Getting Your Soil Right Before Planting a Food Plot

When it comes to planting successful food plots, one of the most important—and most overlooked—steps is making sure your soil is ready. You can buy the best seed on the market and put in hours of effort spraying, tilling, and planting, but if your soil pH is not in the correct range, your results will suffer.

Soil pH directly affects how well your plants can access nutrients. Even if your soil contains plenty of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, a low or high pH can “lock up” those nutrients and make them unavailable to your crops. In other words, you’re not just growing food for deer or turkeys—you’re growing it in a living, breathing system. And that system needs balance.

Before you plant your next spring or fall food plot, take the time to test your soil and correct any issues. Here’s why it matters and how to do it right.

Why Soil pH Is So Important

Soil pH is a measurement of how acidic or alkaline your soil is. It’s measured on a scale from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. Most food plot crops—including clover, brassicas, wheat, oats, and legumes—perform best in soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. If your soil falls below that range (which is very common in woodland or sandy areas), you’re going to struggle to get good germination, growth, and forage quality.

Low pH soils are typically acidic, and that acidity interferes with nutrient availability. Fertilizer won’t work as intended, and your plants won’t get the nutrients they need to thrive—even if you're using the right products. That’s wasted money, time, and effort.

The good news? You can fix it—and it’s not that hard.

Step 1: Soil Testing

The first step is to get a soil test. You can pick up a test kit at most farm supply stores, or get one through your local cooperative extension office. Some wildlife seed companies also offer testing services by mail. The process is simple: take soil samples from a few different spots in your plot (about 3–4 inches deep), mix them together, and send the sample off to the lab or use the DIY test instructions.

The results will tell you your soil’s pH, as well as its levels of key nutrients like nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). If your pH is low—say, below 6.0—you’ll likely need to add agricultural lime to correct it.

Step 2: Understanding Lime Rates

Lime works to raise soil pH and neutralize acidity. The amount of lime you need depends on how far off your pH is and the type of soil you have. Sandy soils need less lime to change pH, while heavier clay soils may need more. Here’s a general guideline for how much lime to apply per acre:

• pH 5.0–5.5 → Apply 2 to 3 tons per acre

• pH 5.5–6.0 → Apply 1 to 2 tons per acre

• pH 6.0–6.5 → Usually OK, but a light application (0.5–1 ton) can help

• Below 5.0 → May require up to 3–4 tons per acre, depending on soil type

Keep in mind that it takes time for lime to fully react in the soil. Ideally, you want to apply lime several months before planting—especially if your pH is significantly low. However, if you’re late to the game, it’s still worth applying. Some benefit is always better than none, and lime continues to improve soil conditions for multiple seasons.

Step 3: Apply the Lime Correctly

Lime comes in two main forms: pelletized lime and ag lime (pulverized limestone).

• Pelletized lime is easier to spread with smaller equipment, like ATV spreaders or hand-crank seeders, and is ideal for small plots.

• Ag lime is cheaper in bulk but harder to spread without a tractor and lime buggy. It’s best suited for larger plots and those with access to heavier equipment.

Apply lime evenly across your food plot area. If you’re using pelletized lime, it’s a good idea to make two perpendicular passes to ensure thorough coverage. Once it’s down, you can leave it on the surface if using no-till methods, or till it into the soil for faster incorporation if you're using traditional tillage.

Step 4: Recheck and Maintain

After your initial lime application, you should test your soil again the following year. It can take 6 to 12 months for lime to fully adjust your pH, so don’t be surprised if you don’t see instant results. But with continued monitoring and maintenance, your plots will improve each season.

Once you’ve corrected your soil pH, you’ll also notice better performance from your fertilizer and better forage quality—meaning more protein for your deer, better growth for your turkeys, and less money wasted.

Make the Most of Your Efforts

Getting your soil right may not be the most exciting part of food plotting, but it’s absolutely one of the most important. It lays the foundation for everything else—your spraying, your seeding, and your harvest. Healthy soil means healthy plants, which translates to healthier wildlife and more action in the woods.

At Plot Blaster, we’re here to help you get the job done right. Whether you’re spraying pre-plant herbicides, managing invasive weeds, or applying nutrients post-planting, our sprayers and accessories make the process efficient and effective.

 

To learn more about adding lime to food plots before planting, watch our video below: