White Dutch Clover Seed

All Clover Seed All Ground Cover Seed

White Dutch Clover designates a strain of white clover which is perennial. Used in lawns, as a ground cover, cover crop, for erosion control, and in pasture mixtures. Usually matures between 4 to 8 inches.

Many homeowners include White Dutch clover in their lawn seed mixture because clover sprouts fast and grows so dependably that it's a valuable aid in getting a new lawn started. Nodules on the roots fix nitrogen from the air. Actually, up to 1/3 the nitrogen your lawn needs can be obtained from white dutch clover! Grows vigorously even in poor clay subsoil around new home construction. If you want all the benefits of a cover crop but don't want to till early or mow, clover is your best bet.

Getting a good stand of white clover is a first and critical step to success with this high quality, persistent crop. Since white clover is usually grown with a cool season perennial grass (may be planted alone too), it is usually either seeded at the same time as the grass or seeded into an existing grass stand. Regardless of when it is seeded, certain principles and practices are important for success. These will be discussed below; however, readers should refer to state and local sources for specific recommendations for their area.

White clover grows best in moist, well-drained, fertile soils. Because of its shallow root system, it does not grow well on dry soils. The shallow root system also limits production during hot, dry summer months.

The most important investment in a fertility program is a soil test, which will indicate soil needs with regard to pH, phosphorus, and potassium. White clover yields better and stands last longer when grown on soils with a medium level of phosphorus and potassium. A pH of 6.0 - 6.5 is usually recommended for excellent yields and stand persistence. In some states, minor elements may also be recommended.

Fertilization with nitrogen is not recommended when seeding white clover into grass. Nitrogen will stimulate the grass, thus providing more competition for the white clover seedlings during establishment. This becomes even more of a problem when seeding white clover into established grass pastures. Increased grass competition from added nitrogen can result in death of white clover seedlings. In most states, application of nitrogen to established clover/grass mixtures is not recommended if white clover occupies 20% or more of the ground cover.

Seeding rates vary with geographic location, seeding method, and seeding mixture. In general, rates 1/4 lb per 1000 square feet or 6 to 8 lbs per acre are recommended.

The ideal seeding depth is approximately 1/4-inch maximum, but under favorable weather and soil conditions, seed present on the soil surface may germinate and become established. Good seed-soil contact is important to ensure rapid germination and emergence.

In the Southern USA, white clover is seeded in late winter or early spring and in late-summerautumn. In the Northern USA, most white clover is seeded in early spring or late summer.

White clover can be seeded by many no-till or minimum till techniques and by broadcast- seeding on closely grazed grass pastures. In conventional seedbeds, white clover is almost always seeded with a perennial grass for lawns or hard or sheeps fescue for erosion control. Just scatter the seeds, rake lightly, and keep the seed moist until it sprouts -- you're done! Withstands mild drought, grows well all over the U.S., even on barren soil where nothing else wants to grow. Winter hardy and it stays so low you can just till it under in spring if you are using it for a cover crop.

The best weed control is provided by a vigorous white clover-grass stand. If necessary, white clover-grass stands can be mowed to remove grass leaves and seedheads and to suppress broadleaf weeds and woody vegetation.

Our clover seed is NOT preinoculated. Inoculation must take place within 24 hours prior to planting; therefore, it is impossible to preinocluate seed. Companies that claim there seed is preinoculated are stretching the truth greatly. The seed may have been inoculated, but it will do NO good due to that fact that all the rhizobia would be dead by the time you plant your seed. For your convenience, we do sell inoculant seperately under our Inoculant link at the right. However, inoculation has NO effect on germination and is rarely needed. Inoculant is normally only used in certain cover crop situations where extra nitrogen fixation is required or in very, very poor soil conditions.