The Complete Guide to Fertilizing Deer Food Plots With Covington Naturals

A thriving deer food plot is more than just seed in the ground—it’s a managed program of soil health, fertilizer timing, and plant nutrition. With Covington Naturals’ lineup of professional-grade products, hunters can create lush, attractive forage that deer can’t resist throughout the hunting season.

Here’s how to use six Covington Naturals products in a step-by-step, seasonal program:

• Proline Dethatcher

• Liquid Soil Aerator

• Proline 16-21-2 Starter Fertilizer

• Proline 26-0-0 Slow Release High Nitrogen Fertilizer

• Proline 18-0-1 Steady Growth Nitrogen Fertilizer

• HFK-633 Growth Stimulant

Step 1: Break Down Old Thatch

Product: Proline Dethatcher
Timing: Early Spring

Old organic matter and dead grass create a barrier to seed germination. Proline Dethatcher naturally breaks down thatch layers, improves seed-to-soil contact, and recycles nutrients.

Step 2: Condition the Soil

Product: Liquid Soil Aerator
Timing: Spring, Summer, and Fall

Healthy roots need aerated soil. Apply Liquid Soil Aerator at least once each season—spring, summer, and fall—for maximum impact. This ensures soil stays loose, water penetrates deeply, and roots expand freely.

Step 3: Jump-Start Seedlings

Product: Proline 16-21-2 Starter Fertilizer
Timing: At Planting

A balanced starter blend delivers phosphorus for strong roots, nitrogen for early leaves, and potassium for stress tolerance. Apply at planting for fast establishment.

Step 4: Drive Summer Biomass

Product: Proline 26-0-0 Slow Release
Timing: Mid-Season (4–6 weeks after planting)

This high-nitrogen, slow-release fertilizer fuels steady growth and lush biomass through summer. It prevents nutrient loss and keeps food plots producing even in hot weather.

Step 5: Maintain Vigor Into Hunting Season

Product: Proline 18-0-1 Steady Growth
Timing: Late Summer to Early Fall (6–8 weeks after 26-0-0)

Apply this lighter nitrogen formula to maintain steady growth as deer pressure increases. It keeps forage green and palatable into hunting season.

Step 6: Boost Nutrient Uptake

Product: HFK-633
Timing: ~45 days after Dethatcher (late spring/early summer) and again in Early Fall

HFK-633 (humic, fulvic, and kelp blend) enhances nutrient uptake, improves drought and browsing tolerance, and increases forage protein. Use twice: once about 45 days after dethatcher, and again in early fall to prep plots for hunting season.

Updated Seasonal Fertilizer Program

Conclusion

By combining season-long soil conditioning with timed fertilizer and bio-stimulant applications, you’ll create plots that stay green, healthy, and irresistible from spring through peak deer season.