Clover - red or white - Ask Extension
I want to introduce clover into my lawn to be full, self sustaining and green with little maintenance.
Red clover is in bloom along Edward Hines dr...
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Clover - red or white #799774
Asked July 06, 2022, 9:01 PM EDT
I want to introduce clover into my lawn to be full, self sustaining and green with little maintenance.
Red clover is in bloom along Edward Hines drive from Dearborn to Northville and I like it but have not seen anything recommending it for lawns so there must be a reason.
Is red a good clover for lawns or should I stick with white?
Can I transplant or should I seed? What variety is best? Micro clover?
Wayne County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello,
A good choice is a micro clover.
Planting a micro clover in an existing lawn - When adding clover to an existing lawn, first mow it close and remove any thatch to allow the seed to fall to the soil surface. To
sow clover alone, mix it with enough sand to facilitate spreading. About 2 ounces of clover is needed for every 1,000 square feet of lawn. The sowing rate for an existing lawn is 1.5 pounds for 10,000 square feet. Purchase 100% micro clover seed. When planting a new lawn with micro clover, prepare the top 4 to 6 inches of your soil by tilling and adding compost. Lime where necessary, since micro clover does best with a pH of 6 to 7
To plant clover seed over grass - Before trimming your
lawn for the first time, wait until the clover drops its seeds, and then cut fairly close, about 2″ from the ground. This will also favor the clover over the grass, and help the clover plants establish their roots.
Here is some information on micro clover: Trifolium repens, is hardy to USDA Hardiness zone 3. Wayne County is warmer, in zone 5-6. Micro clover is a small-leafed variety of white clover called ‘Pirouette’ or ‘Pipolina’. Overseed in spring or fall in the sunny parts of your lawn. It may not do well in part to full shade, according to some studies.
Pros: It blends well with cool-season lawns. Clover fixes nitrogen, and so reduces the amount of nitrogen fertilizer you need to apply for the grass. If allowed to flower, it provides an important food source for bees and other pollinators.
Cons It will be killed by common lawn broadleaf weed killers. And it goes dormant and the tops die back in winter, but it resprouts from the crowns in spring. It is not
tolerant of heavy foot traffic. The ‘cons’ are why it is recommended to mix clover with a grass lawn, rather than trying to grow 100% clover as a lawn.
Here are a few links to articles, with some details on the pros-cons, and seeding rates.
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=m650
https://pollinators.msu.edu/resources/pollinator-planting/pollinator-lawns/
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/lawns-and-microclover#:~:text=Microclover%20can%20be%20included%20as,or%20lawn%20alternative%20in%20Maryland.
https://rei.rutgers.edu/downloads/pdf-documents/164-alternative-lawns-rei-contest/file
MSU Extension notes that micro clover is a pollinator-friendly addition to your lawn - Check out this link:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/smart_lawns_for_pollinators
Hope this helps!! Write back if you have more questions. Thanks for using our service.
A good choice is a micro clover.
Planting a micro clover in an existing lawn - When adding clover to an existing lawn, first mow it close and remove any thatch to allow the seed to fall to the soil surface. To
sow clover alone, mix it with enough sand to facilitate spreading. About 2 ounces of clover is needed for every 1,000 square feet of lawn. The sowing rate for an existing lawn is 1.5 pounds for 10,000 square feet. Purchase 100% micro clover seed. When planting a new lawn with micro clover, prepare the top 4 to 6 inches of your soil by tilling and adding compost. Lime where necessary, since micro clover does best with a pH of 6 to 7
To plant clover seed over grass - Before trimming your
lawn for the first time, wait until the clover drops its seeds, and then cut fairly close, about 2″ from the ground. This will also favor the clover over the grass, and help the clover plants establish their roots.
Here is some information on micro clover: Trifolium repens, is hardy to USDA Hardiness zone 3. Wayne County is warmer, in zone 5-6. Micro clover is a small-leafed variety of white clover called ‘Pirouette’ or ‘Pipolina’. Overseed in spring or fall in the sunny parts of your lawn. It may not do well in part to full shade, according to some studies.
Pros: It blends well with cool-season lawns. Clover fixes nitrogen, and so reduces the amount of nitrogen fertilizer you need to apply for the grass. If allowed to flower, it provides an important food source for bees and other pollinators.
Cons It will be killed by common lawn broadleaf weed killers. And it goes dormant and the tops die back in winter, but it resprouts from the crowns in spring. It is not
tolerant of heavy foot traffic. The ‘cons’ are why it is recommended to mix clover with a grass lawn, rather than trying to grow 100% clover as a lawn.
Here are a few links to articles, with some details on the pros-cons, and seeding rates.
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=m650
https://pollinators.msu.edu/resources/pollinator-planting/pollinator-lawns/
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/lawns-and-microclover#:~:text=Microclover%20can%20be%20included%20as,or%20lawn%20alternative%20in%20Maryland.
https://rei.rutgers.edu/downloads/pdf-documents/164-alternative-lawns-rei-contest/file
MSU Extension notes that micro clover is a pollinator-friendly addition to your lawn - Check out this link:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/smart_lawns_for_pollinators
Hope this helps!! Write back if you have more questions. Thanks for using our service.
