Sarahs blog, Lawn Chick, is read by over 2 million homeowners each year and she is regularly cited as an expert source of lawn care knowledge by major publications. Unfortunately, they don't eat blackberry or Tansy, only my flowers, shrubs, and vegetables! Has smaller leaves than dutch white clover. Clover doesnt require any additional fertilizer either! In fact, most herbicides kill clover, so they should be avoided. Micro clover is a smaller variety of White Clover. Research, as well as ranch experience, has demonstrated the superior feed value of a white clover grass mixture compared to grass alone. Thats because clover grass is drought-tolerantyet it might stay green year-round, even in northern hardiness zones. While manicured monocultural lawns may look nice, they have drawbacks, such as depriving pollinators of food and habitat and requiring greater water consumption, maintenance, and chemical treatment than a clover lawn requires. Pirouette and Pipolina). Ive had a great lawn for years and get complimented on it. Another drawback is that its a short-lived perennial and, as such, may require reseeding every 2 to 3 years. Microclover is more tolerant of traffic than many lawn alternatives and welcomes walking and playing on its surface. You will need to sow 25% more of these seeds compared to grass seed into an existing lawn. Among the benefits of having and maintaining a clover lawn, clover is visually interesting. Then, sow at a rate of 1/4 to 1/2 lb per 1000 square feet. Being smaller, micro clover grows lower to the ground and does not have the clumping tendency of its larger relative. Red clover requires good soil moisture, but is not as tolerant of wet conditions as white clover. All the benefits of traditional white clover packed into very tiny leaves. As mentioned previously, micro clover is not right for everyone. Over time, this might mean less frequent mowing is required to maintain a manicured lawn appearance. However,it is important to make certain that any such test plantings give the clovers a fair chance. It is best suited to well-drained soils, and is most popular in certain low rainfall areas of central Oklahoma,north central Texas, and California. The next step is to lay down an inch or more of fresh topsoil to the planting area to give the new seedlings a helping hand at growing. Having a mowed clover lawn in place 4 to 6 weeks before the first frost can help winterize your lawn, but theres no need to spend every weekend mowing as you would with turf. Filed Under: Environment, Gardening Tagged With: clover lawn pros and cons, how to grow a micro clover lawn, micro clover, micro clover lawn, micro clover lawn pros and cons. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. It is usually grown in pastures, but can also be cut for hay (one cutting only). Whether it be the latest designer Microclover or good ol standard white Dutch clover, youll be doing your lawn a favor either way. For most people the elevated up-front cost will provide savings in the long run. You won't have to mow a lot due to the clover growth. (Perform a soil test before planting.) I happen to be in Winnipeg a well! Purchase a pre-mixed microclover lawn blend. They grow very close to the ground. "Lawns and Microclover." White clover mixes well with fescues, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass. All clover is considered a legume capable of turning atmospheric nitrogen gas into an organic form of nitrogen. Adding microclover to lawns helps control weeds because it helps fill in gaps that often exist in conventional lawn blends. Meanwhile, some turfgrasses scorch in the summer sun, while others become spindly in partial shade. Check the amount of sunlight your area receives before planting using a sunlight calculator. The percentage of hard seed produced varies depending mainly on the clover species and variety, but environmental conditions also have an influence. If you decide to add some micro clover to your lawn, here are a few tips to ensure success: Ready to overseed your lawn with clover? Join other savvy homeowners who have already started to transform their lawn and, Why You Should Consider a Micro Clover Lawn. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Thanks for the time, These attract earthworms, which help keep the soil loose (and, therefore, in need of no aeration) and reduce thatch buildup. Our microclover has a special coating that helps it get established and providing nitrogen to fertilize your lawn 6 - 9 months sooner than clover that isn't coated and inoculated with our special seed starter. The ideal pH for micro clover is 6 7. Required fields are marked *. It is quite tolerant of traffic and a natural spreader. Appearance aside, clover naturally gives back to your soil. Rose Clover Rose clover has a growth habit similar to crimson clover, but has lavender-colored blooms and makes most of its growth in mid-spring. The only one I would worry about in clover would be Vert. All annual plants present at any given time will die within a 12 month period. Dutch White Clover Trifolium repens f. hollandicum - Smith Seed Spread the seeds evenly by seeding north-south/north-south, and then once more east-west/east-west. Do I mow over the clover, or not? This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. That invites grounding, or earthing, which studies show is beneficial for human health because the electrical connectivity with the earth restores the immune system, much like antioxidants do. The reason is that annual clovers, which must come from seed each year, have more difficulty becoming established due to competition from grasses and other plants (especially perennial plants) than do perennial clovers which already have a good root system established. They can be established either in autumn or spring in many areas,with most plantings in the northern United States being made in spring, and a higher percentage of autumn plantings occurring the farther south one goes. They both produce small white flowers, have three leaves (unless youre lucky enough to find one with four), and can fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and share it with the plants around them. University of Maryland Turfgrass Technical Update, TT121, July 2015. https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/_images/programs/hgic/Publications/non_HGIC_FS/TT121%20Tall%20fescue%20microclover%20lawns.pdf, Implementing Best Management Practices to Reduce Runoff and Lawn Fertilizer Use. That means more money in your pocket as you save from spending it on lawn care companies to aerate your lawn. Gardeners can also benefit from adding clover seed during aeration, the process of loosening up compact soil to help it breathe. Wait a week after seeding before fertilizing with organic, pelletized chicken manure. Interestingly enough, (I wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it) I was in a pasture today where the landowner is following his cattle with chickens. Rotational stocking is the best way to utilize berseem clover pastures. Micro Clover is Perennial Nitrogen Fertilizer for Lawns - The Spruce I will try to chew through them one-by-one. I believe that claim I tested some out in a 5 gallon bucket once and when I turned the bucket over you wouldnt believe the root mass! While most plants appreciate some shade in the heat of summer, too much shade will cause microclover lawns to struggle. Nitrogen-coated seeds are necessary for sterile or otherwise unhealthy soil. Repels Pests and Weeds: clover helps discourage insect pests, most of which prefer grasses. This is a great time to plant Black Beauty Ultra Im going to be doing an overseeding project next weekend with it, and if you act now itll be well established for next spring. What should I do? If your grass is thin or brown, its possible that clover can take over those areas of your lawnespecially if theyre shady. Turfgrass, meanwhile, needs an inch or more of water per week. Trees in the area have Wet Wood, Verticillium Wilt, and a few lost to fire blight. Keep reading to learn more about clover lawns and whether or not its a viable option for your outdoor space. Here are two of the top low-maintenance clover varieties for lawns. When planting a new lawn with micro clover, prepare the top 4 to 6 inches of your soil by tilling and adding compost. Soil conditions, expected climatic conditions, and grower objectives are important factors influencing which clovers will be the correct one(s) to plant in a particular situation. This health benefit is one of the main reasons people are adding micro clover to their lawns. Besides wasting a precious natural resourcewaterregular and heavy watering can result in runoff of pesticides and other chemicals, which pollute our waterways and poison wildlife. If youre not 100% tied to the idea of clover and are open to a drought-tolerant grass Id consider Jonathan Green Black Beauty Ultra. Prepare about 5 of topsoil by tilling and adding screened, organic compost. What impact might these diseases potentially have on clover? Micro clover has several benefits, but this plant's drawbacks can also be a deal-breaker for others. Everything You Need To Know About Clover Lawns - Treehugger Years ago, it was a desirable part of lawns. 11 Important Things to Know About Clover Lawns - Bob Vila The clover varieties that grow closest to the ground include micro clover and white clover.