Clover was actually used widely in home lawns before the 1950s when broadleaf weed herbicides were introduced, according to Pennsylvania State Universitys Department of Plant Science. The soil pH and fertility needs of the clovers should be met, the seed should be inoculated with good quality inoculum of the proper type, and the seed should be planted properly at the recommended time, rate, and depth. Microclover is a new cultivar of white clover that is becoming very popular. Is there a legitmate difference in Miniclover vs Dutch White Clover? Disease, insects, soil needs? Microcloverrefers to smaller varieties of white clover(Trifolium repensvar. However, I live 20 minutes North of Boston and this year my BBU grass was turned into straw. When mixed with the right grass seed, micro clover can fill gaps, enhance the green hue of your yard, and create unique and inviting texture in your lawn. At the sight of a clover in an otherwise pristine grass lawn, zealous homeowners used to grab a spade or the weed-n-feed, and excise the poor plant. Being smaller, micro clover grows lower to the ground and does not have the clumping tendency of its larger relative. Theyre both dogs, but youre going to pay a lot more for the cute miniature version thats been specially bred. I think factors like soil type (heavy clay vs sandy), and the light conditions of your yard play a very significant role as well, so its tough to generalize. (Clover will naturally spread over time, so you may not need to try too hard to get more of it.). Depending on the region, clover is semi-evergreen or evergreen and tends to thrive in full sun to partial shade. 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. I feel that laying down a good organic fertilizer with un-coated seed is the best approach, but if youd like to buy pelletized or coated seed, try this one from West Coast Seeds. Thus, there are situations in which use of an annual clover with perennial grass is preferable. Some homeowners like to mow their lawns midseason to tidy it up and deadhead flowers. Stacy Tornio has authored more than 15 books about animals, nature, and gardening. As we become more conscious of the harmful effects of using pesticides on lawns, we are naturally going to see plants like clover popping up and sticking around. Im in New England as well and have predominantly BBU for my lawn in sandy soil. Drought Resistant: with its deep roots, micro clover is much more tolerant to drought than most grasses and will remain green even when the rest of the lawn turns brown. 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. . Grass lawns not only require regular cutting, but if you want them to look bright green year-round, youll likely have to feed, aerate, de-thatch and water your lawn. The nitrogen micro clover produces is a huge benefit for your turf. However, because clover adds nitrogen to the soil, its more likely that it will help your grass stay healthy instead of competing with the rest of your lawn. Microclover offers homeowners the opportunity to enjoy lower maintenance lawns longer in the growing season. Within 100 miles of the Gulf Coast, it often produces more autumn and winter forage than any other clover,but because it does not have good cold tolerance, production declines as it is planted farther north. Here's how: Locate a mature plant that has an offshoot branched out from it. Will you start a new micro clover lawn or seed into an existing lawn? What impact might these diseases potentially have on clover? As I mentioned above, micro clover is capable of producing its own nitrogen. Contact us at Ask Extension. All the benefits of traditional white clover packed into very tiny leaves. Clover tolerates compacted soil better than grasses do, and even tends to reduce compaction (therefore, aerating is kind of pointless). Your email address will not be published. Among the benefits of having and maintaining a clover lawn, clover is visually interesting. 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. Do you still have to treat for grubs with a clover lawn? The most widely available form of micro clover in North America is Pipolina. First, lets start with the fact that clover fixes nitrogen in the soil (an incredibly important process that helps other nearby plants (and gardens) flourish. Turner, Dr. Thomas. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. If undesirable weeds appear, its important not to treat with any broadleaf herbicides, In that situation, they dont do as well during droughts. Sowing a micro clover lawn blend helps control weeds and reduce fertilizing. This clover should be planted on well-drained soils. Micro clover (trifolium repens var. Using pruning shears or scissors, cut the offshoot to separate it from the mother plant. Thus, it is an excellent reseeder. Will you sow your seed at 100% or mix with other plants for a blended look. After a decade gracing European lawns, micro clover has arrived in North America as the next big thing in lawn alternatives. It is also perfect for being planted between paving stones, and looks great, too. Dogs Can Pee on It: clover is immune to dog patches you know, those dead, dried out parts of the lawn that cant stand the urea that comes from pee from dogs. Pipolina as it should stay 3 tall or shorter. Frequent use of broad-spectrum herbicides and pesticides (particularly synthetic pesticides) can be toxic to people and animals, and it can negatively impact local ecosystems and waterways. If youre simply wanting to thicken up an established lawn with micro clover then you can treat it the same way you would with regular grass mow it when it looks like it needs it. "Lawns and Microclover." I agree it can be tricky to know exactly what youre getting, Sanford. Yes, you canafter its established. It is quite tolerant of traffic and a natural spreader. Lawn trials show that mixes of 5 to 10% microclover will maintain the benefits of a clover lawn and keep weeds at bay. Microclover lawns are more tolerant of heavy foot traffic. Wait a week after seeding before fertilizing with organic, pelletized chicken manure. This nitrogen can enrich the surrounding soil and improve grass growth naturally. Your email address will not be published. If good bacteria are present in the soil, then there is sufficient nitrogen to give your grass and clover a good start. Hi Jay I dont know of any personally, but I can assure you that clover is a much better option than grass. Micro clover is a smaller variety of White Clover. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. A clover lawn may be the right choice for your region. The decision to embrace clover includes many factors that each person must consider. It is said the Miniclover is a dwarf variety of Dutch White, but will revert to full size if not mowed. The lush green hues and added texture will make your lawn both beautiful and comfortable to walk on barefoot. Annual clovers are not widely used in the northern United States, but some acreage of a few species is spring-planted in this area. 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. There are many reasons why mixing clover into your grass lawn is a great idea. The hardy nature of micro clover also limits the growth of weeds. Clover is primarily used as a legume component in grazing systems and cover crops as it provides forage diversity and fixes nitrogen as well. It produces a high percentage of hard seed, which favors reseeding. Microclover is not a miracle plant and it is not as "micro" as the name might suggest. Once your clover is fully established, mow and return clippings to your lawn for a natural feeding. So if you make a lot of use out of your backyard, playing sports and roughing around on the lawn, you might want to consider grass instead. Heres my privacy policy. Any special needs? Clover does well even in high heat and prolonged drought conditions. 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. I recommend using the back of a leaf rake for this. Years ago, it was a desirable part of lawns. The natural fertilizer clover produces is capable of feeding other surrounding plants, like grass. Please check your inbox to confirm your subscription! Each clover stem will have three small petal-shaped leaves (four if youre lucky!) The types of clover generally used in lawns are strawberry clover, white clover or red clover. It seems to be pretty popular amongst grazers. Combined with the fact that clover requires little in the way of watering, mowing, and pest control, clover lawn seed can be an economical option compared to many traditional grass varieties. When planting a new lawn with micro clover, prepare the top 4 to 6 inches of your soil by tilling and adding compost. Helps out-compete weeds, and keeps grass green all season long. White clover is one of the most nutritious forages available. 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. Microclover is more tolerant of traffic than many lawn alternatives and welcomes walking and playing on its surface. This is especially true with warm season grasses being grown on droughty soils. You won't have to mow a lot due to the clover growth. Acts as a natural source of fertilizer. It also has smaller leaves and grows closer to the ground. 4. Microclover is more drought tolerant and needs less fertilizer and mowing than most lawn grasses. Its familiar round, white, and fragrant flowers dot the landscape of a clover lawn. Its tiny leaves are about one third the size of traditional clover, and it doesnt clump together, making it look less like a weed and more like the even green lawns people love. With the copyright symbol on Mini clover does it mean it is genetically modified? https://www.naturesseed.com/media/wysiwyg/footer-logo.png, mixing clover into your grass lawn is a great idea. Perennial clovers also make seed, but (assuming environmental conditions and management are appropriate) individual plants can live more than one year. White Clover: Also called Trifolium repens or Dutch clover, this variety typically grows taller than microclover. "Trifolium repens." Other seeds recommended for blending with microclover include: Check with your local extension office to see which specific grasses are recommended in your area. Do I mow over the clover, or not? Micro clover plants also don't clump up as much as traditional white clover, making it more desirable for turfs. RELATED: 15 Natural Pest-Control Strategies for Your Home Landscape. Clover is resilient and doesnt need any pampering. You may also want to examine the history of lawns to better understand why todays homeowner considers clover a weed at all. Join Live Love Fruit and we'll show you how! Theyre both Trifolium repens and have the same functioning parts. Grab her free lawn care cheat-sheet: What to Do When - Take the Guesswork Out of Lawn Care, or upgrade your garage by browsing her favorite DIY lawn care products. Ive had a great lawn for years and get complimented on it. The neighbor with micro clover loves it and wont go back his primary reason for switching was because he has had such a bad grub problem in the past (grubs shouldnt bother your micro clover). Micro clover is fairly drought tolerant, requiring about 25% less water than conventional lawns to stay green. All of your herbivores will have a taste for clover. This plant is also drought-tolerant, easy to grow, and will thrive in both sun and shade. Also, the hearty clover keeps other weeds from creeping in. 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. Are micro clover lawns better than grass? 3) Clover is not durable enough for high-traffic areas. 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). Many of these species are necessary for our survival, but they are facing dwindling numbers due to habitat loss and pesticide use. I would suggest this one from West Coast Seeds. They grow very close to the ground. How Many Square Feet in a Pallet of Sod on Average? Prior to the introduction of broadleaf herbicides in the 1950s, clover was a valued component of lawn seed mixtures for its ability to fix nitrogen, enrich the soil, and improve turfgrass growth. I have always liked orchard grass because it is territorial in its growth habit and seems to be pretty durable. The site is full sun, south facing, with some morning shade. You will need to sow 25% more of these seeds compared to grass seed into an existing lawn. Mowing the hills is no longer a physical reality, so want the top 20 feet of the hill closest to the house to have vegetation than needs mowing only occasionally. Clover provides shade to the soil, reducing water evaporation, and helping grass survive periods of drought. As the seedlings sprout and grow, the clover will expand further and further into the grass. Thus, in addition to forage production situations, it is often used as a winter cover and/or green manure crop. 5. However, in many areas in the South, perennial clovers will not survive the heat and drought of summer, and first-year growth of a perennial clover is normally less than that of annual clovers. But, it can really help create a beautiful looking lawn, as long as you don't mind some Clover. It acts as its own natural fertilizer! Even more alluring is the sweet smell that emanates from the flowers. This means it keeps your lawn looking greener and lusher throughout the spring and summer. Although it can sometimes reseed itself, its beneficial to know how to plant clover, especially since you might have to replant it every 2 to 3 years. It doesn't flower nearly as much as traditional White Clover, but it does flower some, mostly in its second season. At full height, micro clover will reach about 6 inches un-mowed, and 4 inches if mowed every now and then. Pirouette and Pipolina). Hopefully, I have covered most everything. It produces beautiful purple flowers, which make it a popular choice for meadows and wildflower gardens, as well. Clover seed is highly affordable. Just remember that many weed and feed products will kill clover, so be careful when buying and applying fertilizer to your lawn. Microclover also flowers less than white clover, reducing the chances that children (and adults) will suffer bee stings when playing outside. Decomposing clover roots leave macropores in the soil. No Herbicide: clover is a broad-leaf plant, so applying herbicide will kill the plant. What should I do? Not only will your lawn be healthy from naturally-produced nitrogen, but a beautiful yard of grass and micro clover will also work in harmony to crowd out pesky weeds and keep your yard looking beautiful for years to come.

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