A good food plot screen keeps deer feeling safe and keeps roads, neighbors and your own movements out of sight. Tecomate Blockade food plot screening seed is a blend of warm-season annuals that grows into a visual and physical barrier from ground level up to 12 ft tall. Here is how it works and how to plant it.
What is Tecomate Blockade?
Blockade is a select blend of warm-season annuals that range in height. Planted in a strip, the different plants fill in at different levels, so you get cover low to the ground as well as height. Tecomate recommends it for shielding food plots from public roadways and neighboring properties, and for concealing the paths you walk to your tree stands so your presence goes undetected.
Key features of this food plot screen
- Height: creates a visual and physical blockage from ground level up to 12 ft tall
- Warm-season annuals of varying heights in one blend
- Seeding rate: 8 lbs plants 1/2 acre
- Planting depth: 1/2 inch to 1 inch
- Fertilizer: a balanced fertilizer such as 13-13-13 at 250 lbs per acre
- Flexible planting: broadcaster, grain drill or row crop planter
Where to use a screening crop
Most landowners use a screen in three places. First, along a road or property line where passing traffic or neighbors can see into a plot. Second, along access trails to stands and blinds so you can get in and out without being seen. Third, around the edges of an open field plot, to give deer a sense of cover so they are more comfortable stepping out in daylight.
Since Blockade is made of annuals, plan on replanting each season where you want the screen to stand. You can see more screening options in our seed blockage mix collection, or view the Blockade 8 lb bag for full product details.
When to plant Blockade by zone
Tecomate lists these planting windows for Blockade:
- Zone 1: May 1 – June 30
- Zone 2: April 15 – July 15
- Zone 3: April 1 – July 30
- Zone 4: March 1 – August 15
Within your window, wait until soil temperatures are at least 60 degrees and climbing before you plant.
How to plant your food plot screen
Tecomate's planting instructions are simple to follow:
- Select a sunny site.
- Prepare the soil by thoroughly disking or plowing to create a clean, level seedbed.
- Soil test, then fertilize with a balanced mixture such as 13-13-13 at 250 lbs per acre. Liming is recommended if pH is below 5.8.
- Plant with a broadcaster, grain drill or row crop planter at 8 lbs per 1/2 acre, about 1/2 to 1 inch deep.
- When broadcasting, cover the seed by dragging or cultipacking.
For ATV and UTV owners, an Impact Implements ATV/UTV disc plow / harrow handles the disking step, and an Impact Implements cultipacker with weight tray covers and firms broadcast seed. If you also want a screen that feeds deer, Tecomate Horn-Maker Xtreme can be planted as a screen between a property and a roadway, too.
Frequently asked questions
How tall does the Blockade food plot screen get?
Blockade is a blend of warm-season annuals that creates a visual and physical blockage from ground level up to 12 ft tall.
How much area does an 8 lb bag plant?
The 8 lb bag plants 1/2 acre at the recommended seeding rate.
What soil temperature does Blockade need?
Soil temps should be at least 60 degrees and climbing at planting time, within the window listed for your zone.
If you want to hide a plot from the road or sneak into your stand unseen, order Tecomate Blockade screening seed and plant it within your zone's window. Browse more seed in our food plot seed collection. Questions? Contact us.