Content on Live Love Fruit may not be reproduced in any form. Visit our product page for more information about microclover blends and natural lawn care. Water two time daily to keep the soil surface wet for the first two weeks. The University of Maryland conducted research on microclover used in combination with turf-type tall fescue. Again, checking to see if micro clover is recommended in your area is smart, so that you dont end up with disappointing surprises. As the roots grow along the surface, new clover plants will fill in any blank spots. MicroLawn Grass Seed & Microclover Blend - 5 lbs, Organic Turf Starter Fertilizer 4-6-4 - 30 lbs, Corn Gluten Organic Fertilizer 8-0-0 - 40 lbs, Corn Gluten Granulated Organic Fertilizer 9-0-0 - 30 lbs, 2023 Eartheasy.com - All Rights Reserved, Eartheasy Renews Commitment After Planting 27,000 Trees, Designing a Landscape With Raised Garden Beds, https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/_images/programs/hgic/Publications/non_HGIC_FS/TT121%20Tall%20fescue%20microclover%20lawns.pdf, https://plantscience.psu.edu/reduce-runoff/questions-about-microclover. Ladino varieties of white clover are usually most productive, but generally do not reseed well.Intermediate white clover types are better reseeders and more persistent, but usually are less productive. Think a clover lawn is right for you? Produces 90% fewer flowers, so it attracts fewer bees. White clover can tolerate close grazing but persists best if allowed a period to recover. Microclover is a variation of white clover. That means less chemical toxicity around your home, and better health for the planet. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. When planting a new lawn with micro clover, prepare the top 4 to 6 inches of your soil by tilling and adding compost. But there are still a couple reasons why people might not want a full clover lawn (2): 1) Clover stains clothing more easily than grass. Im in New England as well and have predominantly BBU for my lawn in sandy soil. With Microclover, its possible to overseed a traditional grass lawn with clover without actually noticing the clover. Clover lawns are visually stunning, give nutrients back to the soil, and are a nectar source for bees. Micro clover is basically a dwarf version of white clover, and doesnt reach higher than 6 inches, even if you never mow it (1). This is because a white clover lawn grows only 2 to 8 inches tall. Missouri Botanical Garden. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. However, others claim micro clover is more drought tolerant than most grasses due to its root structure. Theyre both Trifolium repens and have the same functioning parts. It is also resistant to lawn weeds (like dandelion even though dandelion is a very beneficial medicine), and can even smother them to death. Hi, my name is Sarah and Im the chick behind LawnChick.com. Depending on the region, clover is semi-evergreen or evergreen and tends to thrive in full sun to partial shade. Micro clover is a smaller variety of White Clover. Apr 23, 2019 Carly Fraser Post contains aAffiliate links Save For Later Print. If this is too unpredictable, watering the space lightly after broadcasting the seed is recommended. Thats because clover grass is drought-tolerantyet it might stay green year-round, even in northern hardiness zones. Clover Vs. Grass Lawn: Differences | Lawn Model I love having the clover on my lawn, but apparently it is not as drought tolerant as I thought. Because of this, right after your aerate is a great time to add clover seeds to your lawn. However, as they were picking along, I watched a few of them feeding on red clover leaves. If youre unsure how much water to use, test your soil using a moisture meter and adjust accordingly. Most clover varieties grow to a height of 2-8 inches. It is best adapted to medium and heavy textured soils with good moisture-holding capacity. University of Maryland Extension on Facebook, University of Maryland Extension on Instagram, University of Maryland Extension on Twitter, University of Maryland Extension on Youtube, 2018-2023 College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect, instructions for how to enable JavaScript in your web browser, (PDF) Microclover - Tall Fescue Lawns in the Mid-Atlantic Region. NOTE: This publication provides general information which applies in most cases. Compared to white clover, a common part of lawns in the past, microclover has smaller leaves, grows lower to the ground, and doesn't grow in clumps. When you opt-in you will also receive a weekly email update. A medium-sized, 10,000-square-foot lawn will cost twice as much. If it is mowed occasionally, it will reach about 4 inches high. One concern I would have is already addressed later in your questions. The benefits of growing a micro clover lawn far outweigh the negatives. Strawberry Clover Vs. Microclover: How Are They Different? - Den Residence Clover has much deeper roots than turf, so planting clover instead of grass means youll spend far less time and money watering your lawn. A 100% microclover lawn is a thing of beauty, but as noted above, the seed can be costly for larger areas. But various websites, and comments from purchasers of a microclover on Amazon, say that their product can be much taller3-6 or more, as per Davids comment above. If I missed anything or have created other questions, please feel free to holler! In addition, the autumn forage growth of established perennial clovers is better than that of recently germinated annual clovers. It also turns green very early in the season, and remains green until frost starts to set in. 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. Related: How to Reduce the Size of Your Lawn. Everything You Need To Know About Clover Lawns - Treehugger What impact might these diseases potentially have on clover? Microclover: This dwarf variety of Dutch white clover is lower-growing with smaller leaves and fewer flowers than its relative. It makes most of its growth in mid-spring. If your lawn abuts neighbors, make sure they want it too, because it will spread like crazy. Additionally, when a dogs got to go, a dogs got to go. It grows quickly and best on well-drained soil, but like strawberry soil, can thrive on a range of soil varieties. Also, the hearty clover keeps other weeds from creeping in. Good morning, 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). 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. Id be willing to try micro clover in my backyard, but Im honestly gun-shy at this point given how badly BBU did this year if what youre saying is that what I have should be drought tolerant. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Pirouette the same as micro clover? Clover is one such plant that requires less tending to than grass and actually helps local pollinators. Save 12% on your order with promo code LAWNCHICK2023. Removing your existing lawn would be the first step if you want a full-coverage micro clover lawn. "Trifolium repens." Theyre both dogs, but youre going to pay a lot more for the cute miniature version thats been specially bred. The natural fertilizer clover produces is capable of feeding other surrounding plants, like grass. Keep the soil moist until germination. Use a Scotts spreader to apply clover seed over existing lawn. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. After a decade gracing European lawns, micro clover has arrived in North America as the next big thing in lawn alternatives. Ten-pound bags that will cover 5,000 square feet are close to $300. Are you ready to take the leap into microclover? Unlike regular Dutch clover, it doesnt grow in clumps, grows more slowly, and is less aggressive at crowding out other plants. Yes, you canafter its established. Required fields are marked *. ( It will not be turned under as a cover crop.) You will need to sow 25% more of these seeds compared to grass seed into an existing lawn. They also have a less aggressive clump-forming habit. The leaves of micro clover are twice as small as those of white clover, and if you mow the lawn, the leaves regrow even smaller! Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Microclover is one such variety developed by the DLF seed company. Dutch white clover is the most common variety, providing lawns with that class clover look. Any special needs? . Benefits of Miniclover versus White Dutch Clover? : r/NoLawns - Reddit Try to plant your seed before a gentle rain. Clover doesnt require any additional fertilizer either! The most hardy variety has similar winter hardiness to arrowleaf clover or crimson clover, but varieties often grown in western states are much less cold tolerant. It also has smaller leaves and grows closer to the ground. Rose clover produces many hard seeds, and reseeding is often good. 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. A full-blown stand of micro clover requires between 2 and 5 pounds of seed per 1000 square feet of lawn. 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. Join Live Love Fruit and we'll show you how! One area with a poor track record for growing micro clover is the extreme Southern United States. It seems to have a niche but the only standalone plantings I have seen are in clover seed production fields. Dutch White Clover Trifolium repens f. hollandicum - Smith Seed The primary period of growth is early to mid-spring. In the strictest sense, all of our cultivated crops are genetically modified through selective breeding practices. It wont harm it at all and the more you thicken it up early on the less youll have to mow in the future. Because clover is considered a living mulch, it provides nutrients to the soil and helps it resist compaction. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Topsoil will help retain moisture for the first couple weeks after planting. While micro clover was designed for mixed grass/clover purposes, that doesnt mean you cant sow a pure micro clover lawn. Clover is primarily used as a legume component in grazing systems and cover crops as it provides forage diversity and fixes nitrogen as well. 10. Microclover is a newly developed cultivar of white clover that is gaining popularity in clover lawns because of its improved traits. If your lawn is a mix of grass and clover, the grass will be greener and healthier and wont need fertilizing. There seems to be some confusion about what is Microclover. 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). The florets range in color from white to pink. Not to mention, some people also take the toxic route of spraying their lawns with herbicides to get rid of dandelions. When used in a lawn mix, it not only supplies continuous nitrogen but helps suppress weeds. The nitrogen-fixing properties of clovers build nutrients in the soil and feed other grasses in the blend, leading to a thick, dense cover. Beneficial for Pollinators and Wildlife: the flowers of clover are an important nectar source for pollinating insects like bees. Perennial clovers also make seed, but (assuming environmental conditions and management are appropriate) individual plants can live more than one year. Clover also attracts beneficial insects, including pollinators, and wildlife such as rabbits, so avoid applying pesticides on clover out of caution. She currently lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with a determined life mission to help inspire and motivate individuals to critically think about what they put in their bodies and to find balance through nutrition and lifestyle. Microclover is a variation of white clover. 1. White clovers prefer soil within pH levels of 5.8 - 7.0. How to Grow Microclover | Eartheasy Guides & Articles Trees in the area have Wet Wood, Verticillium Wilt, and a few lost to fire blight. 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. 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. Here are two of the top low-maintenance clover varieties for lawns. The types of clover generally used in lawns are strawberry clover, white clover or red clover. Being smaller, micro clover grows lower to the ground and does not have the clumping tendency of its larger relative. Mowing microclover is important because it encourages the plants to form their characteristic tight, miniature habit. Scotts Turf Builder Clover Lawn Seed for a Greener Lawn with Less 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. 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. Rotational stocking is the best way to utilize berseem clover pastures. Perform a soil test (I use. 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. Ideally not your own address for your privacy.. Having some trouble talking my wife into taking this approach. Low-maintenance Dutch clovers and microclovers, strains in the family of white clovers, are currently the top choices. If the seeds are broadcast over an existing lawn, germination will be greatly reduced (hence why raking deep into the grass to open up spots of soil is recommended). 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). Naturally-produced nitrogen from clover and other legumes in your yard limits the need to apply fertilizer. Red clover requires good soil moisture, but is not as tolerant of wet conditions as white clover. Because of these characteristics and their nitrogen-fixing ability, there is interest in using microclover in lawns to enhance turfgrass growth and reduce nitrogen fertilizer applications. While most plants appreciate some shade in the heat of summer, too much shade will cause microclover lawns to struggle. Best Clover for Lawns | Lawn Model Hi. Turfgrass, meanwhile, needs an inch or more of water per week. Clover is an important part of having a green, low maintenance lawn that doesn't need a lot of water. White Clover: Also called Trifolium repens or Dutch clover, this variety typically grows taller than microclover. Mowing flowers off, however, negates the benefit of providing food and shelter for pollinators. But with so many people stuck on the idea that grass lawns are the ultimate goal in life, it is difficult to get die-hards to make the switch. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. In some locations, microclover goes dormant in the winter and wont retain its lush look year round, so blending with other plants can extend your lawns green look. In seeding micro clover in semi mature lawns, what is the norm for mowing? support your yards soil by top-dressing it with compost, Sundays Lucky Lawn clover and grass seed blend, This is my top recommendation for raw or uncoated micro clover seeds, What to Do When - Take the Guesswork Out of Lawn Care, When to Plant Grass Seed (in every state & growing region), Best Spring Lawn Fertilizer (greenest lawn on the block), Spurge Weed Identification (+ how to kill it in your lawn), The Disadvantages of Zero Turn Mowers (that nobodys talking about), Buy 100% micro clover seed with no fillers (. It improves forage quality above a pure grass stand and supplies nitrogen for grass growth. All of your herbivores will have a taste for clover. Once you achieve the size and look youre going for, you can reduce mowing to as little as once per monthor mow weekly for tighter, lower growth and to control blossoming. 15 Reasons Why a Clover Lawn is Better Than a Grass Lawn Micro clover is a tough plant that can handle foot traffic, but it still needs those couple of weeks to establish. Other options include adding clover seed during the core aeration process or digging up parts of your grass lawn. My next-door neighbor seeded micro-clover in his front lawn this spring with great results, and across the street from him I have a neighbor that laid bluegrass sod a few years ago. A clover-only planting would worry me in regard to its ability to keep the weeds out. If you dont mow your clover very often, the plants will start to produce little white flowers that not only look super cute, but help the insects, too. The nitrogen micro clover produces is a huge benefit for your turf. Microclover "spoon feeds" nitrogen to the grass, producing a healthy, dense and naturally green lawn. The sowing rate for an existing lawn is 1.5 pounds for 10,000 square feet. 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. 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. No Herbicide: clover is a broad-leaf plant, so applying herbicide will kill the plant. While micro clover seed might be more expensive than plain grass seed, it also requires less fertilizer and maintenance. It is more difficult finding it in local garden centers, so buying micro clover online seems to be the best option. Crimson clover makes more growth during cool weather than most clovers and is the earliest-maturing commonly grown clover species. Having a micro clover lawn (whether purely micro clover or through incorporating micro clover in an existing lawn) is a matter of preference. This will introduce air, water, and nutrients into the soil and give your seed a better chance of taking hold.