For folks with reservations about mixing clover into their grass lawn, Microclover is more acceptable visually. Best Clover for Lawns | Lawn Model Though widely adapted, it is best suited to soils which have good moisture-holding ability. Red Clover wherever grown attracts beneficial creatures, especially bees, whilst at the same time adding nutrients to the soil via its roots. Using pruning shears or scissors, cut the offshoot to separate it from the mother plant. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. In many cases, these bacteria are already present in the soil and coated seed isnt necessary, but if your soil is sterile, has never grown nitrogen-fixing plants before, or you just want to give your clover a jumpstart, consider using seed coated with the bacteria known as Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar. University of Maryland Extension. Other options include adding clover seed during the core aeration process or digging up parts of your grass lawn. When seeded into warm season grasses, they are normally planted near the expected date of the first killing frost. A 100% microclover lawn is a thing of beauty, but as noted above, the seed can be costly for larger areas. In fact, microclover will grow more densely and produce smaller leaves the more frequently it is mowed, which is ideal if you want a traditional green lawn look. What does clover look like? I recently expanded a vegetable garden and turning over my grass with a shovel was made much more difficult with the long roots, but I figured thats the price you pay for a good lawn. I basically just want a really low maintenance thick green lawn thats dense with SOMETHING perennial and highly drought resistant, but I dont know what to plant. This publication provides general information regarding a number of points that should be considered when deciding which clovers to plant. How Many Square Feet in a Pallet of Sod on Average? Your email address will not be published. As you plant perennials, mix in clover in between or in those hard-to-grow areas. We all know that chemical fertilizers can run off during a heavy rain and end up in local water sources. Crimson Clover Crimson clover is a dependable, productive annual which has larger seed and better seedling vigor than most clovers. However, I live 20 minutes North of Boston and this year my BBU grass was turned into straw. Visit our product page for more information about microclover blends and natural lawn care. In many areas red clover plants can live for 2 years (and occasionally longer), but in the lower South it often acts as an annual. Missouri Botanical Garden. Microclover is more tolerant of traffic than many lawn alternatives and welcomes walking and playing on its surface. Please check your inbox to download your FREE eBook. 1. It wont harm it at all and the more you thicken it up early on the less youll have to mow in the future. Wait one week after sowing before adding organic chicken manure pellets as a fertilizer. I have always liked orchard grass because it is territorial in its growth habit and seems to be pretty durable. The lush green hues and added texture will make your lawn both beautiful and comfortable to walk on barefoot. I recommend looking for Trifolium repens var. The Teeny-Tiny Clover Trend: Does Microclover Live Up to the Hype Disease, insects, soil needs? This means that it can cost as little as $1 to seed 1,000 square feet. Might be many opportunities for great photos! I would suggest this one from West Coast Seeds. Diseases are rare with microclover, though soggy, brown patches may indicate Southern blight, a disease occurring in hot, moist climates. If youre unsure how much water to use, test your soil using a moisture meter and adjust accordingly. This can help keep your lawn healthy and beautiful. At full height, micro clover will reach about 6 inches un-mowed, and 4 inches if mowed every now and then. It is said the Miniclover is a dwarf variety of Dutch White, but will revert to full size if not mowed. Getting rid of your current lawn to plant clover instead isnt a process that happens over night. My question is whether there is Good morning, Nitrogen Fixer: clovers are actually legumes, which improve the fertility and health fo the soil. 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. Difference #1: When regularly mown, Microclover is smaller, shorter, and more compact than Common White Clover. 2) Clover might have to be reseeded every 2-3 years to maintain even stand in pure clover lawns (hence why some people might prefer mixed grass-clover lawns as this way, clover will reseed itself enough to maintain a consistent presence). Instead, prevent weeds from colonizing your lawn by starting with clean, nutritious soil at the correct pH. It can therefore thrive even if the soil is nitrogen deficient. If you want to sow an entire space with micro clover, here are a few tips for success: Micro clover probably works best when overseeded into an existing lawn. The primary period of growth is early to mid-spring. Once we grow clover, does that mean we should only use fertilizer (i.e, no weed or crabgrass killer)? Dear Sarah, A clover-only planting would worry me in regard to its ability to keep the weeds out. 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. 'Pirouette' and 'Pipolina'). Clover is primarily used as a legume component in grazing systems and cover crops as it provides forage diversity and fixes nitrogen as well. Its tough to say for sure since Im not looking at it, but my best guess would be that the clover seed you bought is a newer hybrid variety and when it sets seed at least some of that seed reverts back to an earlier version of (larger) clover plant one of the parent plants that was used to create the hybrid micro clover you purchased. Ball Clover This winter annual is sometimes mistaken for white clover, but the blooms are smaller and more rounded. since these will kill microclover. If planted in autumn, most growth occurs in mid-spring. Sunday makes it easy to transform your lawn. However, climatic, management, or other factors may result in exceptions. But there are also a lot of reasons to grow a clover lawn. 4. If it is mowed occasionally, it will reach about 4 inches high. Microclover is more drought tolerant and needs less fertilizer and mowing than most lawn grasses. The seed can germinate at lower temperatures than most annuals. Content on Live Love Fruit may not be reproduced in any form. There is some use of annual clovers in winter rainfall areas of California and Oregon, but most plantings of the commonly used annual clovers (arrowleaf clover, ball clover, berseem clover, crimson clover, rose clover, and subterranean clover) in the United States are made in the South (Figure 1). Unlike regular Dutch clover, it doesnt grow in clumps, grows more slowly, and is less aggressive at crowding out other plants. 3. Reviewed by Dr. Mark J. Carroll, Director, Environmental Science & Policy Program, University of Maryland, April 2019. This will give your seeds a chance to germinate and avoid giving the weeds a head start. This is particularly true with so many droughts happening nowadays I wouldnt be surprised if everyone switched to micro clover as a result. Hi Jay I dont know of any personally, but I can assure you that clover is a much better option than grass. If another goal is to add more garden beds and spaces for flowers to a traditional lawn, remove chunks of your lawn to start fresh. 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. While some hardcore lawn aficionados might say clover is a weed, others have embraced its presence or even transitioned from a traditional grass lawn to a micro clover lawn. Although it can be quite productive, ball clover has a shorter growing season and often yields less than other commonly grown annual clovers.It is a prolific seed producer even under high stocking rates, and a high percentage of the seed are hard seed. Clover is one such plant that requires less tending to than grass and actually helps local pollinators. Microclover refers to smaller varieties of white clover (Trifolium repens var. Gardeners can also benefit from adding clover seed during aeration, the process of loosening up compact soil to help it breathe. Being smaller, micro clover grows lower to the ground and does not have the clumping tendency of its larger relative. Shannon Cowan Consequently,when planting decisions are made it is important to have in mind the traits of various clovers and then take care to select the one(s) best suited to the situation. All the benefits of traditional white clover packed into very tiny leaves. They also have a less aggressive clump-forming habit. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Will you sow your seed at 100% or mix with other plants for a blended look. Here are two of the top low-maintenance clover varieties for lawns. The reason for the chickens is a different story. The main difference is the leaf size. She has helped hundreds of thousands of individuals to re-connect with their bodies and learn self-love through proper eating habits and natural living. In fact, most herbicides kill clover, so they should be avoided. Im not sure I can exactly quantify the difference BBU and other high-quality fescue-based grasses compare to traditional lawn grass, but my gut feeling is that the drought tolerance improvement may be similar (about 25%). White clover is tolerant of close grazing, which makes it a good choice for many pastures, but it is not well-suited for hay situations. Some are more tolerant of certain climatic conditions, soil conditions, and/or management regimes than others. However,the characteristics of clover species differ. While it is defined by many as an eco-friendly alternative to lawn grass, people may still consider clover to be a lawn weed. Pirouette), a cultivar of white clover with smaller leaves and a lower growth habit.. If you have white clover ground cover, it can appear patchy and bare in heavily traveled areas. Pennsylvania State Universitys Department of Plant Science: Questions about Microclover, The Old Farmers Almanac: Clover Comeback, Scotts: Benefits of Planting a Clover Lawn, University of California: Clover Management Guidelines, McKay Grass Seeds: A Quick Guide to Strawberry Clover, Beautiful houseplants that also repel mosquitoes, cockroaches and other pests. 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. Ads provided by AdThrive. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. So you have to ask yourself if paying three times as much up-front is worth spending less in annual maintenance costs. Another drawback is that its a short-lived perennial and, as such, may require reseeding every 2 to 3 years. In this area, Southern blight disease caused by prolonged periods of high heat and humidity is deadly to micro clover. While dog urine can discolor most grasses, clover isnt affected by it and will remain green and attractive. Micro Clover is Perennial Nitrogen Fertilizer for Lawns - The Spruce Clover is resilient and doesnt need any pampering. White cloveror Dutch white clover(Trifolium repens)is a perennial plant, native to Europe, which often shows up in lawns by way of seed dispersal. Among the benefits of having and maintaining a clover lawn, clover is visually interesting. Contact us at Ask Extension. You can attempt to overseed an established lawn with micro clover by raking the lawn well, and scratching the surface a bit. The blog editor at Eartheasy.com, Shannon lives on six acres of land with her husband, daughters, and backyard poultry flock. White clover is a moderately drought-tolerant ground cover if the plants are spaced out. Just from reading that website it seems like the major difference is that mini clover has smaller leaves and visually blends into the look of a turf grass lawn better than ordinary clover. Additionally, moles have an extensive tunnel network, despite repeated trappings. What are the pros and cons of planting a 100% micro cover as a turf replacement ground cover? Microclover (Trifolium repens var. Good morning, Deciding between coated and non-coated seeds will depend on the condition of your soil. Clover provides shade to the soil, reducing water evaporation, and helping grass survive periods of drought. Grass that is intermixed with clover will be healthier and greener, because of this nitrogen-fixing aspect. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Is micro clover the way to go? It can be the result Get instant access to all of our premium pasture seed products by entering your zip code into our exclusive Seed Selector! Thanks for the time, It has a great color, and JG claims that roots grow up to 4 feet deep, making this grass VERY drought tolerant (as the surface dries out, your turfs roots are still accessing moisture deeper in the ground). Microclover: Key Features As the name indicates, it's the smallest variety of white clover. Start in early spring (mid-March to mid-April) to allow clover seed time to get established before cold weather arrives. You dont have to go to great lengths to get rid of it, which equals less maintenance for you and environmental bonus points. Most clover varieties grow to a height of 2-8 inches. 5. There are advantages and disadvantages to its use: Microclover can be included as a component of lawns, but there is no current research that supports its successful useexclusivelyas a groundcover orlawn alternativein Maryland. Science Learning Hub. While micro clover was designed for mixed grass/clover purposes, that doesnt mean you cant sow a pure micro clover lawn. If this is too unpredictable, watering the space lightly after broadcasting the seed is recommended. Small areas can be treated by covering the soil with a plastic sheet before planting and solarizing to kill the disease. Lets take a look at the details surrounding clover lawns so you can decide where you stand on the issue, and Ill look specifically at the pros and cons of micro-clover in residential lawns. However, in the Southeast they can be a companion to certain warm season perennial grasses on sites that offer good moisture availability during much of the growing season. Going through a list of clover lawn pros and cons can help anyone make the decision if a clover lawn is the right option for them. Im in New England as well and have predominantly BBU for my lawn in sandy soil. Clover is soft and cool, providing a carpet for barefoot walkers. The decision to embrace clover includes many factors that each person must consider. Copyright 2023. As the roots grow along the surface, new clover plants will fill in any blank spots. Thus, a stand of a perennial clover may contain recently established plants that are less than a year old as well as plants that are more than a year old. Those are a lot of great questions! As I mentioned above, micro clover is capable of producing its own nitrogen. Clover Selection Guide - Pennington RELATED: 12 Ways to Be a Good Neighborto Your Backyard Wildlife. 2. Spread the seeds evenly by seeding north-south/north-south, and then once more east-west/east-west. It has smaller leaves and fewer flowers than white clover, and it grows lower to the ground (4-6 inches tall). To keep the clover, you will have to keep the less desirables as well. Nitrogen from rainwater and granular fertilizer penetrates the soil and feeds your grass. For those looking for a cover that will stand up to pets and kids, it might be the perfect option. Microclover is a new cultivar of white clover that is becoming very popular. If you're feeling bold, try mixing a couple options in your space. Is there a legitmate difference in Miniclover vs Dutch White Clover 7. That means less chemical toxicity around your home, and better health for the planet. All clovers have deep roots, which helps keep lawns green during dry, hot spells, and they all fix nitrogen, meaning that they work with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to convert nitrogen from the air and transfer it into the soil. The following brief descriptions of various commonly grown clovers, together with the information in Table 1 can provide much insight regarding species suitability for various situations. If your lawn abuts neighbors, make sure they want it too, because it will spread like crazy. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. While micro clover seed might be more expensive than plain grass seed, it also requires less fertilizer and maintenance. Both of us use Black Beauty Ultra and Ive been overseeding every other year. While on the other hand White Clover really doesn't have a limited life span and also attracts beneficial creatures (to a slightly lower extent), it also fertilizes the soil via its root system. In general, it is considered a perennial crop, although some of its longevity may be attributed to its own reseeding capability. Rake or scratch the surface of the area where you want to plant. That was fascinating to me! Clover Lawn Pros and Cons: Why Clover is Becoming The Next Best Lawn