White Dutch Clover Seed

White Dutch Clover 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.
Soil Selection
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.
Fertility
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.