Sowing & Growing

Sowing rate if mixed with grass seed should not exceed 3% clover to grass

Sowing rate as a pure clover lawn is approximately 5-7g per square metre

Micro Clover was developed for use in mixed lawns, to be added to grass seed blends, because it is more tolerant than the Dutch white clover to the very low mowing height so many homeowners insist on using on their lawns. In fact, even if you mow your lawn to 2 inches (5 cm), a height considered “scalping” in lawn care circles and which would rapidly kill taller clovers, micro-clover will actually thrive. In fact, to a certain degree, the lower you mow it, the denser it will appear. Although micro-clover was designed for mixed lawns and some sources warn against using micro clover on its own, in fact, it has been tested as a stand-alone groundcover/lawn and does fine when used that way.

You can sow the micro clover in pretty much any season, but ideally in the spring or early summer, when temperatures are still cool. If you plant it too late in the Autumn (October), it may not germinate until the following spring. To overseed an established lawn with micro clover, rake well, scarifying the surface a bit and sow at a rate of about 5-6g per square metre. Keep the soil moist until germination.

To start a new mixed lawn, prepare the soil by weeding it thoroughly and working the soil to a depth of about 3 inches (9 cm), then rake to even it out, removing and stones and debris as you go. Ideally, you would then also top dress with ½ to 1 inch (1 to 2 cm) of good soil, although that isn’t absolutely necessary. Mix 3% of mini-cover seeds into the original grass seed blend and broadcast sow. Rake lightly to work the seed in, then keep the soil moist until germination.

To start a clover-only lawn, follow the general recommendations for a mixed lawn (previous paragraph), but sow only clover seed. Sow at about 1 to 2 lb per 1000 ft (5-7g per sq metre ) of surface area.

The first year, water your micro-clover lawn in times of drought. If there are places where the lawn appears sparse, just be patient. Usually clover will cover it with its creeping stems quite quickly. From the second year on, simply let Mother Nature take care of your micro clover lawn. In particular, you will not normally have to fertilise it or if so, only every 2 or 3 years with a slow release fertiliser low in nitrogen. For a clover-only lawn, you really don’t have to mow at all. However, if you want extra-small leaves, mow every 3 or 4 weeks. When you mow, simply leave the clippings on the lawn. They’ll quickly decompose and help feed the lawn.