Back to Info Sheets	White Clover   White clover is a low growing perennial with white flowers and creeping stems.  Common white clover is of the intermediate type rather than small or large types.  Clover is often grown with grasses to help supply nitrogen and improve the feed of pastures.  Plant only certified seed. Plant in moist, fertile, well-drained soils.  Shallow root system will require more waterings during dry weather.  The pH of the soil should be around 6.4 for seeding white clover.  Phosphorus and potassium levels in the soil should maintained at medium to high for good white clover growth. Nitrogen should not be applied on white clover.  Extra nitrogen causes competition growth from other weeds and grasses.     Sowing clover seed: If you are seeding into a tilled soil bed, the soil should be turned and prepared one week before seeding.  The surface should be smooth and firm.  Broadcast the seed on the surface of the soil.  Do not place the seed more than one-fourth inch deep.  A carrier such as sand or fertilizer may be mixed with the seed for easier spreading with a spreader.  Often clover seed is used with grass seed for a blended lawn.  Cool season grasses such as fescue or Kentucky bluegrass works well.  Use 10 lbs of fescue per acre with one to two pounds of clover seed.  Use inoculated clover seed for better germination.  Spring seeding is best for clover.  ( April - May). To seed clover over established grasses, mow the grasses very short and white clover is then seeded over the grass.  This is best done in March or April.  Broadcast the seed on the soil surface; freezing and thawing will cover the seed.  Or a light disking of the grass sod can be used and the seed sown as tilled.  Or a no-till drill can be cut in the sod to place the seed.  The grass should be kept short by mowing until the clover is established   Vol 01 no 65
© Murray's Garden and Horticultural Services Last updated: March 8, 2008