If your lawn abuts neighbors, make sure they want it too, because it will spread like crazy. I would have concerns about mice and voles really working the planting over. What is Micro Clover? The following are its best growing conditions: If you live in a more northern region, then your lawn is most likely Kentucky Bluegrass. It seems to have a niche but the only standalone plantings I have seen are in clover seed production fields. 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. - Ask Extension. That means less chemical toxicity around your home, and better health for the planet. As I mentioned above, micro clover is capable of producing its own nitrogen. Think of it like buying a dog from a shelter versus buying a designer toy dog from a breeder. It put the other grasses I was trialing to shame. Hi Jay I dont know of any personally, but I can assure you that clover is a much better option than grass. 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. Arrowleaf Clover Arrowleaf clover is a productive annual that makes most of its growth in late spring. Decomposing clover roots leave macropores in the soil. 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. Pipolina as it should stay 3 tall or shorter. 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. One area with a poor track record for growing micro clover is the extreme Southern United States. Turner, Dr. Thomas. In terms of genetic engineering, I am unaware of any commercially available clover varieties. View our Seasonal Sale, with Free Shipping over $99. Micro Clover. I did not water at all this summer(too many other things to do). It can be used to create a mixed or pure clover lawn that are shorter than the standard Dutch white clover you see in parks. 5. Tolerates closer mowing than standard white clover. In addition, the autumn forage growth of established perennial clovers is better than that of recently germinated annual clovers. 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. Nitrogen from rainwater and granular fertilizer penetrates the soil and feeds your grass. The best temperature for white clover is between 50 degrees and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Microclover lawns are more tolerant of heavy foot traffic. West Coast Seeds has it (heres the link) if you want to buy directly from a company and cant find what youre looking for on Amazon. So, without further adieu, here are some reasons why you might want (or might not want) to grow a micro clover lawn. Remember what you planted and where, so when you have success, youll know which variety to spread further. If youre unsure how much water to use, test your soil using a moisture meter and adjust accordingly. Last year it was one of the most popular products at Natures Seed which, unfortunately, led to us selling out of this product early. There are many clover lawn options to choose from. Acts as a natural source of fertilizer. 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. When first planted, water daily to speed germination and help establish a strong root system. . With a less invasive clump-forming habit, the microclover tends to have a lower growth rate, fewer flowers, and smaller leaves. Sow seed at the recommended rate and water well to establish quickly. While you can find several varieties of clover, there are a few that are best for backyards and lawns. Hi, my name is Sarah and Im the chick behind LawnChick.com. It will help the seedlings establish quicker and stronger, help your lawn grow better, and benefit indoor plants. In this approach, youre treating it like a ground cover, which adds an element of diversity to the space. The guy with bluegrass had his sprinklers going every day, I watered my lawn deeply about once per week, and so did the neighbor with micro-clover. Microclover is a variation of white clover. 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. All over North America, people are making the choice to replace their grass lawns with easier-to-manage plants that dont require so much care. The only one I would worry about in clover would be Vert. Thanks for this article. The Copyright symbol would indicate that it is a privately bred and marketed variety. Its familiar round, white, and fragrant flowers dot the landscape of a clover lawn. Micro Clover is a dwarf cultivar of white clover characterized by smaller leaflets and fewer blooms. Now, however, savvy gardeners know that clover can enhance a home lawn and has uses far beyond providing good grazing pasture land for animals. 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. It is one of the most tolerant clovers to drought and low fertility conditions. Turf benefits from regular core aeration, which is either time-consuming to do yourself or expensive if you hire a lawn care company. 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. Check the amount of sunlight your area receives before planting using a sunlight calculator. Thus, there are situations in which use of an annual clover with perennial grass is preferable. 7. You dont have to go to great lengths to get rid of it, which equals less maintenance for you and environmental bonus points. Save 12% on your order with promo code LAWNCHICK2023. Those are a lot of great questions! 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. I love having the clover on my lawn, but apparently it is not as drought tolerant as I thought. 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. Mixes well with turf-type tall fescue (and Kentucky bluegrass) and provides a uniform appearance; Provides an organic source of nitrogen (in grass clippings and as it decays) to support turfgrass growth; may reduce one nitrogen application per year; Does not tolerate high heat and drought; starts to die when cool-season turfgrass enters dormancy in the summer; requires reseeding for persistence; Top growth dies back in the winter which can leave bare spots and lead to erosion; Seeds are expensive and not readily available in retail stores; Most broadleaf herbicides labeled for use on tall-fescue will kill microclover; Bees attracted to the flowers may be undesirable for people with bee sting allergies; Southern blight disease can be a problem occasionally in prolonged periods of high humidity and high nighttime temperatures. Furthermore, clovers may also differ with regard to the particular benefits they provide (for example, if forage growth is desired at a specific time, one clover may be a much better choice than another). And with the demand for Microclover outpacing the supply, prices are not expected to go down anytime soon. Sow clover seed at roughly 6 to 8 ounces per 1,000 square feet. 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. Still have a question? The drawback, however, is if you or your children tend to walk barefoot, theres a small chance you could accidentally step on a bee and get stung. Having a micro clover lawn (whether purely micro clover or through incorporating micro clover in an existing lawn) is a matter of preference. If planted in autumn, most growth occurs in mid-spring. Microclover needs 4 to 6 hours of sunlight every day. Great questions Ill try to respond to each below: In my experience micro clover tends to be about 25% more drought tolerant than traditional grass. Recommended pairings: Tall fescue or Kentucky bluegrass Thus, it is an excellent reseeder. Annual clovers complete their life cycles within one year (i.e., plants emerge from seed, grow, produce seed, and die, all within a 12 month period). 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 most widely available form of micro clover in North America is Pipolina. You will need to sow 25% more of these seeds compared to grass seed into an existing lawn. What impact might these diseases potentially have on clover? The types of clover generally used in lawns are strawberry clover, white clover or red clover. If clover arrives in your lawn without an invitation, your lawns grass is probably ailing and you need to support your yards soil by top-dressing it with compost, and/or spreading organic fertilizer. But you have to be 100% sure you want it (because if you dont, Im not sure youll ever get rid of it). Some homeowners like to mow their lawns midseason to tidy it up and deadhead flowers. In seeding micro clover in semi mature lawns, what is the norm for mowing? I don't think it could be considered "GMO." Clover also attracts beneficial insects, including pollinators, and wildlife such as rabbits, so avoid applying pesticides on clover out of caution. Red clover requires good soil moisture, but is not as tolerant of wet conditions as white clover. 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. 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. Further, the traditional white clover plant that appeared in lawns tends to form big clumps that suppress desirable grasses. since these will kill microclover. Thats anecdotal, but its a very specific observation I had looking at three different cool-season options in my neighborhood (though its worth pointing out that the micro-clover wasnt fully established yet, and was in its first year still performed very well). Clover lawns are visually stunning, give nutrients back to the soil, and are a nectar source for bees. Clover has much deeper roots than turf, so planting clover instead of grass means youll spend far less time and money watering your 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. It can therefore thrive even if the soil is nitrogen deficient. 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. Reviewed by Dr. Mark J. Carroll, Director, Environmental Science & Policy Program, University of Maryland, April 2019. If you plant too late in the fall, it might not germinate till next spring. Special thanks to Max Floyd of Earth, Water & Wood for sharing information about micro clover lawns in the home landscape. These types have smaller leaves, fewer flowers, and a lower growth habit compared to Dutch white clover. It is usually grown in pastures, but can also be cut for hay (one cutting only). 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. Rake or scratch the surface of the area where you want to plant. 6. Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences. 3 It also has smaller leaves and grows. There are many different types of Vert, however, and the type affecting the trees may be different than the type that would affect clover. Annual clovers reproduce only from seed and not by vegetative propagation from roots or other plant structures. Difference #1: When regularly mown, Microclover is smaller, shorter, and more compact than Common White Clover. "The Role of Clover." Because clover seed is so fine, it passes between blades of grass quite effectively, but sow 25% more seed than you would a bare lawn to account for those that dont penetrate to the soil level. By Christa Carignan, Maryland Certified Professional Horticulturist, Coordinator, University of Maryland Extension Home & Garden Information Center. Clover is soft and cool, providing a carpet for barefoot walkers. 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. I have an underground sprinkler system, but our town only allowed us to water once a week. 1) Is Trifolium repens L. var. Yes, the heat and drought this summer was brutal. Perform a soil test (I use. It improves forage quality above a pure grass stand and supplies nitrogen for grass growth. Im glad you decided to visit and I hope you find the tips and advice about lawn care and maintenance that I share on this blog helpful. The KBG lawn still looked more crispy than either of ours despite his daily waterings. Its a contentious debate. Regular white Dutch clover and Microclover are essentially the same plant. 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. It also has smaller leaves and grows closer to the ground. All of your herbivores will have a taste for clover. Not to mention, some people also take the toxic route of spraying their lawns with herbicides to get rid of dandelions. Delayed germination is due to hard seed which have a seed coat that must be broken down over time to allow water to enter the seed. I will try to chew through them one-by-one. Portland landscaper, Max Floyd of Earth, Water & Wood, recommends mixing micro clover with dwarf fescues for an easy care option. It is a great quality micro clover seed mixed with fescue that blends seamlessly with most lawns. Not only do clover lawns require less mowing, but they also need less watering than most grasses. Please enter your email address below to receive a password reset link. It feeds the soil with nitrogen, chokes out pesky weeds, and boosts turf texture. This one has smaller leaves and far fewer blooms, but it is a lot more tolerant to foot traffic and mowing. 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. Can I mow full size Dutch White and have the same results as Miniclover would offer? As mentioned previously, micro clover is not right for everyone. Clover does well even in high heat and prolonged drought conditions. Thus, once a decision has been made as to which clover species to plant, selection of the most suitable variety can mean the difference between good and poor results, University variety trial reports are the best sources of unbiased variety information. 5. Content on Live Love Fruit may not be reproduced in any form. The University of Maryland conducted research on microclover used in combination with turf-type tall fescue. The sowing rate for an existing lawn is 1.5 pounds for 10,000 square feet. I agree it can be tricky to know exactly what youre getting, Sanford. What does clover look like? 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. Microclover ( Trifolium repens L. var. Clover lawns attract bees and other pollinators, including butterflies. 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! Benefits clovers can provide include improved forage quality, increased forage yield, biological nitrogen fixation, extension of the growing season, soil improvement, and land beautification. However, others claim micro clover is more drought tolerant than most grasses due to its root structure. It is also perfect for being planted between paving stones, and looks great, too. White clover and red clover are most commonly grown in combination with cool season perennial grasses such as tall fescue, orchardgrass, timothy, or smooth bromegrass. Ball clover is best suited to heavy soils, but is surprisingly well adapted to fairly dry sites as well. But, it can really help create a beautiful looking lawn, as long as you don't mind some Clover. I recommend using the back of a leaf rake for this. I would suggest this one from West Coast Seeds. And by keeping your lawn covered with this versatile, low-maintenance plant, you're actually doing a small part to protect the environment. Pirouette), Friedrich (Klimpi) Loosli (Klimperator) / EyeEm / Getty Images, A Regional Guide to Cover Crops to Banish the Bare Ground, 11 Edible Ground Cover Plants for Backyards and Gardens, The 20 Best Evergreen Shrubs for a Perfect Garden, 13 Best Examples of Cover Crops for Your Small Farm, Growing Guide for Daphne Odora: Plant Care Tips and Varieties, The Best Organic Potting Soil for All Your Gardening Needs, the harmful effects of using pesticides on lawns. Homeowners were generally OK with this, however, because clover flowers attract bees, and no one wants a child running across the lawn to get stung. If your grass is thin or brown, its possible that clover can take over those areas of your lawnespecially if theyre shady. 9. A clover yard only needs to be mowed a few times a year, as opposed to the weekly mowing required by most grass lawns. Arrowleaf/grass mixtures should be grazed enough to prevent the clover seedlings from being shaded by the grass. Theres been a lot of talk lately in the gardening world about clover. Sun or Shade: clover grows well in both sun and shade. These cookies do not store any personal information. She loves to do yoga, dance, and immerse herself in nature. Both of them seem to do very well in perennial legumes. Micro clover also works well in . They can grow as high as 6 inches only! If it is mowed occasionally, it will reach about 4 inches high. Whether it be the latest designer Microclover or good ol standard white Dutch clover, youll be doing your lawn a favor either way. All the benefits of traditional white clover packed into very tiny leaves. With the copyright symbol on Mini clover does it mean it is genetically modified? The showy crimson-colored blooms can provide a spectacular show in early to mid-spring. It acts as its own natural fertilizer! "Lawns and Microclover." My question is whether there is true a difference in Miniclover as opposed to Dutch White Clover? All clover is considered a legume capable of turning atmospheric nitrogen gas into an organic form of nitrogen. 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. Other seeds recommended for blending with microclover include: Check with your local extension office to see which specific grasses are recommended in your area. Im in New England with very sandy soil on my lot, so periods of drought can be tough on my yard too. What should I do? 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. A single 5 pound bag will overseed 2,500 square feet! Planting a whole yard with micro clover would be pretty pricey. The lush green hues and added texture will make your lawn both beautiful and comfortable to walk on barefoot. In some zones, the lush green foliage goes dormant and turns brown in the winter. Required fields are marked *. Bob Vila has partnered with Sunday to get your clover lawn exactly what it needs to thrive. 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. The percentage of hard seed produced varies depending mainly on the clover species and variety, but environmental conditions also have an influence. Its hard to say if this is an issue with management style, cross-pollination with regular clover, or something else, but be aware that it can happen. Grass needs nitrogen but must obtain that nutrient from the soil. 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. Microclover is a new cultivar of white clover that is becoming very popular. Traditional clover otherwise known as White Clover or Dutch clover in your lawn could be a signal that your grass is starving. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Creeping Thyme is a beast once established, and will do fine for you if youre patient in the early going. Because clover is a legume, it takes nitrogen from the air and transfers it into the ground, where the gas improves nearby plants and soil quality. Naturally-produced nitrogen from clover and other legumes in your yard limits the need to apply fertilizer. Some people do kill their lawn and start over, sowing their entire lawn in micro clover. The sowing rate for a new lawn is 1 to 2 pounds for 1,000 square feet. Being smaller, micro clover grows lower to the ground and does not have the clumping tendency of its larger relative. NOTE: This publication provides general information which applies in most cases. While clover is certainly nothing new, the buzz has been focused on the latest varieties of white clover that have been bred for smaller and smaller leaf sizes. When planting a new lawn with micro clover, prepare the top 4 to 6 inches of your soil by tilling and adding compost. Is there a legitmate difference in Miniclover vs Dutch White Clover? All content copyright document.write( new Date().getFullYear() ); Pennington Seed, Inc. All Rights Reserved. It also doesn't clump as easily as white clover, so it blends well with other grasses. Micro clover is an extra-small version of white clover (Trifolium repens) that has been around for decades in Europe. Unfortunately, they don't eat blackberry or Tansy, only my flowers, shrubs, and vegetables! If you do go with Micro Clover youll definitely need to be careful about what you use for products because many weed killers kill clover, as do many weed and feed products. Again, checking to see if micro clover is recommended in your area is smart, so that you dont end up with disappointing surprises. bag of Scotts Turf Builder Clover Lawn covers 1,000 . For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. For folks with reservations about mixing clover into their grass lawn, Microclover is more acceptable visually. I hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. After a decade gracing European lawns, micro clover has arrived in North America as the next big thing in lawn alternatives. Through a symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium soil bacteria, legumes are able to transform atmospheric nitrogen gas into an organic form of nitrogen that can be used by plants. When seeded into warm season grasses, they are normally planted near the expected date of the first killing frost. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. Prevent anyone from walking on the seeds for at least four weeks after sowing so that the plants have a chance of establishing themselves. Micro clovers are very soft and lush and when blooming, you will have a pleasant smell! If good bacteria are present in the soil, then there is sufficient nitrogen to give your grass and clover a good start. 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). Keep the soil moist until germination. This type of clover is considered aggressive and invasive in some areas, which is important to keep in mind when monitoring its growth. Tyler, https://plantscience.psu.edu/reduce-runoff/questions-about-microclover. If the clover looks not so happy after mowing, just wait a day or two for it to pick up! White clover tolerates cold, but it's a little sensitive to heat. If undesirable weeds appear, its important not to treat with any broadleaf herbicides, Deciding between coated and non-coated seeds will depend on the condition of your soil. 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. In fact, there are plenty of pesticides and products on the market that will tell you how to get rid of clover. White clover seed for lawns costs an average of about $4 per pound. 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. What Can Be Sprayed on Mold That Will Not Kill Grass or Hurt Animals or Humans? By itself, clover doesnt hold up well to repeated heavy foot traffic or playing fields, However, when blended with turfgrass, it can make a strong lawn and take occasional heavy traffic. Do you recommend a brand of seed that doesnt revert back to the larger version of clover? This health benefit is one of the main reasons people are adding micro clover to their lawns. 3. Microclover refers to smaller varieties of white clover (Trifolium repens var. That makes me wonder if they are the same except the mini clover is trained to stay lower by mowing. Blending can also help compensate for the fact that in some zones, micro clover will go dormant in winter and turn brown. Great for grazing. 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. Once we grow clover, does that mean we should only use fertilizer (i.e, no weed or crabgrass killer)? 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. Meanwhile, some turfgrasses scorch in the summer sun, while others become spindly in partial shade. One of the easier options for getting started is to add seeds to your existing space a little at a time. with a white V or crescent.
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