Spring
Spring Planting
The work you put in during Spring and Summer determines the quality of deer on your property come Fall. Spring food plots deliver high-protein forages when deer need them most: bucks are building antler mass, does are nursing fawns, and the entire herd is recovering from a hard Winter. Planting the right blend in the right window gives your deer a dependable, high-quality food source through the off-season and builds the habitat foundation that keeps deer on your land year-round.
Anilogics Spring blends are engineered for every scenario: drought-prone properties, high-browse-pressure woodlots, large destination nutrition fields, and everything in between. Each seed variety in the lineup is curated by Lee and Tiffany Lakosky based on palatability, performance, and real-world results.
- Rack & Roost™: a new white and red grain sorghum blend built for hot, dry climates and properties where heavy deer pressure makes conventional plots difficult to establish. One 5-lb. bag covers half an acre and provides both protein-rich forage and dense wildlife cover for turkeys, fawns, pheasants, and quail.
- CRUSH® Pro Clover: 6 hand-selected clover varieties that can be frost-seeded or planted after the last frost, delivering a high-protein perennial stand that lasts 3–5 years, withstands heavy browse pressure, and stays green well past the first Fall frost.
- CRUSH® Holy Clover: a premium sainfoin, alfalfa, and clover blend with deep taproots engineered for drought-prone regions. One planting can last up to 10 years with proper weed management, making it the top choice for large destination plots in the western or southern US where rainfall is unpredictable.
- Summer CRUSH®: an 8-variety warm-season blend of legumes, buckwheat, sunflowers, and tillage radish that feeds deer through Summer, fixes nitrogen into the soil, and acts as a cover crop you can broadcast Fall brassicas directly into.
- CRUSH® Clover Plus Chicory and CRUSH® Clover Plus Alfalfa offer enhanced perennial blends for hunters who want to add deep-rooted palatability and drought resilience to a standard clover plot, with chicory extending palatability into hot, dry Summer months and alfalfa boosting protein content and stand longevity.
- Rapid Rack is a fast-growing clover blend designed with annual and perennial clovers plus winter wheat to withstand heavy grazing while developing into a high-protein food source. Its quick regrowth, protective nurse crop, and strong attraction make it ideal for hunters and land managers dealing with intense browse pressure, while also benefiting wildlife like whitetail and turkeys.
What fits your property?
Not every Spring planting goal is the same. Knowing what you’re trying to accomplish (establish a new long-term stand, feed deer through Summer, or create cover in a high-pressure environment) determines which blend belongs in your drill or spreader.
- Long-term perennial clover plots like CRUSH® Pro Clover and CRUSH® Holy Clover are the right call for hunters building a multi-year destination plot. Properly managed clover stands deliver consistent, high-protein forage for 3–10 years from a single planting, making them the highest return-on-investment option in the lineup. They’re also frost-seedable: CRUSH® Pro Clover can be broadcast onto frozen ground in late Winter with no tillage equipment needed.
- Warm-season Summer blends like Summer CRUSH® are the choice for hunters focused on feeding bucks during peak antler-growing months (May through August). Nitrogen-fixing legumes and soybeans in the blend build soil fertility at the same time they feed deer, and the dense canopy withstands the heavy browse pressure that kills single-species soybean stands. Plant Summer CRUSH® in Spring, then broadcast a Fall brassica blend like CRUSH® The Perfect 10 directly into the dying stand in late Summer for a seamless two-crop rotation.
- Cover crop and forage sorghum like Rack & Roost™ solves the single hardest problem in food plot management: establishing anything at all when deer population density is high. The thick-stemmed grain sorghum outgrows early browse pressure, matures into a high-protein grain head by Fall, and creates the kind of standing cover that holds deer and small game on your property even as surrounding habitat thins out.
- Fall-planted perennials started in Spring like CRUSH® Clover Plus Alfalfa and CRUSH® Fixin’ Clover work in both planting windows, giving you flexibility if you missed a Fall planting date or want to get a new perennial stand established and rooted before heading into a dry Summer. Browse the complete Fall food plot lineup for additional options that can also be planted in late Summer.
FAQ
When should I plant spring food plots for deer?
Timing depends on your blend. For frost-seeding (broadcasting clover seed onto frozen ground), late Winter to very early Spring works well before the last freeze. For conventional Spring planting, the window opens as soon as the threat of frost has passed. Summer CRUSH® has a generous warm-season window: it can be planted into June in northern states and into July in southern states. For any blend, timing your planting so there’s a soaking rain within 10 days of seeding is the single most important factor in germination success.
What is frost seeding and which Anilogics blends can be frost-seeded?
Frost seeding is the practice of broadcasting small-seeded clovers directly onto frozen or snow-covered ground in late Winter, allowing freeze-thaw cycles to work the seed into the soil surface without any tillage. It’s one of the easiest and lowest-cost establishment methods available. CRUSH® Pro Clover is well-suited for frost seeding due to its small seed size. CRUSH® Holy Clover is NOT recommended for frost seeding as its larger seeds require firm seed-to-soil contact and a proper seedbed to germinate reliably. Check individual product pages for frost seeding guidance before deciding on your approach.
Which spring food plot blend is best for growing bigger antlers?
Antler growth peaks between March and August, when bucks require high daily protein intake, ideally 16–20% crude protein. For maximum antler-growing nutrition, Summer CRUSH® delivers a high-protein legume buffet through the entire growing season. CRUSH® Pro Clover and CRUSH® Holy Clover stay green and protein-rich well into Summer, providing consistent nutrition when deer are on them daily. Complement your food plot strategy with Anilogics minerals and supplements to support the full mineral demands of antler development.
How long do perennial Spring clover plots last?
Longevity depends on the blend and how well you manage weed competition. CRUSH® Pro Clover delivers 3–5 years of productive forage from a single planting when you stay ahead of grassy weed competition with a clover-safe herbicide. CRUSH® Holy Clover takes longevity further (up to 10 years) thanks to deep-rooted sainfoin and alfalfa varieties with outstanding drought resilience. For plots that won’t get regular mowing or herbicide attention, Holy Clover’s drought tolerance and deep taproots make it the lower-maintenance choice. Check the Herbicide Guide for weed management options that protect your perennial stand.
What spring food plot works best on my property if deer keep eating everything before it establishes?
High deer density is the most common reason food plots fail to establish. Two blends are specifically built for this problem. Rack & Roost™ uses thick-stemmed grain sorghum that grows faster than deer can graze it and matures into a protein-rich grain head by Fall. Summer CRUSH® is specifically recommended for properties with deer density above 50 deer per square mile, and Anilogics suggests doubling the seeding rate (to 90 lbs per acre) in high-pressure situations to compensate for early browse loss. Doubling seeding rate and using a temporary fence or cage to protect seedlings during establishment are both proven tactics when deer pressure is extreme.
What is the difference between CRUSH® Pro Clover and CRUSH® Holy Clover?
Both are high-protein perennial clover blends curated by the Lakoskys, but they’re built for different environments. CRUSH® Pro Clover is a 6-clover mix of annual and perennial varieties that performs well in most regions, can be frost-seeded, needs only 4+ hours of sunlight, and lasts 3–5 years. CRUSH® Holy Clover adds sainfoin and non-bloating alfalfa varieties with deep taproots that can survive extended drought, requiring 6+ hours of sunlight, cannot be frost-seeded, and can last up to 10 years. Holy Clover is the right choice for properties in the western or southern US where Summer heat and dry spells regularly kill standard clover stands.
Can Summer food plots also serve as cover for deer?
Yes. Rack & Roost™ was specifically designed with dual-purpose cover in mind: the dense grain sorghum stalks provide protective cover for fawns, turkeys, and quail early in the season, then mature into a standing grain food source deep into Fall and Winter. Summer CRUSH® also produces thick, broad-leafed forage that functions as thermal and visual cover while feeding deer. If cover is a primary goal on your property, pairing a Summer food plot with a dedicated habitat strategy supported by Anilogics attractants can funnel deer movement toward your stand locations.
How much sunlight do Spring food plot seeds require?
Sunlight requirements vary by blend. CRUSH® Pro Clover needs just 4 hours of sunlight and is one of the most shade-tolerant blends in the lineup, making it a good fit for plots surrounded by timber. CRUSH® Holy Clover, Summer CRUSH®, and Rack & Roost™ all require full sun (6+ hours) and should be planted in open fields or food plot openings with good solar exposure. For shady woodlot plots where Spring sunlight is limited, visit the Pocket Seed Guide for a full sunlight requirement comparison across all blends.