Sweet clover is not as consistent as red clover in producing high quality forage over the summer period. Sweet clover is very tolerant of dry conditions, heat and grasshoppers. Sweet clover is a true biennial and will survive only one winter. Sweet clover is susceptible to attack by the sweet clover weevil.
What is sweet clover good for?
Sweet clover is used to increase the loss of water from the body through the urine (as a diuretic). It is also used for varicose veins and to relieve symptoms of poor blood circulation (chronic venous insufficiency) including leg pain and heaviness, night cramps, itchiness, and fluid retention (edema).
What is considered sweet clover?
Melilotus officinalis, known as sweet yellow clover, yellow melilot, ribbed melilot and common melilot, is a species of legume native to Eurasia and introduced in North America, Africa, and Australia.
What is the difference between red clover and clover?
Red clover stands taller and grows higher than other varieties of clover, which can be a disadvantage for homeowners who want a tidy lawn look. Red clover will make your lawn look more like a meadow, whereas the lower-growing varieties of white clover (like microclover) blend well into turfgrasses.
How many types of red clover are there?
two types
There are two types of red clover: medium red and mammoth red clover. Medium red is most common. It is quicker to establish than mammoth and grows back well after it is cut.
Does sweet clover come back every year?
Sweet clover can be an annual or a biennial depending on where it is planted as well as the cultivar used. Sweet clovers are an excellent soil-builder because they have a deep taproot that extends through the soil profile which takes up nutrients and minerals that can be used by crops.
Can you eat sweet clover?
The flowers, raw or cooked, are edible. The whole plant thoroughly dried can be used to make a tea with a hint of vanilla. The seeds can be used as a spice. Consuming this plant occassionally or used as a spice is highly recommended.
Is sweet clover good for the soil?
Sweet clover is renown for improving marginal soil by increasing the organic matter quickly. Plants are tolerant of heat and shading. Tap root is fairly aggressive and is able to loosen hard soils.
How do you control sweet clover?
Prescribed burning can control sweet clover. A combination of an April burn in the first year, followed by a May burn the following year is most successful in eradicating an even-aged stand of sweet clover.
How much nitrogen does sweet clover fix?
50 to 100 pounds per acre
The amount of nitrogen contributed by red clover can range from 30 to 50 pounds per acre and for sweet clover from 50 to 100 pounds per acre by full bloom, depending on the density of the stand, moisture availability, soil type and the length of the growing season.
Who should not take red clover?
Red clover extracts have been used in clinical studies for as long as 3 years with apparent safety. Women should not take red clover supplements during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
What kind of clover should I use for my lawn?
White clover (Trifolium repens)
White clover is a low-growing, hardy clover species and is the most common type found in lawns. White clover makes a great ground cover because it grows quickly and spreads fast.
Does red clover come back every year?
Red clover is a short-lived perennial that grows quickly and drops its seed, allowing it to come back every year.
What is the fastest growing clover?
Crimson prefers well-drained soils and pH between 5.0-6.5. Current varieties do not have good winter hardiness. It is the fastest growing of the annual clovers, easy to establish, and handles shade well – even the shade of other crops, like standing corn.
How long will red clover last?
As a flowering biennial/short-live perennial plant, red clover grows rapidly in the spring and subsides in the winter. With a short lifespan of two to three years, you’ll want to optimize on each end-of-season if you want to keep a blossoming field or patch of these plants.
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.
What kills sweet clover?
2,4-D works well on white sweetclover controlling most of the treated population. 2,4-D is an active ingredient often found in products used on lawns, and is incorporated in many products that are available for use on almost any site. 2,4-D is a selective herbicide that is only active on broadleaf plants.
How tall does sweet clover grow?
There are two species of biennial Sweet Clovers: yellow and white. White Sweet Clover grows two to seven feet tall. Yellow Sweet Clover grows one-and-one-half to five feet tall. The yellow type is finer stemmed, has smaller leaves, and blooms 10-20 days earlier than the white species.
Is sweet clover a good cover crop?
Once established, sweetclover is the most drought tolerant of all cover crops that produce as much biomass. It is especially resilient in its second year, when it could do well in a dry spring during which it would be difficult to establish annual cover crops.
Is sweet clover a blood thinner?
Sweet clover contains ingredients that can thin the blood and help wounds heal.
What is sweet clover poisoning How does it occur?
Sweet clover poisoning is seen when animals eat spoiled sweet clover hay or silage. Any method of hay storage that allows sweet clover to mold increases the chance of a toxin forming in the hay. Weathered, large round bales, particularly the outer portions, usually contain the highest levels of toxin.