Advice would be appreciated

I posted this over on the Wild Plant forum but got no response. Didn't quite know where to place the post, so hope this is OK. Clover seeds!!
Brought back from Germany!!!! Want to dig up our non-existent front lawn and plant clover. Wonder when would be the best time to do this since we are in the midst of a drought and the nights are near freezing. I told DH we really should wait till early Spring when it's usually wet here but don't really know the answer.

Louisa this about how to incorporate clover into your lawn. Maybe it will help http://www.edmonds.ns.ca/lawncare/dp.html It says to plant in early spring OR fall. If you thinks it's too dry maybe it would be better to wait until spring. You also might want to use a legume inoculant when planting.

Thanks poppysue!! Thought it might be you who would come to the rescue :-) I will check out the link especially to find out what an innoculant is. Legume I know!!

I don't know a lot about nitrogen fixation but .... legumes fix nitrogen, making it available for itself and other plants. The inoculant contains the bacteria necessary for fixation. Inoculant powders can be purchased through most garden supply sources - any that carry farm and seed supplies should have it. Peas and alfalfa are also crops that also benefit from an inoculant. I use it planting sweet peas. It improves the germination. If you have clover already present in your lawn than an inoculant won't be nessecary - the bacteria should already be growing in your soil.

Thanks again!! The link you provided was excellent and I did note that the presence of clover precluded the use of an inoculant. Great stuff Poppysue!!

Louisa

What type of clover did you bring back? It makes no difference to Poppysue's good advice, just curious.

Are you planning to have a clover lawn?

Yes Baa - clover lawn it is from now on!! We bought the seed loose in Germany so not quite sure what type it is but I think it's white flowered! Did you look at the link? Bit of an eye opener for me!! More ammunition for me to fire at DH when he wants to use chemicals on the lawn and I say no way!! He read the article and now sees the sense in it all. I haven't used chemicals for years and years now!!

Louisa

No I didn't see the link, I had enough about clover at college LOL. A favourite conversation piece here among grassland farmers is the relationship between grass swards and white clover (interesting bunch lol).

If its for a lawn, you may find that in your climate it isn't green all year. If it gets very cold, white clover will drop its leaves. I don't know about the climate in your area but I do know it happens here in the North sometimes. If its white flowered clover then at least its most likely a perennial variety.



This message was edited Thursday, Nov 15th 6:44 AM

This message was edited Thursday, Nov 15th 6:45 AM

Louisa
We buy legume innoculant at Mayo's or the Co-Op here. Usually anywhere they sell bulk seeds to farmers will have it. I use the legume innoculant for my lupines too. It's the only way I can get them to survive here. It is a black powder, you add water and soak the seeds overnight in it.

Thanks once again for this valuable info. Baa it is white clover, so perennial I believe!! Calalily we have hunted high and wide here for farmers' supplies with no luck. I too would like to grow the lupins. Have not heard of Mayo or the Coop!! I will do more research!!