Clover thrives in moist or dry conditions but drainage should be good. Slightly acidic soils with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5 are preferred. You can plant the clover in full sun or partial shade, although full sun provides the best yields.
How do you look after red clover?
Red clover should be cut regularly when it reaches a height of 30cm. The first cut may be before this if there is a severe weed problem. On a dry sandy soil, it may only need cutting twice in the season. Conversely on a fertile soil in a warm wet summer, it may need cutting as frequently as once every ten days.
Where does red clover grow best?
Red clover grows primarily in northern and midwestern states, though it is sometimes grown in the Southeast as a winter annual. Generally, red clover thrives in cool, moist climates, but its deep roots allow it to thrive in drought conditions better than other clover varieties.
How long does red clover last?
two-to-four years
Red clover (Trifolium pratense) is a short-lived perennial herbage legume that typically persists for two-to-four years. In contrast to white clover, it has an upright growth form and a strong deep tap root from which finer roots arise.
Does Red Clover come back?
Red clover is a short-lived perennial that grows quickly and drops its seed, allowing it to come back every year.
When should I cut red clover?
The optimum harvest date for first-cut is around 20 May and subsequent harvests at 6-to-8 week intervals. Red clover has poor ensiling characteristics, with much lower water-soluble carbohydrate (sugars) and somewhat higher buffering capacity than perennial ryegrass.
Should you deadhead red clover?
It is great for attracting hummingbirds, butterflies and bees, and it’s a good cut flower. You should deadhead it unless you want some seedlings.
Does red clover need to be mowed?
In middle to late August, mow the red clover.
Mowing will stimulate regrowth at the crowns. It will also remove weeds that have grown after harvest. Cutting the red clover for weed management should be timed when the weeds have not produced viable seeds.
Can red clover survive winter?
Red clover is adapted to many different environments. It is winter hardy in USDA Hardiness Zone 4, which means red clover survives the winter in all of Pennsylvania. Red clover does best on well-drained soil, but it also tolerates poorly drained soil.
What animals eat red clover?
The red clover is a favorite food plant for many other animals, though, game birds and fur-bearing animals being the most frequent visitors. Quail, grouse, wild turkey, partridge, marmot, and woodchuck (especially when alfalfa is in short supply), prefer leaves, seeds, and sometimes the whole plant.
What is the best fertilizer for red clover?
Potash does not stimulate higher yields in red clover to the same degree as it does in alfalfa, but some potash is beneficial in maintaining stands. In the absence of a soil test, apply a mixed fertilizer such as a 0-30-90 each year to red clover fields used for hay.
Will clover come back year after year?
Once established, perennial clover comes back reliably, making it more suitable as a ground cover than annual species that usually need reseeding each year. Perennial clover will self-seed too, but it spreads consistently through its creeping root system.
What is best fertilizer for clover?
Most often the best fertilizer for clover will recommend around 300 lbs of 0-20-20 per acre annually. Many choose to fertilize at planting time and then during the spring annually thereafter.
How often should you water red clover?
every 9 days
Red Clover needs 0.8 cups of water every 9 days when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5.0″ pot. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants. Does your plant get direct sunlight?
Will clover choke out grass?
The truth is that clover won’t typically crowd out grass, and in fact it can offer certain benefits as part of a well-maintained lawn. Clover adds Nitrogen to the soil, and effectively creates its own fertilizer, meaning that it can help your lawn stay healthier.
Does clover spread on its own?
Clover is a perennial weed that grows close to the ground and has a tendency to spread across lawns, rather than remaining in one spot.
Does clover regrow after cutting?
It does not regrow well after cutting for hay. Well-established balansa pastures that are cut for hay should still recover the following year from hard seed reserves set in previous years.
What is red clover good for?
Historically, red clover was used for asthma, whooping cough, cancer, and gout. Today, extracts from red clover are most often promoted for menopause symptoms, high cholesterol levels, or osteoporosis.
How long does it take red clover to flower?
Red clover (Trifolium pratense)
It grows well in full sun or partial shade and begins blooming 10 to 12 weeks after planting the seeds.
Will clover rebloom after mowing?
Set your mower on the lowest height while your Dutch clover is in bloom, usually in summer, to remove the flowers before they set seed. However, if your lawn has bare spots and you want your clover to self-seed, wait to mow it until after the flowers dry out. Your clover might also produce a second set of blooms.
Is red clover a perennial or annual?
perennial
Red clover, a short-lived perennial, usually produces two or three hay crops per year. It is characterized by rapid spring growth and low winterhardiness, which contributes to its short-lived nature.