Trifolium repens ‘Pipolina’ (Microclover) is an ideal solution for a sustainable low-water lawn.Oversee or combine an existing lawn with low-water grass seed to create a resilient turf alternative. Blends seamlessly with traditional turf grass varieties.
Microclover does well in the sun and partial shade. Nitrogen is a critical component of lawn fertilizers and helps grass grow. However, too much fertilizer can have adverse environmental effects. Microclover ensures that the companion grasses are well-fed with nitrogen, which makes them look great.
Microclover has an excellent dark green color, giving lawns the most beautiful dark green color from spring to fall.
Microclover’s improved drought tolerance ensures the soil is more shaded and retains more moisture in dry summers. The deep green color also maintains the grass’s overall bright appearance during severe drought. Today, we will learn how to propagate microclover seed.
What is Microclover?
Microclover is a miniature clover developed by plant breeders to include all the benefits of full-size clover, making for attractive, low-maintenance lawns. This miniature white clover is spread thickly and evenly, preventing weed growth and creating a soft yet highly durable surface for high-traffic areas.
It blooms much less often than common clover. Microclovers can be planted in partial shade but perform best in full sun.
What is the Difference Between Microclover and Microclover?
Microclover is a typical white clover selectively bred to exhibit a dwarf growth habit when cut regularly. Hence the name: Micro-Clover!
So, just like regular white clover, microclover shares the following characteristics: It thrives under wear and tear. It grows well in poor soil and drought.
About microclover seed
Application or Use
lawn, golf course, athletic field, park, ground cover
Germination time: 7 – 14 days, under favorable conditions
Growing locations: warm season, transition zone, and cool season zone
Height
1 – 5 inches, depending on the cutting method
Sunlight Requirements: 4 – 6 hours
Benefits
Extremely cold and shade tolerant and moderately tolerant of drought and wet conditions.
When to Plant
The recommended spring planting time is after the last chance of frost when nighttime temperatures are consistently 40+ degrees. The recommended planting time is late summer/early fall, at least eight weeks before the first frost.
Bloom Time
Late spring to early summer
Benefits of Micro Clover Seed
Grows well with grasses: Microclover blends well with tall fine fescues, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass, providing a uniform appearance. This adds variety to the lawn and makes the grass more resistant to disease and pests.
Produces Nitrogen: As microclover decomposes, it is a good nitrogen source in grass clippings.
Can reduce the need for fertilizer: Microclover mixes require less fertilizer than grassy lawns.
Flowers are a food source for bees: microclovers attract and help pollinators.
Eliminates weeds: Microclover spreads quickly and naturally crowds and out-competes broadleaf weeds.
Attracts Beneficial Insectivorous Insects: Microclover reduces the need for pesticides by attracting ladybugs, tiny pirate bugs, lacewings, and parasitoid wasps (specialist, non-stinging predators), which feed on garden pests such as aphids, whiteflies, scales, and cabbage worms.
Eliminates specific lawn pests: Not all clover is a food source for larvae and other lawn-damaging insects, but it deters them from laying eggs in a clover-filled lawn.
Drought tolerance: Microclover is more drought-tolerant than grass but not as tolerant as common white clover (although there are other good drought-tolerant grass alternatives).
Cold Hardy: Microclover grows in snow cover, can stay green through the winter (depending on temperature), and is cold hardy down to USDA hardiness zone 3.
Grows in compacted soil: Microclover’s deep roots can penetrate dense soil to loosen it.Deep roots reduce the need to aerate or mulch the lawn. They also prevent mulch (which includes grass, roots, and dead leaves).
Reduces Erosion: Deep roots help reduce erosion on steep slopes.
Dog urine resistant: Clover repels dog urine and noisy pet play. When pets dig into the plant, it repairs itself.
Deicing Salt Resistant: Microclover is salt tolerant and grows along the tidal banks of salt streams.
Clover attracts rabbits away from gardens: It is a food source for rabbits and can draw them away from gardens that they would otherwise attack.
How to Grow Microclover
When to Plant: In the spring, you can plant microclover just two weeks before the last frost. In the fall, plant at least eight weeks before the average first frost date, so perennial clover plants have time to establish root systems before frost arrives.
Clover prefers cooler temperatures for germination and growth, so avoid planting during the hottest part of the year.
Soil Preparation
When planting a new tree or replacing a lawn, we recommend removing existing growth to prepare the soil for planting. Methods include rotoculture, hand tools, or solarization. Our guide, How to prepare your site for planting seeds, provides more details.
If you maintain your lawn, mow it to about 2 to 3 inches and remove any clippings. Then, rake the lawn to remove dead grass and loosen the soil to prepare it for planting.
Sow the Seeds
Using the recommended coverage rate, gently thicken and tamp the seeds to achieve good seed-to-soil contact. We recommend saving about 10-15% of the seed to fill any patches that may appear.
Watering
All new plantings should be kept moist for the best germination results. Water regularly so your soil is like a sponge: evenly hydrated but not soggy. Water as necessary to ensure that the soil does not dry out.
Once established, microclover is drought tolerant and will require little supplemental water. In the long run, rich, moist soil will encourage more aggressive and lush clover growth.
How to Plant Microclover on Your Property
Seeding your property saves money and allows you to control the grasses and plants that grow on your land, but using high-quality seed is essential.
Properly planting your property can benefit the surrounding environment by providing a healthy ecosystem for wildlife, improving air and soil quality, and preventing soil erosion.
Microclover Maintenance
No Fertilizer is Required
- Microclover’s advantage is that it does not require fertilizer! Avoid using herbicides, as they will damage or kill microclover.
- Microclover stays green from spring to fall but goes dormant and turns brown in winter.
Minimal Mowing
- Cutting microclover will encourage the plants to form their miniature, tight habit.
- Weekly mowing is recommended in areas where you want to keep microclover to a minimum height. Once you get in shape and you can see, you can cut back to once a month.
- In areas where it is not mowed, micro clover can grow with large leaves at the height of its size range.
Microclover Seeding Rate
All of the following rates are recommended for machine spreading. If you spread the seed by hand, add 25% to 50% more. It is recommended that some seeds be saved to fill any bald spots that appear.
If you only plant micro clover in clean, prepared soil:
- 1/4 pound covers 250 square feet
- 1/2 pound covers 500 square feet
- 1 pound covers 1000 square feet
- 5 pounds covers 5000 square feet
- 10 pounds covers 10,000 square feet
- 25 pounds covers 25,000 square feet
- 50 pounds covers 50,000 square feet
Microclover in an Existing Lawn
If overseeding microclover in an existing lawn, use approximately 10% of the recommended seeding rate.
The grass is thick and vigorous and forms a barrier that prevents most new seeds from germinating.
If you plan to seed microclover in an existing lawn, cut the grass close to the soil surface and aerate it first. This will introduce air, water, and nutrients into the soil, giving the seeds a better chance to take root. Water regularly to ensure the soil does not dry out.
How Much does Microclover Cost?
Microclover seeds are expensive—most microclovers cost between $40 and $50 per pound. You’ll need 1 to 2 pounds of seed per 1,000 square feet for a new micro clover lawn. The cost of planting micro clover in your garden depends on the size of the garden.
Conclusion
Microclover naturally outcompetes broadleaf weeds and improves soil health by fixing nitrogen. This low-maintenance, easy-to-grow lawn solution requires no mowing and reduces the need for pesticides and herbicides.
The seeds are granulated for even distribution. Microclover seeds are crushed or coated with an inert organic material that softens the irregular shape of each unique seed and allows for trouble-free sowing.
Granulated seeds are rounder, heavier, and more uniform, which promotes even distribution when using planting tools. Granular seeds sown directly are usually more evenly spaced, resulting in more even and uniform coverage.
FAQ
Can I Just Put Clover Seeds in the Ground?
Instead of haphazardly scattering seeds on the ground, the best option is to spread them evenly over desired areas. Sow the seeds using a seed spreader or hand at our recommended rate of 50g per m2 and aim for even coverage over the entire region.
What is the Best Way to Spread Clover Seeds?
Mix clover seed with sand or sawdust to improve coverage when spreading. Distribute the seed across the bed in a cross-hatch pattern for even coverage. To create good contact between seed and soil, gently rake small areas with an inverted garden rake or use a lawn roller.
How Do you Grow Micro Clover from Seed?
To oversee an established lawn with micro clover, rake well and lightly rake the surface to allow the seed to penetrate. You can also apply a top coat to add a layer of fresh soil so it can root. Sow at a rate of approximately 1/4 to 1/2 pounds per 1000 ft2 (225 to 250 grams per 90 m2). Keep the soil moist until germination.
Can I Seed Clover Without Tilling?
You can also use the no-till method. In the spring, cut or burn existing vegetation, wait for perennial weeds to green up to allow seeds to emerge, and then spray an herbicide to kill all existing vegetation. Wait until it turns brown, then filet (if needed) and seeds.
How Much Micro Clover Should be in a Grass Seed Mix?
If you choose a lawn seed mix of microclover and grass or microclover and other clovers, you’ll want 3% to 5% of your lawn seed to be microclover.
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