She loves to do yoga, dance, and immerse herself in nature. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Success! While green lawns will turn yellow from dog pee, clover laws stay as green and lush as ever. It is a great quality micro clover seed mixed with fescue that blends seamlessly with most lawns. by Dr. Don Ball, Extension Agronomist/Alumni Professor (Auburn University) and Dr.Garry Lacefield, Extension Agronomist/Professor (University of Kentucky) on behalf of the Oregon Clover Commission, Salem, OR. Sowing the same size areawith a premium grass seed will cost about $100 or less, depending on the brand and the store. The second summer the clover has shot up over 6 8 inches in some parts with leaves 3 x regular clover. The biggest advantage to this small-leaved version is how it blends with a grass lawn. This publication provides general information regarding a number of points that should be considered when deciding which clovers to plant. 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. If good bacteria are present in the soil, then there is sufficient nitrogen to give your grass and clover a good start. 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). Visit our product page for more information about microclover blends and natural lawn care. Is Trifolium repens L. var. 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. Acts as a natural source of fertilizer. Arrowleaf Clover Arrowleaf clover is a productive annual that makes most of its growth in late spring. So this does raise some questions: Given your reply above, are you saying my BBU lawn should be more drought tolerant than micro-clover? While the white clover is the most popular and easiest to find on the market, other varieties may better suit your lawn conditions. Ten minutes of the sprinkler twice a day is sufficient, but water according to your needs (and your local climate). Annuals reproduce only from seed, while perennials propagate through both seed and spreading roots. 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. Use a Scotts spreader to apply clover seed over existing lawn. It is quite tolerant of traffic and a natural spreader. Thats why Ive curated my research to provide you with micro clover lawn pros and cons (so you dont have to). While it is defined by many as an eco-friendly alternative to lawn grass, people may still consider clover to be a lawn weed. Broadcasting microclover works much better than broadcasting regular grass seed. When micro clover first grows, the leaves will be much larger. Yes, you canafter its established. Copyright 2012 - 2023 Live Love FruitPrivacy Policy | Terms of Service | Full Disclaimer | Affiliate Disclosure. This clover features florets that, when ripe, take on a pinkish hue and resemble (you guessed it) strawberries. Perform a soil test (I use. Your email address will not be published. Clover will begin to grow in 5-7 days. Do you still have to treat for grubs with a clover lawn? Related: How to Reduce the Size of Your Lawn. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Some experts say it grows best in zones without extremely high temperatures and extended periods of drought. 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). This is particularly true with so many droughts happening nowadays I wouldnt be surprised if everyone switched to micro clover as a result. For those looking for a cover that will stand up to pets and kids, it might be the perfect option. What are the pros and cons of planting a 100% micro cover as a turf replacement ground cover? Sowing a micro clover lawn blend helps control weeds and reduce fertilizing. Berseem Clover Berseem clover is an annual which bears a superficial resemblance to alfalfa. Clover lawns attract bees and other pollinators, including butterflies. (Clover will naturally spread over time, so you may not need to try too hard to get more of it.). Once your clover is fully established, mow and return clippings to your lawn for a natural feeding. 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. To keep the clover, you will have to keep the less desirables as well. Traditional clover otherwise known as White Clover or Dutch clover in your lawn could be a signal that your grass is starving. Why You Should Consider a Micro Clover Lawn (The Mini Clover Trend There are many reasons why mixing clover into your grass lawn is a great idea. Both of them seem to do very well in perennial legumes. Are you ready to take the leap into microclover? If you live in an appropriate climate region, you might consider adding micro clover to your existing grass for a lush and healthy lawn all season. Limiting nitrogen runoff is a goal of theMaryland Lawn Fertilizer Lawas part of broader efforts to protect the Chesapeake Bay. You can either sprinkle the seeds by hand, or by spreading with a lawn seeding machine. Some homeowners like to mow their lawns midseason to tidy it up and deadhead flowers. In fact, a micro clover-only lawn has been tried and tested by many individuals with much success. Benefits of Having Microclover It was first developed in Denmark and Netherland to use on the golf course. Rose clover produces many hard seeds, and reseeding is often good. The protein concentration of white clover will exceed 15% and the digestibility 70%. Start by determining the square footage of the area you . The soil is hard packed clay, acidic, modified (poorly) with compost and top soil mix. So, without further adieu, here are some reasons why you might want (or might not want) to grow a micro clover 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. Water your clover until it is fully established (especially if you live in a hot, dry climate). Should I plant a ground cover such as Creeping thyme or Snow in summer? 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. Save 12% on your order with promo code LAWNCHICK2023. You may also want to examine the history of lawns to better understand why todays homeowner considers clover a weed at all. While micro clover seed might be more expensive than plain grass seed, it also requires less fertilizer and maintenance. This differs from public domain varieties that do not have licenses or royalties attached to them. This is because a white clover lawn grows only 2 to 8 inches tall. We want to put in a low maintenance "fire break" between the house and the rest of the hill that is covered with plants and grasses that grow up to 4 feet tall, (including fighting to mow and de-seed Blackberry, Tansy Ragwort, and Mammoth Red Clover). Clover forms dense clumps that spread by their secondary roots and will out-compete broadleaf weeds, so it effectively acts as its own herbicide. 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. Pirouette the same as micro clover? Aeration helps the soil become more welcoming to organic fertilizer, water, and seeds. Now, however, savvy gardeners know that clover can enhance a home lawn and has uses far beyond providing good grazing pasture land for animals. I happen to be in Winnipeg a well! Get Free Access After a decade gracing European lawns, micro clover has arrived in North America as the next big thing in lawn alternatives. Dont water too heavily or your seeds will run off and pool in low areas. Turf benefits from regular core aeration, which is either time-consuming to do yourself or expensive if you hire a lawn care company. It doesn't seem to make any claims about "performing" better than dutch clover in terms of nitrogen fixation, wear hardiness, etc. The lush green hues and added texture will make your lawn both beautiful and comfortable to walk on barefoot. How to Grow Microclover | Eartheasy Guides & Articles Benefits clovers can provide include improved forage quality, increased forage yield, biological nitrogen fixation, extension of the growing season, soil improvement, and land beautification. Micro clover plants also don't clump up as much as traditional white clover, making it more desirable for turfs. Again, checking to see if micro clover is recommended in your area is smart, so that you dont end up with disappointing surprises. Do you know what is causing that? Micro clover is a smaller variety of White Clover. All clovers are legumes. Microclover is a newly developed cultivar of white clover that is gaining popularity in clover lawns because of its improved traits. Not only is it easy to grow and guaranteed to green up your space; it also has a fun texture much different than grass. I have an underground sprinkler system, but our town only allowed us to water once a week. Rake or scratch the surface of the area where you want to plant. Removing your existing lawn would be the first step if you want a full-coverage micro clover lawn. Spread the seeds evenly by seeding north-south/north-south, and then once more east-west/east-west. I have loamy soil with a neutral pH between 6 and 7. However, I live 20 minutes North of Boston and this year my BBU grass was turned into straw. The white microclover lawn is very dense, very lush, and very beautiful. This type of clover is used by many vineyards and orchards. Would that have been enough for micro-clover in my sunny spots? Gently rake in the seed for an even distribution and good soil contact. 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. While the supply still hasnt caught up to the demand, we were able to source a limited supply for the 2020 growing season and are happy to say its back in stock. 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.