White Dutch Clover Seeds – Lawn & Cover Crop

Living Ground Cover for Lawns, Gardens & Cover Crops

White Dutch clover (Trifolium repens) is a low-growing perennial legume for lawn mixes, living mulch, erosion control, and cover cropping. It spreads by creeping stems called stolons, creating ground cover that tolerates close mowing and provides flowers for bees and other beneficial insects.

Use it to add clover to an existing grass area, cover open garden ground between crops, or establish a living mulch. As a legume, clover can contribute nitrogen through its relationship with compatible soil bacteria.

Choose Your Seed Option

• 1 lb raw seed
• 1 lb inoculated seed
• 5 lb raw seed
• 5 lb inoculated seed

Select both the package weight and raw or inoculated option from the menu. This listing is for seeds, not live plants.

Raw vs. Inoculated Seed

Both options are White Dutch clover seed. The difference is whether beneficial nitrogen-fixing bacteria have been applied before planting.

• Raw seed: Has not been pre-inoculated with these bacteria. You can apply a compatible clover inoculant before sowing, following the inoculant’s directions.
• Inoculated seed: Has beneficial bacteria applied to help the clover form root nodules. These bacteria convert nitrogen from the air into a form the plant can use.

Which should you choose? Inoculated seed is a convenient choice for a new planting, especially where clover has not grown before or you are unsure whether compatible bacteria are present in the soil. Raw seed gives you the option to apply a suitable inoculant yourself.

Inoculation is a biological treatment, not a pesticide treatment. Because inoculant contains living bacteria, follow the supplier’s storage and planting instructions.

Garden & Landscape Uses

• Lawn mixtures and low-growing ground cover.
• Living mulch and green manure cover crops.
• Soil protection and erosion control.
• Forage plantings, including chicken forage and wildlife plots.
• Flowers for bees and beneficial insects.
• Weed suppression once a vigorous stand is established.

Soil Preparation

Start with a soil test to guide amendments. The existing growing guidance recommends a soil pH of approximately 6.0–6.5 and adequate phosphorus and potassium. Avoid routine nitrogen applications when establishing clover in grass, as they can encourage competing grass growth.

When & How to Sow

• Timing: Generally early spring or late summer in northern US locations; late winter, early spring, or late summer in southern locations. Adjust to local weather and soil conditions.
• Depth: Sow shallowly, no deeper than approximately 1/4 inch.
• Method: Broadcast over a prepared seedbed or use a suitable no-till or minimum-till method. Rake lightly to establish good seed-to-soil contact.
• Moisture: Keep the seedbed consistently moist during germination. Adjust watering as roots establish.

Seeding Rate

The existing growing guidance lists approximately 1/4–1/2 lb per 1,000 square feet or 8–10 lb per acre. These are separate application ranges rather than equivalent coverage estimates. The appropriate rate depends on your region, planting method, and whether clover is sown alone or with grass.

Ongoing Care

Maintain moisture during establishment and manage competing vegetation. Where appropriate, mow clover-grass mixtures to reduce grass seedheads and weed competition. For green manure use, incorporate the growth into the soil as part of your garden’s cover-cropping plan.

Establishment, growth, and coverage vary with site conditions and care.