micro clover vs white clover

After a decade gracing European lawns, micro clover has arrived in North America as the next big thing in lawn alternatives. 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. Redclover can be more of a tender plant compared to other clovers. Originally produced in the Netherlands and Denmark for use in golf courses, micro clover offers homeowners a lush option in low maintenance landscaping. For folks with reservations about mixing clover into their grass lawn, Microclover is more acceptable visually. Micro clover seeds are extra fine in texture. Clover is primarily used as a legume component in grazing systems and cover crops as it provides forage diversity and fixes nitrogen as well. I would suggest this one from West Coast Seeds. Beneficial for Pollinators and Wildlife: the flowers of clover are an important nectar source for pollinating insects like bees. Hi Jay I dont know of any personally, but I can assure you that clover is a much better option than grass. Subterranean clover is more tolerant of low fertility and shade than most clovers. "Trifolium repens." Consequently,when planting decisions are made it is important to have in mind the traits of various clovers and then take care to select the one(s) best suited to the situation. Grass that is intermixed with clover will be healthier and greener, because of this nitrogen-fixing aspect. Microclover is more drought tolerant and needs less fertilizer and mowing than most lawn grasses. 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). 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. This summer was unusually tough in terms of how dry it was. It is best adapted to medium and heavy textured soils with good moisture-holding capacity. However,it is important to make certain that any such test plantings give the clovers a fair chance. I planted what I though was micro clover as a lawn cover. Filed Under: Environment, Gardening Tagged With: clover lawn pros and cons, how to grow a micro clover lawn, micro clover, micro clover lawn, micro clover lawn pros and cons. While the shady parts will grow at a slower rate than the rest of the lawn, it wont do as poorly as grass does when not given enough light. They also have a less aggressive clump-forming habit. Micro clover is fairly drought tolerant, requiring about 25% less water than conventional lawns to stay green. Clover Lawn Pros and Cons: Why Clover is Becoming The Next Best Lawn Alternative - Live Love Fruit FREE EBOOK Reduce Chronic Inflammation Naturally! Regular white Dutch clover and Microclover are essentially the same plant. If your lawn abuts neighbors, make sure they want it too, because it will spread like crazy. Not only is it easy to grow and guaranteed to green up your space; it also has a fun texture much different than grass. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Microclover is more drought tolerant and needs less fertilizer and mowing than most lawn grasses. Low-maintenance Dutch clovers and microclovers, strains in the family of white clovers, are currently the top choices. 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). However, as they were picking along, I watched a few of them feeding on red clover leaves. If it is mowed occasionally, it will reach about 4 inches high. But you have to be 100% sure you want it (because if you dont, Im not sure youll ever get rid of it). Unlike regular Dutch clover, it doesnt grow in clumps, grows more slowly, and is less aggressive at crowding out other plants. Mowing microclover is important because it encourages the plants to form their characteristic tight, miniature habit. It has tiny leaves and fewer white flowers. This is particularly true with so many droughts happening nowadays I wouldnt be surprised if everyone switched to micro clover as a result. Other seeds recommended for blending with microclover include: Check with your local extension office to see which specific grasses are recommended in your area. 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. Many of these species are necessary for our survival, but they are facing dwindling numbers due to habitat loss and pesticide use. It also doesn't clump as easily as white clover, so it blends well with other grasses. Rose Clover Rose clover has a growth habit similar to crimson clover, but has lavender-colored blooms and makes most of its growth in mid-spring. Clover adds diversity to lawns and provides food for bees. That would also leave me hesitantabout its staying power as the primary stabilization tool without some grasses to help round things out. This Red Clover Blossom Smoothie Improves Bone Health and Manages Hot Flashes, Studies Find Canine Cancers Linked to Lawn Care Chemicals, BPA In Canned Food and Why You Need To Avoid It, This Is Why Oversleeping Is As Bad As Undersleeping, 10 Foods That Cause Chronic Inflammation and Trigger Pain, Fatigue, Bloating + More, How to Eliminate Toxins From Fat Cells That Are Making You Fatigued and Swollen, This One Stretch Relieves Plantar Fasciitis, Shin Splints, Achilles Pain, and Heel Pain, Latest Sunscreen Recall Raises Concern Over Chemicals, How to Plant Lemongrass to Repel Mosquitoes. 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! It wont harm it at all and the more you thicken it up early on the less youll have to mow in the future. It grows quickly and best on well-drained soil, but like strawberry soil, can thrive on a range of soil varieties. since these will kill microclover. It might be a nice added crop if planted at a low rate. She is a master gardener and master naturalist. 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. It is also resistant to lawn weeds (like dandelion even though dandelion is a very beneficial medicine), and can even smother them to death. https://www.naturesseed.com/skin/frontend/naturesfinest/vstyle/images/logo.png. I have always liked orchard grass because it is territorial in its growth habit and seems to be pretty durable. The types of clover generally used in lawns are strawberry clover, white clover or red clover. Over time, this might mean less frequent mowing is required to maintain a manicured lawn appearance. Im in New England with very sandy soil on my lot, so periods of drought can be tough on my yard too. If youre unsure how much water to use, test your soil using a moisture meter and adjust accordingly. ( It will not be turned under as a cover crop.) Decomposing clover roots leave macropores in the soil. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Micro clover is a smaller variety of White Clover. If you plant too late in the fall, it might not germinate till next spring. She loves to do yoga, dance, and immerse herself in nature. You can either sprinkle the seeds by hand, or by spreading with a lawn seeding machine. Another drawback is that its a short-lived perennial and, as such, may require reseeding every 2 to 3 years. Blending can also help compensate for the fact that in some zones, micro clover will go dormant in winter and turn brown. Many landscapers and gardeners suggest converting to a clover lawn gradually rather than digging up your lawn and making it happen all at once. 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. 3 It also has smaller leaves and grows. This is a great time to plant Black Beauty Ultra Im going to be doing an overseeding project next weekend with it, and if you act now itll be well established for next spring. However, a purely Micro Clover lawn is not that popular for one main reason. Microclover refers to smaller varieties of white clover (Trifolium repens var. Microclover "spoon feeds" nitrogen to the grass, producing a healthy, dense and naturally green lawn. These attract earthworms, which help keep the soil loose (and, therefore, in need of no aeration) and reduce thatch buildup. University of Maryland Extension. Start by determining the square footage of the area you . Your email address will not be published. Thus, it is an excellent reseeder. Pirouette) is a plant, and as the name describes, it is a type of small clover. Is micro clover the way to go? If youre looking for something low-maintenance, beautiful, and drought tolerant, that would be my top recommendation (if youre open to grass I know a lot of readers on this page are specifically looking for grass lawn alternatives). Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Micro clover has several benefits, but this plant's drawbacks can also be a deal-breaker for others. We are restoring a terraced (vegetable bed) area to its natural grade that slopes down to a creek and watershed (due to medical conditions). 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. Other options include adding clover seed during the core aeration process or digging up parts of your grass lawn. (PDF) Microclover - Tall Fescue Lawns in the Mid-Atlantic Region, University of Maryland Turfgrass Technical Update, 2015. Micro clover is basically a dwarf version of white clover, and doesnt reach higher than 6 inches, even if you never mow it (1). No Aerating: Unlike grass lawns, clover does not have to be aerated to stay lush and green (unlike grass lawns). Adding seeds a little bit at a time is a convenient way to get your clover lawn started. I love having the clover on my lawn, but apparently it is not as drought tolerant as I thought. Water your clover until it is fully established (especially if you live in a hot, dry climate). Small test plantings are inexpensive and can provide much insight that can help with species selection decisions in future years. The University of Maryland conducted research on microclover used in combination with turf-type tall fescue. 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. White clovers prefer soil within pH levels of 5.8 - 7.0. That was fascinating to me! I have relied on Jonathan Green products for about a decade now and have strictly adhered to their regimen and one of my neighbors has done the same, but just started their lawn a couple years ago. Clover, on the other hand, is a legume and it absorbs nitrogen from the air. Turf-type tall fescue and microclover mixture, from UMD Turfgrass Technical Update, 2015. 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. Keeping dangerous chemicals out of our fresh water streams and lakes is an important task. Microclover seed is available as coated and uncoated seed. Perennial clovers also make seed, but (assuming environmental conditions and management are appropriate) individual plants can live more than one year. While some hardcore lawn aficionados might say clover is a weed, others have embraced its presence or even transitioned from a traditional grass lawn to a micro clover lawn. 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. 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. Again, checking to see if micro clover is recommended in your area is smart, so that you dont end up with disappointing surprises. This clover features florets that, when ripe, take on a pinkish hue and resemble (you guessed it) strawberries. The Ultimate Guide to Fight Inflammation and Restore Your Health! Unlike most commonly grown annual clovers, berseem clover is quite tolerant of wet soils and also alkaline soils. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Clover doesnt require any additional fertilizer either! At full height, micro clover will reach about 6 inches un-mowed, and 4 inches if mowed every now and then. Being smaller, micro clover grows lower to the ground and does not have the clumping tendency of its larger relative. Keep reading to learn more about clover lawns and whether or not its a viable option for your outdoor space. A clover lawn may be the right choice for your region. A 100% microclover lawn is a thing of beauty, but as noted above, the seed can be costly for larger areas. However, this is more so for regular white clover than micro clover. Though widely adapted, it is best suited to soils which have good moisture-holding ability. I will try to chew through them one-by-one. Sow seed at the recommended rate and water well to establish quickly. One 2 lb. Rake or scratch the surface of the area where you want to plant. In this case, you would not need to buy seeds coated with nitrogen. 3. Good morning, Research, as well as ranch experience, has demonstrated the superior feed value of a white clover grass mixture compared to grass alone. It also has smaller leaves and grows closer to the ground. The small white flowers are also great for pollinators, should you choose to let them grow. Plant the offshoot slightly below the soil in the desired location and secure the plant by pushing the soil down around it. Dont forget that there is an option to just dig up parts of your lawn if you so choose. Having a mowed clover lawn in place 4 to 6 weeks before the first frost can help winterize your lawn, but theres no need to spend every weekend mowing as you would with turf. Micro Clover. Sowing the same size areawith a premium grass seed will cost about $100 or less, depending on the brand and the store. This is one reason why clover does so well when mixed with grass. It also doesnt bloom as much or as often as standard white clover, and if mowed every now and then, it will not bloom at all. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. No Herbicide: clover is a broad-leaf plant, so applying herbicide will kill the plant. Visit our product page for more information about microclover blends and natural lawn care. Annuals reproduce only from seed, while perennials propagate through both seed and spreading roots. bag of Scotts Turf Builder Clover Lawn covers 1,000 . 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. If a stand of an annual clover is present in an area for more than one year without being replanted, it is due either to reseeding or delayed germination of previously planted seed. Here's how: Locate a mature plant that has an offshoot branched out from it. In this area, Southern blight disease caused by prolonged periods of high heat and humidity is deadly to micro clover. You dont have to tear up your grass lawn in order to grow a clover lawn. 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. I happen to be in Winnipeg a well! 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. I'm looking into overseeding my current lawn with clover for the multiple benefits that clover offers. That means less chemical toxicity around your home, and better health for the planet. 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. Yes, Pirouette is considered a micro-clover. 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. Increasing nectar sources for pollinating insects like bees will improve our ecosystem at large. They can grow as high as 6 inches only! Free shipping on orders of $75.00 or more. Will you start a new micro clover lawn or seed into an existing lawn? Acts as a natural source of fertilizer. Getting your microclover lawn established isnt a difficult process, but it does take some careful planning. Because clover is considered a living mulch, it provides nutrients to the soil and helps it resist compaction. Microclover is a variation of white clover. This will give your seeds a chance to germinate and avoid giving the weeds a head start. 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. Generally, this was white clover (Trifolium repens). White clover is a low-growing forage legume used predominantly in pasture mixtures with grasses. A clover-only planting would worry me in regard to its ability to keep the weeds out. This nitrogen can enrich the surrounding soil and improve grass growth naturally. Microclover: Tall Fescue Lawns in the Mid-Atlantic Region. I would have concerns about mice and voles really working the planting over. While the white clover is the most popular and easiest to find on the market, other varieties may better suit your lawn conditions. First, Microclover seed is expensive. Then, sow at a rate of 1/4 to 1/2 lb per 1000 square feet. Repels Pests and Weeds: clover helps discourage insect pests, most of which prefer grasses. Purchasing a pre-mixed blend is another option and is particularly economical if youre seeding a smaller area. The biggest advantage to this small-leaved version is how it blends with a grass lawn. Would that have been enough for micro-clover in my sunny spots? Additionally, when a dogs got to go, a dogs got to go. Micro clover plants also don't clump up as much as traditional white clover, making it more desirable for turfs. I am afraid it would be crowded out on its own. But, it can really help create a beautiful looking lawn, as long as you don't mind some Clover. Microclover needs 4 to 6 hours of sunlight every day. Both of them seem to do very well in perennial legumes. All content copyright document.write( new Date().getFullYear() ); Pennington Seed, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Micro clover (sometimes spelled as microclover) is a small variety of white clover well worth consideration for spring lawn renovation. One of clovers few downsides is that it stains clothing more than turf. 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. Gardeners can also benefit from adding clover seed during aeration, the process of loosening up compact soil to help it breathe. In some zones, the lush green foliage goes dormant and turns brown in the winter. There are many types of clover, most of which are similar in appearance.
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