Cover crop with clover planting?

[BLACKJACK]

When you plant your clover, do you include a cover crop like oats or wheat or rye? I've always just planted my clover by itself, but was thinking of including some oats when I plant in Aug, so the deer will eat on the oats and let the clover grow. What do you think?

[Mark Christianson]

I have done both.

I used oats on a couple areas that were a bit more susceptible to erosion, so I put in the oats something that grows fast to stabilize the soil. On the flatter areas, I have just broadcasted and dragged it in alone. I havent had any problems with deer overbrowsing clover areas before it matures. But that could be different based on where its going too. I do have a couple clover plots that are already established, so that may take some of the heat off the new plantings too.

[PerchJerker]

I've done both but usually don't use a companion crop or cover planting. When I have used a cover planting it's been buckwheat or a grain like oats wheat or rye, for a companion crop I use chicory. Nice thing about the grains is you could take them out with Poast and not hurt your clover if you wanted to do that later.