SHADY PATCH™
BIG BUCKS LOVE THE SHADOWS™
Designed for hunting locations where traditional food plots struggle to thrive. Shady Patch™ combines shade-tolerant forage species into a premium blend that establishes quickly, performs in reduced sunlight, and creates productive food plots in secluded woods, logging roads, creek bottoms, and tucked-away hunting locations.
Perfect For
• Woods food plots
• Logging roads
• Creek bottoms
• Small kill plots
• Reduced sunlight
• Remote hunting locations
✔ Optimized For Low-Light Conditions
✔ Premium Perennial Foundation
✔ Fast Establishment
✔ Proven At The Testing Grounds™
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SHADY PATCH™
SIX REASONS HUNTERS PLANT SHADY PATCH™
WHEN THE SUNLIGHT STOPS, SHADY PATCH™ KEEPS GROWING.
Built For Low-Light Conditions
Designed for areas receiving limited direct sunlight where conventional food plots often fail.
Unlock Hidden Hunting Spots
Transform overlooked woods roads, creek crossings, hardwood pockets, and secluded openings into productive food plots.
Fast Early Establishment
Winterhawk wheat and Elbon rye establish rapidly while perennial species develop.
Long-Term Perennial Base
Ladino clover and chicory continue producing forage well beyond the first hunting season.
Season-Long Attraction
Cereal grains, brassicas, clovers, and chicory provide attraction from early fall through spring.
Hunt Closer To Bedding
Allows hunters to establish attractive food sources deeper in the woods where mature bucks feel secure during daylight.
IS SHADY PATCH™ THE RIGHT CHOICE?
What To Expect
See how SHADY PATCH™ develops throughout the growing season.
7-14 Days
Rapid Establishment
Winterhawk and cereal rye germinate quickly, providing early green forage while stabilizing the seedbed. This rapid establishment helps suppress weeds and begins attracting deer soon after emergence.
30 Days
Building A Woodland Food Plot
As the cereal grains and grasses mature, the brassicas, clovers, and chicory continue developing into a diverse, highly nutritious food source. Deer begin utilizing multiple forage species as the plot fills in.
After First Frost
Peak Hunting Performance
Cooler temperatures increase the sweetness and palatability of the brassicas, while the cereal grains, grasses, clovers, and chicory continue producing quality forage. Mature bucks feel comfortable utilizing secluded woodland plots during daylight hours.
Spring
Lasting Value
While the cereal grains, grasses, and brassicas naturally complete their life cycle, Everlast™ Ladino Clover, Droptine™ Balansa Clover, and Antler Chicory continue producing nutritious forage into spring. These perennial species help improve soil health, extend grazing opportunities, and provide the foundation for continued food plot performance in future seasons.
WHAT'S INSIDE SHADY PATCH™
EVERY INGREDIENT HAS A PURPOSE
Every species was selected to perform a specific job—working together to establish quickly, thrive in reduced sunlight, and
provide dependable attraction from early fall through the following spring.
The backbone of Shady Patch™, Winterhawk establishes quickly, produces abundant forage, and provides dependable attraction throughout the fall and winter hunting season.
A premium perennial white clover that produces highly nutritious forage for multiple seasons while naturally fixing nitrogen and improving soil health.
Produces lush leafy forage that becomes increasingly attractive after cooler temperatures and the first frosts.
Provides both leafy forage and energy-rich bulbs that extend food availability well into the late season.
A vigorous annual clover that establishes quickly, delivers excellent early forage, and contributes valuable nitrogen to the soil.
A deep-rooted perennial that withstands browsing pressure while continuing to produce high-quality forage through changing conditions.
Adds quick germination, dependable forage production, and excellent cold tolerance while helping protect the soil during establishment.
Grows Where Others Won't.™
Plant At The Right Time For Dependable Fall Success.
Where & When To Plant
Zone 1: October - November
Zone 2: September - October
Zone 3: Late August - October
Zone 4: Mid-August - Late September
Zone 5: September - October
Zone 6: Late July - August
PLANTING RULE
• Soil temperatures below 70°F and falling
• Plant 45–60 days before average first frost
• Plant just ahead of a soaking rainfall
Planting windows are general guidelines and may vary by local elevation, climate, and seasonal weather conditions.
Planting At A Glance
Coverage
Up To 1/4 Acre
Planting Depth
1/4" - 1/2"
Planting Method
Broadcast or Drill
Sunlight
Full To Partial Sun
Soil Ph
6.0 - 7.0
Moisture
Moderate
Common Mistakes
✗ Planting too early into hot soils
✗ Planting into heavy standing vegetation
✗ Planting under a completely closed canopy with
virtually no sunlight.
✗ Broadcasting onto dry soil without rainfall in the
forecast
✗ Planting too deep
✗ Skipping fertilizer
View Full Planting Instructions
PREPARATION
Begin with a clean planting area by removing existing weeds and vegetation using glyphosate or light tillage. Remove leaves, sticks, and heavy debris to improve seed-to-soil contact. In woodland settings, lightly rake or scratch the soil if needed to expose bare ground before broadcasting seed.
SOIL TEST & FERTILITY
Conduct a soil test whenever possible and adjust soil pH to 6.0–7.0. Apply fertilizer according to soil test recommendations. For maximum
forage production and perennial establishment, pair Shady Patch™ with Fuel™ Brassicas + Clover.
PLANTING RATE
Broadcast (Prepared Seedbed): 20 lbs/acre
Broadcast (No-Till): 24–25 lbs/acre
Drill: 14 lbs/acre
PLANTING DEPTH
Plant ¼–½ inch deep. When broadcasting, lightly rake, drag,
or cultipack to improve seed-to-soil contact. Avoid planting deeper than ½
inch.
TIMING
Plant approximately 45–60 days before your area's average first frost, when soil temperatures have cooled to 55–65°F. Woodland soils often retain moisture longer than open fields, making fall establishment especially reliable.
MOISTURE
Adequate soil moisture is essential for successful germination. Plant immediately before a soaking rainfall whenever possible, particularly in wooded locations where leaf litter can reduce available surface moisture.
ADJUSTING FOR PLS & GERMINATION
Recommended planting rates assume 100% Pure Live Seed (PLS) and 100% germination. Actual seed quality varies by lot. To determine an adjusted planting rate, divide the recommended seeding rate by the PLS percentage multiplied by the germination percentage, both expressed as decimals. Adjusting for PLS and germination helps ensure proper stand density, uniform establishment, and maximum food plot performance.
Build Your Complete Fall Hunting Program
Step 1: Build Fertility
Step 2: Plant SHADY PATCH™
Step 3: Increase Attraction
Step 4: Supplement Your Herd
Step 5: Increase Mineral Intake
Step 6: Reliable Feed Delivery
Step 7: Spring Overseed
EVERY PRODUCT MUST EARN THE BACKWOODS® NAME.
Nothing earns the Backwoods® name until it proves itself in the field.
Every Backwoods® food plot, attractant, mineral, supplement, and feeder is developed and evaluated under real hunting conditions—not just test plots or research stations.
If it doesn't perform for us, it never reaches your property.
We don't build products to sell. We build products we trust enough to use ourselves.
Tested by hunters. Proven by deer.
At The Testing Grounds™
• Hundreds of acres evaluated
• Year-round field testing
• Real hunting pressure
• Properties in multiple regions
• Trail camera monitored
• Product performance documented
NOT SURE WHICH PLOT IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
Low-Light Food Plot
Best For: Hunters planting secluded food plots in the woods, along logging roads, creek bottoms, and other areas with reduced sunlight where traditional food plots often struggle.
Best Overall Fall Blend
Best For: Hunters wanting one premium cool-season blend that combines outstanding forage production, season-long attraction, and long-term soil improvement.
Ultimate Hunting Blend
Best For: Hunters wanting the highest level of annual attraction with a premium blend of peas, brassicas, clovers, chicory, sugar beets, and radishes that delivers exceptional performance from opening day through late winter.
Best Proven Southern Blend
Best For: Hunters wanting a dependable, easy-to-grow cool-season blend engineered specifically for Southern hunting properties.
Real Plots. Real Deer. Real Results.
PROVEN IN THE REAL WORLD
Every photo on this page comes from real Backwoods® food plots planted and evaluated at The Testing Grounds™ and on customer properties across the country. No stock photography. No staged results. Just real-world performance.
Know Before You Grow
Can Shady Patch™ grow in the woods?
Yes—but no food plot can thrive in complete darkness. Shady Patch™ is specifically designed for locations with partial shade or filtered sunlight, such as logging roads, creek bottoms, hardwood openings, powerlines, and secluded kill plots. For best results, choose areas that receive at least
3–6 hours of sunlight each day.
Do I need to till the soil before planting?
Not necessarily. Shady Patch™ is designed to perform exceptionally well in no-till applications. Simply eliminate existing
vegetation, expose as much bare soil as possible, broadcast the seed, and
ensure good seed-to-soil contact by dragging, cultipacking, or lightly raking
the area.
Will Shady Patch™ come back every year?
Partially. The annual cereal grains, grasses, and brassicas complete their life cycle after the first season, while the Rampart Ladino
Clover, Balansa Clover, and Antler Chicory provide continued forage into the following spring. With proper fertility and anagement, the perennial components can continue producing beyond the initial season, though overseeding each fall helps maintain peak attraction and diversity.
When is the best time to plant Shady Patch™?
Plant approximately 45–60 days before your average first frost, once soil temperatures have cooled below 70°F and are continuing to decline. Planting just before a soaking rain provides the best conditions for rapid germination.
Can I plant Shady Patch™ in full sun?
Absolutely. While it's specifically formulated for reduced-light environments, Shady Patch™ also performs very well in full-sun
food plots. Its greatest advantage is giving hunters a dependable option for productive food plots where many other blends struggle.
What fertilizer should I use?
For the best results, start with a soil test and adjust pH to 6.0–7.0. Then apply fertilizer according to soil test recommendations. In
most situations, Backwoods Fuel™ Brassicas + Clover provides the balanced nutrition needed to maximize establishment, forage production, and long-term performance.
How much area does one bucket cover?
One 5 lb bucket plants up to ¼ acre under normal planting conditions. For larger woodland food plots, simply increase the number of buckets based on the total acreage.
Can I hunt directly over a Shady Patch™ food plot?
Yes. Shady Patch™ was designed specifically for secluded hunting locations. Because these plots are often positioned closer to bedding cover and travel corridors than large destination fields, they can become excellent stand locations for early-season and rut hunting, provided access and wind direction are carefully managed.