Planting clover questions

Masspectacle · Nov 26, 2009

I will be starting a few beehives next spring, and want to plant some of my land in clover for them. I'm planning on yellow sweet clover, red clover, and some dutch white clover closer to the yard area.

Currently the land has mostly bromegrass on it. Was cut once for hay last summer.

I've talked with a few people who have said that running and disc over it and then broadcast spreading the seed would work.

Any other suggestions as far as planting and maintenance?

I'm located in south-eastern Nebraska.

Thanks.

hayray · Nov 26, 2009

If you want a good stand of clover then disking a little bit and broadcasting seed won't work. Brome forms a solid sod mat and you will need to eliminate competition first before broadcasting or drilling.

paul · Nov 26, 2009

Clover is an odd duck. Some of the seed might first come up in 3 years....

If you want a lot of clover, you'd need to get rid of more of the grass.

If you want just a little clover, your way will work.

It's easier to plant grass into a clover field, than to plant clover into a grass field.

As years go by, grass tends to get thicker. As years go by, legumes tend to get thinner.

--->Paul

old · Nov 27, 2009

I plant a little bit of clover every year. What I do is snow seed it which is late in the winter I spread if on one of the last snows of the year. When the snow melts it pulls the seed in to the ground and so far it has worked well for me for years. Plus it saves $$ on not using gas or a tractor I just take a walk which is also good for a person. Oh and I also store the seed in the house so it will be warm and melt its way in just a tad

Masspectacle · Nov 27, 2009

I don't need complete coverage, but I would like to see decent growth and get enough to make it worth my time and effort.

By "get rid of more of the grass" - what exactly do you mean? For example
1. Spray roundup, then disc. or
2. Plow, then disc

Thanks.

(quoted from post at 21:23:56 11/26/09) Clover is an odd duck. Some of the seed might first come up in 3 years....

If you want a lot of clover, you'd need to get rid of more of the grass.

If you want just a little clover, your way will work.

It's easier to plant grass into a clover field, than to plant clover into a grass field.

As years go by, grass tends to get thicker. As years go by, legumes tend to get thinner.

--->Paul

old · Nov 27, 2009

The way I do it works well and I just do 5 or so lbs of it each year and have been doing it that way for a decade or more. My hay field is about 50% clover now in some areas. I have found if you do not cut it at least once a year the clover seems to die out. BTDT also and learning to cut it or loose it

Masspectacle · Nov 28, 2009

Thanks - after reading some more at some of the regional university extension websites, I think the basis of your method is what I'll do. Makes sense to do a gradual change-over. I've got enough space that I can experiment with a couple minor variations.

(quoted from post at 18:57:00 11/27/09) The way I do it works well and I just do 5 or so lbs of it each year and have been doing it that way for a decade or more. My hay field is about 50% clover now in some areas. I have found if you do not cut it at least once a year the clover seems to die out. BTDT also and learning to cut it or loose it

Planting clover questions

Masspectacle

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hayray

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paul

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old

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Masspectacle

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old

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Masspectacle

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