplemental nutrition and to create predictable spots to hunt near. Clover, brassicas, cereal grains, and soybeans are the common bases. Weeds are the reason most food plots underperform. A newly disked plot is full of dormant weed seed, and broadleaf weeds like ragweed and pigweed, plus grasses like foxtail and crabgrass, will outcompete slow-establishing legumes like clover for light, water, and nitrogen. Left unchecked, a clover plot can go from a lush green field to 60% weeds within one growing season. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service treats food plots as a wildlife habitat practice and notes that site prep, including weed suppression, directly affects how well planted forage establishes and persists ^[1]. Herbicide isn't optional if you want the plot to still look like a plot in July. It's part of the maintenance cycle, same as mowing and fertilizing.

what weed killer should I use in a clover food plot

For grass weeds in an established clover stand, use a grass-selective herbicide like clethodim (sold as Select Max, Arrest Max, or generic clethodim 2E). Clethodim kills grasses without hurting broadleaf legumes like clover, so you can spray over the top of your clover to clean out foxtail, crabgrass, and volunteer cereal grains. Typical rates run 6 to 16 oz per acre of Select Max depending on grass species and size, always with a crop oil concentrate per the label ^[2]. For broadleaf weeds (ragweed, thistle, dandelion, plantain) in clover, you need a herbicide labeled for use in legumes. 2,4-DB (Butyrac 200 is a common trade name) is the standard choice because straight 2,4-D will damage or kill clover, while 2,4-DB is metabolized more slowly and clover tolerates it reasonably well once established. Michigan State University Extension notes that 2,4-DB should only go on clover that is well established, generally past the first trifoliate stage, because seedling clover is more sensitive to injury ^[3]. Don't tank mix these two casually without checking the label. Some clethodim and 2,4-DB combinations are labeled together, some aren't. Read the can.

what kills weeds in a food plot before planting

Before you plant, a non-selective, systemic herbicide is the standard tool. Glyphosate (Roundup and generic equivalents) is by far the most common burndown herbicide for food plots. It kills existing vegetation, weeds, grass, and volunteer plants, down to the root, and breaks down in soil, so you can plant into it 3 to 7 days later depending on label instructions and weather. Rates for glyphosate burndown typically run 1 to 2 quarts per acre of a 41% glyphosate concentrate for most annual weeds, higher (up to 3 quarts) for tougher perennial weeds like Johnsongrass or bermudagrass. Always check the specific product label since concentrations vary widely between brands ^[4]. Glyphosate only works on actively growing plants. Spraying dormant weeds in early spring before green-up, or weeds under drought stress, wastes product and money. Wait until weeds are actively growing, usually 4 to 6 inches tall, for the best kill. If you're planting a Roundup Ready soybean or corn plot, you can spray glyphosate again after planting, over the top of the crop, because the seed is genetically resistant. That's the main reason Roundup Ready seed costs more: it buys you a much simpler weed program later in the season.

does 2,4-D work in a food plot

Straight 2,4-D is a broadleaf herbicide, but it will injure or kill clover, alfalfa, and most legume food plot crops, so it's the wrong choice for an established clover or bean plot. It works fine as a burndown tool before planting, mixed with glyphosate to help control tough broadleaf weeds and winter annuals prior to seeding a grass-based plot like a cereal grain. The distinction matters: 2,4-D (fast acting, harder on legumes) versus 2,4-DB (slower acting, safer over clover). Confusing the two is one of the most common mistakes new food plotters make, and it can wipe out an entire clover stand in a week. Purdue Extension's weed control guides for forage legumes specifically separate these products for this reason ^[5].

when to plant food plots for deer

Timing depends on your USDA plant hardiness zone and whether you're planting a spring/summer annual (soybeans, sorghum, cowpeas) or a fall perennial/annual (clover, brassicas, cereal grains). Spring plots generally go in after the last frost, when soil temps hit 55-60°F. Fall plots go in 60 to 90 days before your area's average first frost so brassicas and clover have time to establish before cold shuts down growth. In the Midwest and Upper South, that typically means spring plantings in late April through May, and fall plantings from late July through early September. In the Deep South, fall planting windows push later, into September and October, since first frost comes later. Check your local land-grant extension office's planting calendar; the University of Tennessee and Mississippi State Extension both publish zone-specific food plot calendars used widely by hunters ^[6][7]. Soil temperature and rainfall matter more than the calendar date. A perfect fall plot planted into dry August dirt will sit there and do nothing until rain comes.

when to plant oats for deer

Oats are a fall-planted cereal grain, typically going in the ground 45 to 60 days before your first expected frost, which lines up with late August through September across most of the whitetail range. Oats germinate fast, often within a week, and provide highly attractive early season forage while slower growing brassicas and clover are still establishing. Oats are not cold-hardy compared to winter wheat or rye. A hard freeze in the teens will usually kill oats outright, so they work best as an early-to-mid season attractant rather than a food source you're counting on into January. Many mixes blend oats with wheat or rye specifically because the rye survives the deep cold after oats die back.

when to plant turnips for deer

Turnips, like other brassicas, go in the ground in late summer, generally 80 to 90 days before your first hard frost. That's typically late July through August in the Midwest and Northern states, and into September in the Deep South. Turnips need that runway because deer often ignore the leaves early on and don't hit the bulbs hard until after a few frosts convert starches to sugars, making them sweeter. A common mistake is planting turnips too late, wanting to time the sweet spot with hunting season, and ending up with small, underdeveloped bulbs because the plant never got enough growing season. Purdue University's forage extension work on brassicas for wildlife notes that turnip bulbs need roughly 80 to 90 days of growth to reach a size deer will actually dig for ^[8].

what weed killer is safe for turnips and other brassicas

Brassica food plots (turnips, radish, rape, kale) are broadleaf plants, so most broadleaf herbicides used in clover, like 2,4-DB, will also kill your turnips. That means weed control in a brassica plot mostly comes down to pre-plant burndown with glyphosate, followed by good seedbed prep and a fast-germinating, competitive stand, rather than spraying over the top later. Some grass-selective herbicides like clethodim are labeled for use over brassicas to clean up grass weeds without hurting the brassica leaves, since clethodim only targets grasses. Check the specific product label for brassica or turnip crop listings before spraying, since not every clethodim product carries that use.

do deer eat clover and is it worth planting

Yes. Clover is one of the most consistently preferred food plot forages across whitetail range, and it's also one of the most forgiving to grow. It's a perennial, so a well-maintained clover plot can produce forage for 3 to 5 years before needing to be replanted, unlike annuals that need reseeding every year. Clover is high in crude protein, often 25-30% on a dry matter basis, which matters most in spring and summer when does are lactating and bucks are growing antlers. The catch is establishment: clover seed is small and needs a firm, shallow seedbed (a quarter inch deep, no more), and it's slow to get going, which is exactly why weed competition is the number one reason clover plots fail in year one. White clover (ladino types) and red clover are the two most planted species. Ladino tends to be more shade-tolerant and persistent; red clover grows more upright and tends to produce more tonnage but has a shorter stand life.

do deer eat sorghum

Yes, deer will eat sorghum, both the grain heads and the foliage, though it's generally considered a lower preference forage compared to soybeans, clover, or corn. Sorghum's real value in a food plot mix is usually structural, not nutritional: it's often planted as a screening crop or as a companion in a summer blend because it's drought tolerant and grows tall fast, giving cover and breaking up sightlines. Grain sorghum (milo) heads mature in fall and can hold deer interest into winter once other food sources thin out, similar to standing corn. If your main goal is nutrition, soybeans or cowpeas will outperform sorghum. If you want a taller screen plus some late season grain, sorghum earns its spot in the mix.

what are deer's favorite foods and do they like honey

Deer preference studies and long-running food plot trials consistently rank soybeans, clover, and standing corn among the most preferred planted forages, alongside acorns and other natural browse depending on season and region. Preference shifts throughout the year: spring and summer favor high-protein forbs and legumes, fall favors mast and high-energy grain, and winter favors whatever still has calories left in a stressed landscape. Deer do not naturally seek out honey; it's not part of their diet and there's no wildlife agency or extension guidance recommending it as an attractant. Where it shows up in hunting culture, it's usually mixed into homemade mineral or scent products, and even there the actual pull is debated and not well studied. Save the money and put it toward soybean or clover seed instead. Worth noting: many states restrict or ban baiting and supplemental feeding for deer hunting, and the rules differ on what counts as a food plot versus bait. Always check your state wildlife agency's regulations before using any attractant, mineral, or feed product, since a legal food plot in one state can be an illegal bait pile in another .

how do I build a weed control plan for my specific plot

The honest answer is that soil type, existing weed pressure, crop choice, and your region all change what herbicide program makes sense, and no single article can give you an exact spray schedule for your field. Your state land-grant extension office (Purdue, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Penn State, and similar programs all publish free food plot and weed control guides) is a legitimate free resource, and your soil test lab should always be the final word on lime and fertilizer recommendations specific to your dirt, not a generic article. If you want a starting framework built around your zone, acreage, and target species rather than piecing it together from forum posts, PlotSeason's $99 one-time Custom Food Plot Plan builds a species and timing plan you can take to your local farm store, and you fill in exact herbicide product and rate decisions locally with your extension agent or ag retailer, since those are dependent on your specific weeds and crop. For species selection, check out our guides on food plot whitetail strategy, deer food plot seed options, and deer food plots basics if you're still deciding what to plant before you worry about what to spray.

Frequently asked questions

Do deer eat sorghum?

Yes, deer eat both sorghum foliage and grain heads, though it's generally a lower preference forage than soybeans or clover. It's most often planted as a tall screening crop or drought-tolerant summer companion in a blend rather than as the main attraction.

Do deer like clover?

Yes, clover is one of the most consistently preferred food plot forages, high in crude protein (often 25-30% dry matter) and available spring through fall. It's a perennial, so a good stand can last 3-5 years, but it establishes slowly and needs early weed control to survive its first year.

When should I plant food plots for deer?

Spring/summer annuals like soybeans go in after last frost when soil hits 55-60°F. Fall plots (clover, brassicas, cereal grains) go in 60-90 days before your area's average first frost, typically late July through September depending on your zone. Check your local land-grant extension planting calendar for exact dates.

When do you plant oats for a deer food plot?

Oats are planted in late summer, typically 45-60 days before your first expected frost, which lines up with late August through September in most whitetail range. They germinate fast and attract deer early season but aren't cold-hardy, so a hard freeze in the teens usually kills them off.

When do you plant turnips for deer?

Turnips need 80-90 days before your first hard frost, typically late July through August in Northern and Midwest states, later into September in the Deep South. Planting too late results in small bulbs since the plant doesn't get enough growing season to size up.

What is a food plot?

A food plot is a planted patch, usually a quarter acre to several acres, seeded with forage like clover, brassicas, or beans to give deer and other wildlife supplemental nutrition. Hunters also use them as predictable locations to pattern deer movement and set up stands nearby.

What are deer's favorite foods?

Soybeans, clover, and standing corn consistently rank among the most preferred planted forages, along with acorns and natural browse depending on season. Preference shifts through the year: legumes and forbs in spring/summer, mast and grain in fall, and whatever has remaining calories in winter.

Do deer like honey?

No, honey isn't part of a deer's natural diet and no wildlife agency or extension source recommends it as an attractant. It sometimes shows up in homemade mineral or scent mixes, but the actual effectiveness is undocumented. Spend that money on food plot seed instead.

What herbicide kills weeds without killing clover?

Clethodim (Select Max, Arrest Max) kills grass weeds over the top of clover without harming the legume, since it only targets grasses. For broadleaf weeds in clover, use 2,4-DB (Butyrac 200), not straight 2,4-D, which will injure or kill clover.

Can I spray Roundup on my food plot after planting?

Only if you planted a glyphosate-resistant (Roundup Ready) seed variety like Roundup Ready soybeans or corn. Spraying glyphosate on non-resistant clover, brassicas, or cereal grains will kill your crop along with the weeds, since glyphosate is non-selective.

How long after spraying glyphosate can I plant a food plot?

Most labels allow planting 3 to 7 days after a glyphosate burndown application, depending on the product and weather. Glyphosate needs active plant growth to work and breaks down in soil afterward, so check your specific product label for exact replant intervals.

Is it legal to use weed killer near a food plot deer will eat from?

Yes, as long as you follow the herbicide label's pre-harvest and grazing restrictions, since food plot forage is treated similarly to grazed pasture in label language. Baiting and feeding rules are a separate issue and vary by state; check your state wildlife agency's regulations before adding any mineral or feed product near the plot.

Sources

1. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Wildlife Habitat Practices: Site prep including weed suppression affects how well planted wildlife forage establishes
2. Clethodim (Select Max) product label, Valent U.S.A.: Clethodim application rates and crop oil concentrate requirement for grass control in legumes
3. Michigan State University Extension, Weed Control in Established Alfalfa and Clover: 2,4-DB should only be applied to well-established clover past the seedling stage due to injury risk
4. Purdue University Extension, Weed Control Guide for Forage Legumes: 2,4-D versus 2,4-DB distinction and legume tolerance differences
5. Roundup PowerMAX herbicide label, Bayer Crop Science: Glyphosate burndown rates per acre for annual and perennial weed control
6. University of Tennessee Extension, Establishing Wildlife Food Plots: Zone-specific fall and spring food plot planting windows for Tennessee
7. Purdue University Extension, Brassicas for Deer Food Plots: Turnip bulbs need roughly 80-90 days of growth before reaching usable size for deer
8. Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, state baiting and feeding regulation summaries: States vary widely on whether supplemental feed or attractants near food plots are legal