Dutch white clover

1930 · Sep 21, 2020

I am seriously considering this for a ground cover in place of conventional ground cover on my property. I am considering it because
A- I feel that a conventional lawn is a complete waste of energy and resources any way its looked at, Id like to think Im more intelligent than the average citizen.

From what Ive read ( and I found this info on the internet so it has too be true

) prior to about 1950 DWC was a common ingredient in most lawn seeds, evidently the big chemical companies came along and started the rumor that it was a weed and should be removed for whatever reason.

B- I would like to improve the existing soil I have now so DWC is a legume plant that at a minimum cant hurt. It requires no nothing as far as I read other than an occasional watering if too dry. Ive read that if its too dry it will show it but as soon as the rain hits it springs back quickly. Id like to verify this. Im hoping some of you guys can give me your factual observance.

C- Id like to try perennial peanut ( or similar ) but its very expensive.

I will be planting sun hemp in the near future just for the bio mass but thats not gonna happen right now.

Id like to hear from folks that have used it in similar conditions as 9A, Florida would be even better. What did you think? How was it effective at crowding out other weeds, how did you personally plant it and did you have to go back again and again to get where you wanted to be?

1930 · Sep 21, 2020

I cannot remember if I posted this already but here is a video of my property, since making this video I have added many more trees, maybe 20-30 fruit and other varieties.

I thank everyone here that has given me advice when I asked for it. I would not be where I am at with this project without the people that have contributed to it via internet and that has been many of you.

73property - YouTube

Diggin It · Sep 21, 2020

I have large areas of clover in my lawn naturally. I don't know which variety it is. They spread some, but never take over the whole lawn and it doesn't seem to last all summer, but comes back each year. When in bloom, the honeybees love it.

Jstpssng · Sep 21, 2020

It's my understanding that it's a great attractor for bees and other pollinators. That can't be a bad thing if you have fruit trees around.

1930 · Sep 22, 2020

Jstpssng said:
It's my understanding that it's a great attractor for bees and other pollinators. That can't be a bad thing if you have fruit trees around.

That is what I was thinking as well, Thanks

Avenger · Sep 22, 2020

I have a mix of clover and grasses for most of my property that is not covered by thick forest. Every once in a while I'll get a clump of thistle that must be pulled, but other than that, its a great lawn. I dont have good water, as in, I cannot irrigate anything due to my semi-dry well. If I want to water the lawn, I have to haul water. The clover does 'die' but does spring back in the fall and spring with the rains.

I also have an ever growing clump of ferns that is slowly taking over my front lawn. Its hard to mow due to how thick it is, but stays green throughout the summer with no water. So, the ferns will stay too, because so far, I do not see a reason to remove it.

DWC is great for ground cover, as an ingredient. You should have a mix of things, like grasses, legumes, etc. Look at the natural state of land, and you wont see a single species of anything.

shooterdon · Sep 22, 2020

I recently seeded 10 lbs of DWC and hope it will help fill in some areas of my lawn. About 50% was used on the lawn and the rest for a food plot.

Too early to see how it works out but my research lead me to DWC. But I am in MI

One last thing. I am led to believe if it is not mowed (say in a food plot) and allowed to go to seed it will help. I will likely overseed in the spring anyway.

tallfreak · Sep 26, 2020

I am going to overseed my [struggling] Bermuda lawn with microclover. I just don't have enough sun to support Bermuda. Plus i really don't like mowing.

For the rest of the property (about 2 acres) that isn't wooded, I am going to seed a mix of DWC and crimson clover. I dont want to mow, it looks really nice when it blooms, and its great for deer and pollinators.

I wish I could figure out something for ground cover in my wooded areas. I have mostly mature trees, so I have a dense canopy that has a lot of poison ivy and I think Virginia creeper.

I would love to clear out the underbrush and saplings, leave all the mature trees, and have a ground cover that has low maintenance.

I am in 7a if I remember correctly. Just south of Memphis.

Jstpssng · Sep 26, 2020

tallfreak said:
I am going to overseed my [struggling] Bermuda lawn with microclover. I just don't have enough sun to support Bermuda. Plus i really don't like mowing.

For the rest of the property (about 2 acres) that isn't wooded, I am going to seed a mix of DWC and crimson clover. I dont want to mow, it looks really nice when it blooms, and its great for deer and pollinators.

I wish I could figure out something for ground cover in my wooded areas. I have mostly mature trees, so I have a dense canopy that has a lot of poison ivy and I think Virginia creeper.

I would love to clear out the underbrush and saplings, leave all the mature trees, and have a ground cover that has low maintenance.

I am in 7a if I remember correctly. Just south of Memphis.

If there's no sunlight getting through about th only thing which will grow well is moss... or perhaps the vines you mention which can reach for the sunlight.