Herbicide for clover food plots: what to spray and when

Last updated 2026-07-25

why do you even need herbicide in a clover food plot

Clover doesn't grow fast enough early on to outcompete weeds on its own. In the first 60 to 90 days after planting, grasses like foxtail and crabgrass, plus broadleaf weeds like ragweed and horseweed, can shade out young clover seedlings before they get established. Once weeds win that race, your stand thins out and deer traffic drops off because there's less actual clover to eat. Mississippi State University Extension's forage guidance on clover establishment notes that weed competition during the seedling stage is one of the most common reasons new clover stands thin out or fail in the first year ^[1]. Mowing helps some. But mowing alone won't kill grass that's already rooted in alongside your clover, and you can't selectively mow out ragweed without scalping the clover too. This is where herbicide earns its keep. The trick with clover, unlike a corn or brassica plot, is that almost everything that kills weeds also kills clover, since clover is a broadleaf plant itself. That narrows your options to a short list of chemistries that split the difference: grass killers that leave clover alone, and a couple of broadleaf-safe products that were literally developed for use in legume forage crops.

what herbicide actually kills weeds without killing clover

Two active ingredients do almost all the work in clover plots: clethodim and 2,4-DB. Clethodim (sold under names like Select Max, Volunteer, or generic clethodim 26.4% products) is a grass-specific herbicide. It has zero effect on clover or other broadleaf plants because it blocks an enzyme (ACCase) that only grasses use to build fatty acids. That means you can spray it directly over actively growing clover and kill foxtail, crabgrass, barnyardgrass, and volunteer cereal grain without touching the clover. The EPA registration record for clethodim describes it as a selective, systemic herbicide for control of annual and perennial grasses in broadleaf crops, applied with an oil adjuvant ^[2]. 2,4-DB is the other half of the toolkit. It's chemically related to 2,4-D, but it's metabolized differently by legumes versus most other broadleaf plants. Clover, alfalfa, and other legumes convert 2,4-DB slowly into the more active 2,4-D form, slow enough that it doesn't build up to a damaging level. Broadleaf weeds like ragweed, pigweed, and cocklebur convert it faster and take the full hit. Purdue University's Weed Science program guide on forage legume weed control lists 2,4-DB as a standard broadleaf option labeled for use in established clover and alfalfa stands ^[3]. Here's the catch: 2,4-DB is much less effective on young clover. Most labels and extension guides recommend waiting until clover has at least 2 to 3 trifoliate leaves, and some recommend waiting until the stand is well rooted, generally 4 to 8 weeks after emergence, before applying. Spray too early and you'll stunt or thin the clover along with the weeds. Do not use glyphosate (Roundup) or straight 2,4-D on a live clover stand. Glyphosate is non-selective and will kill clover outright. It only has a role before you plant, to burn down an existing weed field ahead of establishing a new plot. Straight 2,4-D amine or ester formulations are far more aggressive on legumes than 2,4-DB and will set clover back hard or kill seedlings.

when do you spray clethodim vs 2,4-DB

Timing depends on what's actually growing in your plot, and honestly, most established clover plots need both products at different points in the season, more than one. Spray clethodim when grassy weeds are small and actively growing, generally 2 to 6 inches tall. Grass that's already headed out or under drought stress won't take up herbicide well and results get spotty. Spring green-up (April into May in most of the Midwest and Southeast) and again in late summer after a rain are the two windows most plot managers use. Spray 2,4-DB once your clover has hit that 2-3 trifoliate leaf stage and broadleaf weeds are small, in the 2 to 4 inch range, actively growing, not flowering yet. Waiting too long lets weeds like ragweed get past the stage where herbicide works well and lets them set seed, which just restarts the problem next year. A reasonable one-season plan for a spring-planted clover plot looks like this: plant clover, let it establish for 3 to 4 weeks, spray clethodim if grass is coming in, wait for clover to hit 2-3 trifoliate leaves (often another 2 to 3 weeks), then spray 2,4-DB if broadleaf weeds are a problem. You don't need to spray both every year. If your plot is mostly grass pressure, skip the 2,4-DB. If it's mostly broadleaf, skip the clethodim.

what about mixing herbicides or tank-mixing with fertilizer

Clethodim and 2,4-DB can generally be tank-mixed together in a single pass, and several manufacturers' labels specifically address this combination for forage legume weed control. Always check the specific product labels you're using, since formulations and adjuvant requirements vary, and follow whichever label has the more restrictive language. Do not tank-mix herbicide with liquid fertilizer unless the herbicide label specifically allows it. Fertilizer can change the pH of your spray solution and reduce herbicide effectiveness, and some combinations increase the risk of leaf burn on young clover. If you're applying both, it's safer to fertilize and spray on separate days. Always add a crop oil concentrate (COC) or non-ionic surfactant per label instructions when using clethodim. Skipping the adjuvant is one of the most common reasons hunters spray and see no results. Clethodim needs that oil carrier to penetrate the waxy leaf surface of grasses.

when should you plant clover for a food plot

Clover establishes best when soil temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees Fahrenheit and there's reliable spring or late-summer moisture. In most of the Midwest and Upper South, that means late March through April for a spring planting, or mid-August through mid-September for a late-summer planting timed ahead of fall rains ^[4]. Southern states can push spring planting into early March. Northern tier states like Minnesota and Wisconsin often wait until mid-April. Fall planting has an advantage: less weed competition. Summer annual grasses like crabgrass and foxtail germinate on warm soil in spring, so a plot seeded in August or September skips most of that pressure and gives clover a head start into winter dormancy. Spring plantings almost always need at least one grass herbicide pass because you're planting right into peak weed germination season. Whichever season you pick, get a soil test done first. Clover needs soil pH in the 6.0 to 7.0 range to nodulate properly and fix nitrogen, and your soil test lab's specific lime and fertilizer recommendation is the final word on your plot, not a general guideline. If you want a starting point tailored to your acreage and region before you get lab results back, the Custom Food Plot Plan builds a species and timing plan for $99, but your soil test results should always override any general recommendation once you have them.

do deer actually like clover, and how does it compare to other plot options

White clover (perennial)	Spring or late summer	High	Regrows after grazing, needs 2-3 year stand life
Oats	Late summer/fall	High in fall	Fast growth, killed by hard frost
Brassicas (turnips)	Late summer	Moderate to high, increases after frost	Sugars increase post-frost, deer often ignore until then
Soybeans	Late spring	High	Vulnerable to overgrazing when young
Sorghum/milo	Late spring	Low to moderate	More a grain/cover crop than a preferred browse	Sorghum is worth calling out specifically since it comes up often: deer will eat sorghum grain and will browse young sorghum shoots some, but it's not a preferred forage the way clover or soybeans are. It's more commonly planted as a grain source for wildlife and game birds generally, or used as a nurse crop or screening cover, not as the centerpiece of a food plot meant to draw deer. As for whether deer have a genuine single favorite food, there's no clean answer backed by a controlled study ranking every option, but agricultural crops like soybeans and corn, plus clover and alfalfa, consistently top preference studies and browse surveys across different regions [5]. Regional food availability changes what's actually preferred on the ground. A deer herd with heavy ag nearby behaves differently than one in solid timber.

Yes. Clover is consistently one of the most preferred forages in whitetail diet studies, and it's a mainstay for a reason: it's high in protein (often 20 to 30% crude protein in good stands), it regrows fast after grazing, and it stays palatable through most of the growing season. The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information System summary on white-tailed deer notes that legumes and agricultural forages, including clover, rank consistently high in browse studies across regions ^[5]. How clover stacks up against other common plot options: | Species | Planting window | Deer preference | Notes |

when should you plant oats, turnips, and other fall plot companions

Oats are typically planted in late summer to early fall, generally August into early September in the Midwest and Upper South, giving them 6 to 8 weeks of growth before the first hard frost. Oats grow fast, tolerate cooler soil better than most warm-season annuals, and get hit hard by deer in fall since they stay green and palatable right up until a hard freeze kills them off. Oats are also a common companion planted alongside clover in a fall seeding, since the oats provide quick fall tonnage while the clover underneath is still getting established. Turnips and other brassicas follow a similar late-summer window, usually planted 90 to 100 days before your area's first expected hard frost so they have time to bulb up. A frost is actually what triggers deer to start hammering turnips hard, since cold converts starches in the plant to sugars, making them sweeter. If you plant turnips too early in warm weather they'll bolt and go to seed before that sweetening process happens. General food plot planting timing really splits into two windows across most of whitetail country: spring/early summer for warm-season annuals and perennials like soybeans, clover, and sorghum, and late summer for cool-season annuals like oats, brassicas, and cereal grains, plus perennial clover. Your local land-grant extension office publishes specific date ranges by county, and that's a better source than any general national calendar, since a frost date in northern Michigan and one in central Alabama can differ by two months or more.

what exactly counts as a food plot, and does it need herbicide at all

A food plot is a planted area, typically anywhere from a quarter acre to several acres, established specifically to provide forage for deer or other wildlife, distinct from agricultural fields grown for commercial harvest. Plots range from small kill plots tucked into timber, meant more for hunting access than tonnage, to larger destination plots meant to hold deer on a property through fall and winter. Not every food plot needs herbicide. A brassica or cereal grain plot planted into a clean, recently tilled seedbed with good fertility often outcompetes weeds well enough on its own, especially in a single-season annual planting where you're starting fresh each year. Herbicide becomes more important specifically for perennial clover plots, since you're trying to keep that stand productive for 2 to 4 years, and weeds that get ahead of it in year one compound into a bigger problem by year two if left unchecked. If you're weighing clover against annuals for your setup, it's worth reading up on food plot whitetail strategy and comparing deer food plot seed options before committing acreage, since clover's herbicide and mowing maintenance is an ongoing cost that annual plots don't carry.

one honest note on baiting and feeding rules

Food plots are legal planting and generally treated differently from bait piles or supplemental feed under most state game laws, but that line isn't universal and states define baiting differently. Some states restrict feeding but explicitly exempt normal agricultural planting and food plots. Others have specific distance or visibility rules near stands. Before you plant or hunt over any plot, check your state wildlife agency's current regulations directly, since rules change and vary widely by state, and a plot legal in one state can cross into a feeding violation in another under a different state's definition.

do deer like honey, and where does that question even come from

There's no meaningful research or established wildlife management practice around deer and honey specifically. It's not a forage plant or plot species, and it doesn't show up in deer diet studies. It's likely a search that lands here from confusion with other terms, or curiosity about sweetness and deer attraction generally (which connects more legitimately to how frost-sweetened brassicas and turnips work, discussed above). If you're trying to figure out what actually pulls deer to a plot, sugar content in browse after a frost is the real, documented mechanism, not anything to do with honey itself.

Frequently asked questions

Can you use Roundup (glyphosate) on a clover food plot?

No, not once clover is established and growing. Glyphosate is non-selective and kills clover along with everything else. It's only useful before planting, to burn down existing vegetation and prepare a clean seedbed ahead of seeding clover.

How long after spraying 2,4-DB can deer eat the clover?

Product labels don't generally specify a grazing restriction for wildlife the way they do for livestock, but many 2,4-DB labels list a grazing restriction of roughly 30 days for livestock. There's no wildlife-specific research on this, so following the livestock interval is the more cautious approach if you're concerned.

Do deer eat sorghum?

Yes, deer will eat sorghum grain and browse young shoots, but it's not a top preference forage compared to clover or soybeans. It's more often planted as a grain source, nurse crop, or screening cover rather than the main draw of a food plot.

Do deer actually like clover more than other plot species?

Clover consistently ranks among the most preferred whitetail forages in university browse studies, largely due to high crude protein (often 20-30%) and its ability to regrow quickly after grazing. Preference does shift regionally based on what other food is available nearby.

When is the best time to plant food plots for deer overall?

Most regions split into two windows: late spring to early summer for warm-season annuals and perennials like soybeans and clover, and mid to late summer for cool-season annuals like oats, brassicas, and cereal grains. Exact dates depend heavily on your local frost dates, so check your county extension office.

When should you plant oats for deer?

Late summer into early fall, generally August to early September across most of the Midwest and Upper South, giving oats 6 to 8 weeks to grow before the first hard frost. Oats grow fast and stay palatable right up until a hard freeze kills the plant.

When should you plant turnips for deer?

Roughly 90 to 100 days before your area's first expected hard frost, which usually lands in July or August depending on region. Planting too early in warm weather causes turnips to bolt before the frost-triggered sweetening that makes them attractive to deer.

What is a food plot, technically?

A food plot is a planted area, from a quarter acre up to several acres, established specifically to provide forage for deer or wildlife rather than for commercial crop harvest. It ranges from small hunting-access kill plots to larger destination plots meant to hold deer through fall and winter.

What are deer's favorite foods overall?

No single controlled study ranks every food deer eat, but agricultural crops like soybeans and corn, along with clover and alfalfa, consistently rank highest in regional preference and browse surveys. Local food availability changes what's actually preferred in a given area.

Do deer like honey?

There's no research or established food plot practice involving deer and honey; it isn't a forage species and doesn't appear in deer diet studies. The sweetness effect people associate with deer attraction is more accurately tied to frost-sweetened brassicas like turnips.

Will clethodim kill my clover if I spray too much?

Clethodim targets an enzyme only grasses use, so it doesn't harm clover even at label rates, but always follow the specific product label rate for your target weed since over-application wastes money and can still cause minor stress in some conditions.

How soon after planting clover can you spray herbicide?

Clethodim can generally be used once clover has emerged and grass weeds are actively growing, often 2-4 weeks after planting. 2,4-DB needs to wait longer, until clover reaches the 2-3 trifoliate leaf stage, usually 4-8 weeks after emergence, to avoid stunting the stand.

Sources

1. Mississippi State University Extension, Publication 2621, Establishing and Managing Clover: Weed competition during establishment is a leading cause of clover stand failure
2. U.S. EPA, Clethodim Pesticide Fact Sheet (R.E.D. Facts, EPA-738-F-92-018): Clethodim mode of action targets grasses via ACCase inhibition and is applied with an oil adjuvant
3. Purdue University Extension, Weed Control Guide for Forage Legumes: 2,4-DB is labeled for broadleaf weed control in established clover and legume stands
4. University of Missouri Extension, G4646, Clover: Clover planting windows for spring and late summer establishment
5. USDA Forest Service, Fire Effects Information System, Odocoileus virginianus: Clover ranks among top perennial forage choices for deer nutrition and grazing tolerance