Red Clover or White Clover?

nebo · #1 01/12/14, 07:00 PM

I would like to hand seed (frost seed) in late winter on top of snow. I would like to broad cast seed planting of Red or White clover in native grass. Has anyone done this and what results have you had? I did this last spring with Alfelfa but did late spring no snow and had some sucess. I really was to late but I would say I had 50% take on the seeding.

Awnry Abe · #2 01/12/14, 07:24 PM

This feedback is only as good as the guy that did the seeding, which was me, so take it with a grain of salt. Last year I broadcast both Ladino and inoculated red clover over a deep and melting February snow. The red clover did great. I don't know what became of the ladino. I thought it was interesting that we also had a really heavy crop of yellow clover, which isn't anything to write home about. It was heavy across all my pastures, even where I didn't seed.

Harry Chickpea · #3 01/12/14, 07:32 PM

? I always thought red clover was field clover and white clover lawn clover. Please expand.

oneokie · #4 01/12/14, 07:40 PM

Need more specific info. on the clovers. Several different species with very different growth patterns.

haypoint · #5 01/12/14, 07:59 PM

IHMO, alfalfa dosen't compete well against grasses. White clover is not good for some livestock and my area grows fantastic medium red clover, but no idea what grows well for your climate and soil type.

FarmboyBill · #6 01/12/14, 08:44 PM

Red clover grows WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY higher than white. Here, the yellow is called yellow hop

geo in mi · #7 01/13/14, 10:45 AM

To give you a better opinion, you would need to list your location, your soil type, the pH, the intended use (pasture, hay, deer forage, soil renovation), if you would be using certified seed, if you intend to irrigate, and the type and quality of the native grass that's there already. As has been said, there are many clovers and you will need to choose according to your needs and all the above.

geo

jwal10 · #8 01/13/14, 11:48 AM

We have a lot of SUB or Subterranean clover here. It doesn't get very tall, seeds right on the ground so the animals do not eat it, makes great hay, although it can be hard to cut because it is very viney and grows low. We used to run a alfalfa toothed springtooth though the pastures as it revigorated the clover crop. There is a lot of seed in/on the ground that will come back many years after the last seeding. I like white clovers better for pasturing here. Red clover makes decent hay, although coarse and needs good weather to make good hay. We grew a lot of it for seed, got a silage crop first, then windrowed second for seed. Also used a lot of lotus for pasture mixes on the wetter ground mixed with grasses....James

FarmboyBill · #9 01/13/14, 05:53 PM

James, when you say alfalfa weeder, are you talking about a rod weeder?

nebo · #10 01/13/14, 06:33 PM

What my intentions is to hand seed late winter by broadcasting. This is long draws that native grass that has been there since God was a boy. I want to get a crop started for better feed for wildlife. No equioment can be reached where I want to plant this crop. I'm leaning towards white clover. What do you think?

big rockpile · #11 01/13/14, 10:19 PM

If you could safely burn it this Spring I bet you would be surprised what the new growth would bring in.

Far as Clover there is a taller White Clover for Wild Life.

big rockpile

wwubben · #12 01/14/14, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nebo

What my intentions is to hand seed late winter by broadcasting. This is long draws that native grass that has been there since God was a boy. I want to get a crop started for better feed for wildlife. No equioment can be reached where I want to plant this crop. I'm leaning towards white clover. What do you think?

White clover will do a better job of reseeding itself over time and is a better feed but does not produce as much.I would seed some of each and see what happens.

geo in mi · #13 01/14/14, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nebo

What my intentions is to hand seed late winter by broadcasting. This is long draws that native grass that has been there since God was a boy. I want to get a crop started for better feed for wildlife. No equioment can be reached where I want to plant this crop. I'm leaning towards white clover. What do you think?

Based on this information, I think I would choose Dutch white and broadcast (with a spinner) over the top of the native grasses at a rate of 8 to 10 lbs. per acre, very early in the spring, and hope for a good stand. But I would also think I may be wasting my time and seed if the native grasses are well established and have been growing there for so long. I would try to get certified seed, since it will be guaranteed for a lower percentage on hard seed which won't germinate very well, if at all.

http://www.sare.org/Learning-Center/...s/White-Clover

Hope this helps.

geo

nebo · #14 01/14/14, 06:37 PM

Thanks so much for the help. I will give it a try and see what happens.

jwal10 · #15 01/14/14, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FarmboyBill

James, when you say alfalfa weeder, are you talking about a rod weeder?

It is a drag type springtooth, the teeth look like both edges of the tooth end are wrapped back onto the main spring tooth making them very narrow. They looked like this only in the regular springtooth style instead of these S-tines....James