Propagation and Planting Red Clover. Cutting the red clover for weed management should be timed when the weeds have not produced viable seeds. 5 Reasons Food Plots Fail – Don’t fall victim to one of these five common food plot mistakes. Good luck. Managing Cover Crops Profitably explores how and why cover crops work, and provides all the information needed to build cover crops into any farming operation. Moreover, clover also attracts pollinating insects like bees, attracts deer, requires no fertilization, grows in poor soil, and requires very little attention and no mowing. Photo by Martin LaBars. Connect with your County Extension Office », Find an Extension employee in our staff directory », Get the latest news and updates on Extension's work around the state, Feedback, questions or accessibility issues: info@extension.wisc.edu | © 2020 The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System Privacy Policy | Non-Discrimination Policy | Discrimination and Harassment Complaints | Disability Accommodation Requests | Civil Rights. No Mowing: as mentioned above, micro clover doesn’t require mowing, and if you do choose to mow, it doesn’t have to be as often as a grass lawn. If you cut late in the day, you might weaken and hurt the plant. With this harvest system farmers end up cutting too late to obtain maximum forage quality. In my experience, the deer keep it mowed well enough on their own. “That’s just wrong. Slight different school of thought like Bill said but I thought it might be helpful to some…, Catchem unfortunately I have a ton of experience mowing clover! 1 Set your lawn mower to a desired height, such as 2 to 3 inches, to mow your clover in spring and fall months while it is not in bloom. Mowing will stall the maturation process and promote growth of runners and “daughter” plants. Thank you for all your work, There are a few schools of thought on this. More recently, farmers have been cutting red clover three times during the summer to get a higher quality forage. Matt Ruark – UW Extension Soil Scientist The best time to cut red clover is early in the morning, right after the dew has dried. Some years I never mow, especially on dry years as I don’t want to stress the clover. The highest nutrient content and digestibility came from red clover forages cut at the bud stage of growth, but came at the expense of forage yield. The big brassica leaves in the Autumn Quick Plot could shade out the clover if you plant the AQP too thick. The red clover plant has been used medicinally for several centuries. Continue reading for more crimson clover information. Usually, these are treated with a poultice made of red clover (and other herbs.) “That’s just wrong. Its use began as early as the mid 1800s and interest in using it increased around 1940. Red clover should be cut regularly when it reaches a height of 30cm. Red clover and oats also make suitable companion plants. I basically only mow to clean up the plot. This also keeps the clover more palatable and attractive to the deer. Sharpee, and D.J. I am curious if the rate changes for both blends or if you keep the rates the same? In this study, harvest management systems did not affect red clover persistence. 10 acres or less to encourage under growth for bedding and food. I mow mine every time the farmer cuts his alfalfa and I can drive back to my clover plots, the clover keeps growing strong and is usually 10” around September and mowed down like a golf course by November (frigid forage pure trophy clover) by the deer, Here’s a comment I left on one of my blog comments. Now if you’re deer density is such that it never gets that tall then you may not need to mow it, or just mow it for weed control or just spray for that. Early June is a good time to start this process of cleaning up clover plots. When comparing the various cut systems for total season yield, the three-cut system was the highest yielding system (Figure 1). They also generate oxygen, provide a lush carpet for childrens barefoot play, and offer a pleasant setting for active summer livingbadminton anyone? This often involves a herbicide treatment or mowing. I have always mowed my clover when the weeds start to become obvious. Mowing will stall the maturation process and promote growth of runners and “daughter” plants. Traditionally, red clover is cut twice a year when it is at 50% bloom or greater. Benefits of Clover. Of course mowing doesn’t help control grass really. Is there a specific time of the year you would recommend doing it; spring, mid-summer, or late summer? Smith, M.J. Mlynarek, R.E. Introduction During hot and dry weather, red clover growth slows and flowering may occur on short, stunted plants. In the middle of summer, stop mowing to encourage clover from flowering and seeding. Wisconsin Red Clover Harvest Management Study, – 3 cuts at bud stage and 1 late fall but, – 2 summer cuts at 20% bloom and 1 late fall cut. The most practical way to prevent this is to graze during August. 1 … Red clover is grown as a forage for grazing, and for feed as cultivated hay. The four-cut system produced high yields, but the economics of taking the fourth cut in fall are generally not favorable. However, significant forage yield and quality differences were measured among harvest management systems. If the weeds aren’t bad, there is no urgent need to mow at any specific time. I plan to ted in the morning while the dew is still on. Best suited to well-drained, fertile, slightly acid to neutral soils. It looked like I was butchering it. In fact when red clover has a lot of late summer or fall regrowth, it may be better to harvest the crop to reduce the risk of winter smothering. Harvesting red clover at 40% bloom results in forage quality that is lower than forages cut at 20% bloom or bud stage. Grain production in the Midwest in general has been severely affected by the drought. Rand, D.K. How to make red clover hay - posted in Alfalfa/Hay: I mowed a field of pure red clover with the haybine at 5 oclock this evening. Forages cut at bud stage had the highest concentration of crude protein (CP) and lowest concentration of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF). On a dry sandy soil, it may only need cutting twice in the season. In general, dry matter accumulation is at its highest by the time red clover reaches the 20% bloom stage of maturity. However, with a three-cut system, farmers are concerned that they may give up yield and persistence. In general, red clover is more productive in southern Wisconsin where the growing season is longer as compared to northern Wisconsin. Red clover can be used as a cover crop that provides many benefits such as fixing nitrogen (N) to meet needs of the following crop, protecting soil from erosion, improving soil tilth, competing with weeds, as well as supplying forage needs. In a multi-year study, five red clover varieties were seeded at Northern, Central, and Southern Wisconsin locations. Some guys prefer to mow twice a summer to keep the clover lush and growing so it is most attractive to the deer. Mowing when you start seeing white clover heading out can keep the plot vigorous and increase stolon or runner production. When adding clover to an existing lawn, first mow it close and remove any thatch to allow the seed to fall to the soil surface. If it is grass competition, it is usually better to spray than mow, but if it is broadleaf weeds, then mowing should clean up the plot. Mowing will stimulate regrowth at the crowns. Overall, there were insignificant forage yield differences among varieties. About 2 ounces of clover is needed for every 1,000 square feet of lawn. The majority of red clover varieties has a persistence of 2 years, care should be taken to source a variety with better persistence for longer term mixtures. Crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum) is native to the Mediterranean region. Red clover cultivars that were developed during the 1970s and 1980s proved to be higher yielding, more disease resistant, and persistent than those that were developed prior to 1970. Propagation and Planting Red Clover. This advice on mowing differs from some food plotters, who believe in mowing clover when it is at its most productive. Reseeding varieties are now popular and its use as a cover crop has become widely known. Nutritionally speaking Red Clover blossoms contain a good amount of calcium, magnesium, potassium, niacin, thiamine, and lots of Vitamin C. How to Use Red Clover Blossoms Brian, if you do that, you need to scale the rate back on the Autumn Quick Plot to about 60%. Interseeding Legumes versus Applying Nitrogen Fertilizer Is there a certain majority level you like for your clover plots to reach before mowing them down? If you cut late in the day, you might weaken and hurt the plant. Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) Description: A short-term (2–3 years) perennial legume. The drug is made from its flowers, which contain a volatile oil that consists flavonoids, derivatives of coumarin and cyanogenic glycosides. Red clover reaches its prime feeding value at five to 15 days after first bloom. For my last cutting of the season I like to mow around the 1st of September here in Iowa, that seems like the perfect timing to get it coming back really green and attractive for the October 1st opener., Jared Day 19: Final Hunt Before The Break, Drake’s Blog | Public Land Push, Shotgun Season Day 2, Mike’s Blog | Laying Eyes On An Urban Shooter, Josh’s Blog | Back To Work, Cruising Bucks. Below are a few links to help you with the maintenance of your clover plot. Red clover is a short-lived perennial that is winter hardy throughout Pennsylvania. The drought experienced during the 2012 growing season in most of Central and Southern Wisconsin has significantly reduced the availability of grains for feed use. Topically, it’s been used for burns, eczema, psoriasis, sores, arthritis and skin cancer. In fact, the clover is actually a lawn conditioner. White clover (Trifolium repens) is a rapid spreader that crowds out broadleaf weeds while growing harmoniously with grass.It will thrive in areas that are poorly drained or too shady for a conventional lawn. Red clover generally establishes quickly and can grow on soils too wet or too acid for alfalfa. (4-23-19), Thank you for the information. No Mowing: as mentioned above, micro clover doesn’t require mowing, and if you do choose to mow, it doesn’t have to be as often as a grass lawn. Some people mow them more regularly, to keept he clover lush, but I find that my deer keep the clover mowed without any real help. When grasses do better, the competition reduces the legume content. dwiersma@facstaff.wisc.edu. In maritime, Soil erosion concerns after silage harvest I would keep the rate the same as on the label for the clover. Maximum nutrient yields are obtained by harvesting red clover when the plants are between bud stage and 20% bloom. More recently, farmers have been cutting red clover three times during the summer to get a higher quality forage. Red clover requires no watering, no mowing, and no fertilizers to thrive (making it great for xeriscape gardens). Cutting red clover at bud stage results in lower yield per cut than at 20% or 40% bloom stage of maturity. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin wanted to determine what cutting systems best optimized red clover yield and quality while maintaining high stand persistence. Thanks again keep up the good work. Red Clover is often grown in areas with low soil pH or fertility, and poor soil drainage. To make a poultice, chop up the … by Ken Barnett1 In my experience, the deer keep it mowed well enough on their own. One concern with taking a fall harvest is forage persistence and yield potential in the following year. - posted in Alfalfa/Hay: Hey guys, i did my first cut a month ago now, and i have about 2 ac that's seems to be nothing but Clover. Plots were harvested for two years after the seeding year under the following harvest management systems: Red clover varieties were evaluated for forage yield, forage quality, and persistence. This study showed that fall harvest did not significantly reduce forage yield the following year. They are monoculture crops that provide minimal benefits to nature. Crimson Clover Information. Two-cut systems were lower yielding than three and four cut systems. However, red clover is particularly sensitive to soil moisture conditions, and forage productivity can be limited with dry soil conditions. Will forage quality differ among cut systems? When to Cut Clover for a 2nd cut? If not, the best time to mow is when you see clover plants begin to flower. Below are a few links to help you with the maintenance of your clover plot. As alwa… The best time to cut red clover is early in the morning, right after the dew has dried. … There were no detrimental effects on stand persistence due to fall cutting in the three or four cut systems tested. Generally, all that is required to maintain a hearty forage base is a high mowing (if it’s a large plot >1 acre) to control annual broadleaves or at least one or two herbicide sprayings a year to keep the grass and other weeds at bay. If I’m using a brush hog I cut it about 8-10 inches then when it gets over say 14-16 inches I’ll knock it back again. Focus on Forage – Vol 3: No. Bill responds, Brian, There are a few schools of thought on this. Traditionally, red clover is cut twice a year when it is at 50% bloom or greater. Harvesting forage at 40% bloom had the lowest nutrient value and the lowest yield. 5 Reasons Food Plots Fail – Don’t fall victim to one of these five common food plot mistakes. This form needs Javascript to display, which your browser doesn’t support. Since newer cultivars are more persistent they may be able to tolerate three cuts per season without loss of stand. At full height, micro clover will reach about 6 inches un-mowed, and 4 inches if mowed every now and then. 4. That will allow enough room for the clover to get going. Later cuttings can be made at late-bud or early-bloom stage. “It’s a myth that you have to mow in order to have a nutritious clover plot,” said Craig. This Focus on Forage will discuss the effect of harvest management on red clover yield, quality, and persistence. Do you recommend spreading fertilizer inside small areas of woods. 11:309-313. If the clover is doing well in May and June and deer are eating it, let them eat it. Renade has been tested extensively across North America and it was the highest yielding (DM) red clover variety in a two-year trial conducted in Lexington, KY. RENEGAD… When the legume content and its nitrogen contribution to the grasses decreases, the grass content declines. 4. Red clover also seems to reduce our levels of bad (LDL) cholesterol and our risk for heart disease. Red clover and red clover/grass mixtures make good silage if wilted slightly before ensiling or if other preservative techniques are used (120). I found out it would green up just beautifully… So moral of the story is that it isn’t really that important on how short you cut it. The seedling tolerates shading to some extent, as well, which makes interseeding into sod more successful. However, red clover… When well managed and properly fertilized, newer varieties of red clover can potentially yield 4 to 5 tons of good quality forage. If not, the best time to mow is when you see clover plants begin to flower. If it’s hot and dry I only like to mow it just before a rain. Renegade is classified as semi-dormant in winter growth habit, and provides more grazing than Ladino clover during hot summer months. The legume and grass content of a grazed pasture changes over time. Once established, clover food plots need to be properly maintained in order to provide maximum forage. This way, it'll still be somewhat cool out and the plant will have some time to recover before the hottest point of the day. Fall harvest after a killing frost (or after October 15th) is a viable option for red clover harvested two or three times prior to September 1st. Red clover is also considered as a medicinal plant. Remove clippings for green manure or forage to prevent plant disease. Red clover forage yield will vary depending on the stage of maturity at harvest. On the other hand, lawns are ground covers that can prevent the encroachment of unwanted or invasive weeds. I thought man is this stuff gonna come back worth a darn? This occurs due to a cycling of the grass and legume portions of the pasture. The drug is made from its flowers, which contain a volatile oil that consists flavonoids, derivatives of coumarin and cyanogenic glycosides. Over the past 60 years, many different types of crimson clover have been produced. Greg Andrews – UW Extension, Pierce County Nick Schneider – UW Extension, Winnebago County It’s just like mowing your lawn, it comes right back. Harvest red clover early in the day. At full height, micro clover will reach about 6 inches un-mowed, and 4 inches if mowed every now and then. To sow clover alone, mix it with enough sand to facilitate spreading. © University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, 2000, Daniel Wiersma, UW-Madison This also keeps the clover more palatable and attractive to the deer. There are also some times and reasons not to mow. An EEO/AA employer, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title VI, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act requirements. Red clover ( Trifolium pratense ) is used worldwide as a fodder plant due its high nutritional value. I basically only mow to clean up the plot. The first harvest of red clover should be made when the field is at early bloom. Cutting during these stressful periods can weaken red clover plants and cause stand reductions. If the clover is doing well in May and June and deer are eating it, let them eat it. What cut system will maximize red clover persistence? If an emergency forage cut is needed, harvest red clover in early summer, then broadcast and lightly incorporate millet seed with a tine harrow or disk. However, oats should be harvested earlier as silage to minimize competition for water and shade. Continue reading for more crimson clover information. The sweet taste is due to the high sugar content, so care should be given when feeding. I have always mowed my clover when the weeds start to become obvious. Do not graze from Sept. 10 to Nov. 1 or frost, whichever occurs first. Red clover is also considered as a medicinal plant. This advice on mowing differs from some food plotters, who believe in mowing clover when it is at its most productive. To avoid clover sickness (a combination of soil-borne sclerotinia and stem eelworm) a five year gap should be allowed between leys containing red clover. Because red clover has a succulent, non fibrous stem with large leaves there is some danger of residue smothering red clover plants and reducing stand over winter. As mentioned, there are people who have other thoughts on this. Also called incarnate clover because of their blood-red blooms, crimson clover has been used as a cover crop in the United States since the mid-1800s. As the grass content decreases, the legume content will increase again. Red clover grows taller and more productive than white clover, but has to be managed carefully and is generally treated as a 2-3 year crop. Good luck. It definitely makes a difference in both the amount of browse and the attractiveness of the browse. Some guys prefer to mow twice a summer to keep the clover lush and growing so it is most attractive to the deer. What cut system produced the most forage per season? Horses, in particular, can be susceptible to colic and other digestive disorders and should be fed red clover with great care. The first cut may be before this if there is a severe weed problem. Issue 12-03 This is a horse pasture that i seeded with a pasture mix and it seems that the clover as taken over. Good luck. Have you ever planted Pure Trophy Clover and AQP together in late summer and have the AQP act as a cover crop during the fall? Red clover harvested three times (2 summer cuts + a late fall cut) at 20% bloom yielded the most total forage in Wisconsin studies. Mowing when you start seeing white clover heading out can keep the plot vigorous and increase stolon or runner production. Red clover will grow better if started after the last frost of the spring, once established grass stands in other locations start to show steady growth. There are also some times and reasons not to mow. 8. If you do not understand the ideal dietary recommendations, consult an animal feed expert, veterinarian, or other qualified professional. This often involves a herbicide treatment or mowing. Another general rule of thumb is to wait until plants are 8-12 inches tall, then mow them down to 4 or 5 inches. If it is grass competition, it is usually better to spray than mow, but if it is broadleaf weeds, then mowing should clean up the plot. Early flowering red clover types include common medium red clover, suitable for 2-3 hay cuttings per year. White Clover – This is what my living mulch should soon look like. High yield is obtained by sowing of 3.63 to 4.54 kg of red clover seeds per acre in a well-prepared soil. Red clover is tolerant of a wider range of soils than alfalfa – including some heavier soils with lower pH conditions – and the small seed broadcasts easily. Ladino clover food plots require very little maintenance and care once established. With this harvest system farmers end up cutting too late to obtain maximum forage quality. Forages cut at 20% bloom had forage quality that was slightly lower than bud stage clover. Nutrient requirements. Wiersma, D.W., R.R. It is often suggested that you should mow your clover plots 2-3 times during the growing season depending on conditions. Here is a prime example of why I recommend establishing your new clover plot seedings for whitetails in the fall with a nurse crop of winter rye. Crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum) is native to the Mediterranean region. This way, it'll still be somewhat cool out and the plant will have some time to recover before the hottest point of the day. www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/cover_crops01/redclover.htm If there is a full canopy of trees, you may need to do some timber stand improvement first. Red clover cut at 20% bloom was also high in forage quality and persistence. Clover is a popular alternative to grass for front and backyard lawns, mostly because clover is affordable, easy to grow, simple to maintain, and drought-resistant. 9. Also called incarnate clover because of their blood-red blooms, crimson clover has been used as a cover crop in the United States since the mid-1800s. We teach, learn, lead and serve, connecting people with the University of Wisconsin, and engaging with them in transforming lives and communities. Marshfield Agricultural Research Station It will also remove weeds that have grown after harvest. Conversely on a fertile soil in a warm wet summer, it may need … You do need some sunlight to the forest floor though, or the shade will still prevent a lot of undergrowth. Early June is a good time to start this process of cleaning up clover plots. To get a higher quality forage 4-23-19 ), thank you for clover! And should be given when feeding one hand, lawns are ground that!, which your browser doesn ’ t bad, there are also times! During hot summer months generate oxygen, provide a lush carpet for childrens barefoot play, and Wisconsin. To become obvious and quality differences were measured among harvest management on red clover oats. To get a higher quality forage xeriscape gardens ) has become widely known food need. 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Some years i never mow, especially on dry years as i Don t... 1 © University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, 2000, Daniel Wiersma, UW-Madison Marshfield Research. Until you can see the seedlings of taking the fourth cut in fall generally.