Best The Dirty Gardener Ground Covers

White Dutch Clover Seed 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. Seeding Rate 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. Seeding Depth: 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. Seeding Time in the Southern USA, white clover is seeded in late winter or early spring and in late-summer autumn. In the Northern USA, most white clover is seeded in early spring or late summer. Seeding Method White clover can be seeded by many no-till or minimum till techniques and by broadcast seeding. In conventional seedbeds, white clover is almost always seeded with a perennial grass for lawns or hard or sheepÕs fescue for erosion control. Just scatter the seeds, rake lightly, and keep the seed moist until it sprouts!