When should I plant clover for deer?
Plant clover in late summer (August in the North, September in the South) for fall establishment, or frost-seed in late winter (February-March) when freeze-thaw cycles work seed into the soil. Late summer plantings produce the strongest stands; frost-seeding is the cheap, no-till alternative.
Clover needs 60-90 days of growing weather before first hard freeze to establish a strong root system. Late summer plantings hit that window in most of the whitetail range. Pair with a cereal nurse crop (oats or winter rye) to suppress weeds and protect young clover seedlings.
Frost-seeding works because freeze-thaw cycles literally pull the seed into the soil, eliminating the need for tillage. Broadcast over snow or thawing ground in late winter at 5-10 lbs/acre. Pair with state-specific timing on the clover crop calendar pages.