Spring Vs Fall Food Plots: Best Times to Use the GroundHog MAX

When it comes to planting food plots for deer, turkey, and other wildlife, timing is everything. Choosing between spring planting and fall planting can determine not only the success of your crops but also how productive they will be throughout the year. And when it comes to breaking ground for those plots, the GroundHog MAX ATV/UTV disc plow is the ultimate tool to get the job done efficiently—whether you’re planting alfalfa in the spring or turnips in the fall.

Let’s dive into the pros and cons of spring vs fall food plots, and highlight the best times to put the GroundHog MAX to work on your land.

Why Food Plots Matter

Food plots are more than just an extra food source for wildlife—they can improve animal health, boost antler growth, and help you keep wildlife on your property. A well-prepared and maintained food plot also provides prime hunting opportunities when the season rolls around.

The key to success lies in both timing and ground preparation. That’s where the GroundHog MAX comes in handy, allowing you to disc without the need of large equipment in both normal and tight areas where full-size tractors just can’t go.

Spring Food Plots: Pros, Cons, and Best Uses

Benefits of Planting in Spring

• Early Nutrition: Spring plots like clover, chicory, alfalfa, and soybeans provide critical nutrition when deer are recovering from winter stress and bucks are beginning antler growth.

• Long-Lasting Growth: Many spring-planted perennials can last for years with proper maintenance, giving you a return on your hard work.

• Great for Herd Health: Pregnant does and fawns benefit from the protein-rich forage that spring plots offer.

Challenges of Spring Planting

• Weed Competition: Spring weeds sprout fast and can choke out young food plot plants if you’re not prepared.

• Rain Dependence: Too much or too little rainfall in the spring can make or break your crop.
  
  

Using the GroundHog MAX in Spring

Spring planting often means breaking through wet, compacted soil after winter. The GroundHog MAX shines here—it cuts deep with ATV/UTV power and easily maneuvers into hidden clearings or small backwoods spots perfect for secluded plots.

Best Spring Plot Crops for the GroundHog MAX:

• Clover blends

• Chicory

• Alfalfa

• Soybeans

Fall Food Plots: Pros, Cons, and Best Uses

• Attraction During Hunting Season: Fall plots are designed to pull deer in when you need them most—during bow and rifle seasons.

• Cool-Season Crops Thrive: Brassicas, turnips, winter wheat, and oats love cooler fall weather.

• Less Weed Pressure: Many weeds die back in fall, giving your food plots a cleaner start.
  
  

Challenges of Fall Planting

• Timing is Critical: Plant too early and your crops may mature before hunting season; plant too late and they may not establish strong roots before frost.
  

• Shorter Growth Window: Fall plots don’t last as long as spring perennials, so they’re more about attraction than year-round nutrition.
  
  

Using the GroundHog MAX in Fall

Fall planting often means working in harder, drier soils left over from summer. The GroundHog MAX can dig in where other ATV/UTV plows struggle, letting you prepare plots in secluded areas close to bedding cover—ideal for intercepting deer in daylight.

Best Fall Plot Crops for the GroundHog MAX:

• Brassica mixes (turnips, radishes, rape)

• Winter wheat

• Oats

• Rye
  
  

So, Which is Better: Spring or Fall?

The truth is—both spring and fall food plots play important roles in managing the wildlife on your property. If your goal is herd health and antler growth, spring plots are invaluable. If your goal is attracting specific animals such as deer during hunting season, fall plots are the way to go.

The best strategy is often to plant both: establish perennial spring plots for nutrition and add annual fall plots for attraction. With the GroundHog MAX, you have the versatility to prepare ground in both seasons without the need for heavy tractors or big equipment.

Timing + Tools = Success

Whether you’re planting a protein-rich clover patch in spring or a brassica buffet in fall, the key to success is proper soil prep. The GroundHog MAX ATV/UTV disc plow makes it possible to carve out food plots without the use of a tractor in both easy-to-reach fields and in remote areas.

So, don’t choose between spring or fall—use both seasons to your advantage. With the GroundHog MAX, you’ll be ready whenever it’s time to put seed in the ground. Order yours today!