How to save and sow clover seeds for ground cover, by Sloane Bychance on YouTube. 1 min 58 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 58 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Check your clover patch for seed heads that have dried and turned brown on the plant. Green heads are not ready yet, so leave them a bit longer.
Pick the brown seed heads and keep white clover and red clover in separate piles so you can label each type.
Drop each type into its own brown paper envelope. Write the clover colour and the date on the outside.
Leave the envelopes open in a dry, airy spot for a few days so any remaining moisture escapes. Skip plastic bags, which trap damp and cause mildew.
Fold or seal the envelopes and store them somewhere cool and dry. Well dried seed stays viable for a year or more.
Sow in late summer or early fall, or after the last hard frost in spring. Scatter the seed heads over the area you want covered.
Lightly disturb the soil with a rake first, then work the seed heads in gently so the seeds make good contact with the soil.
Water the patch and keep it moist until the clover is established, then let it grow.
Tips and common mistakes
Only collect from fully brown, dry seed heads, since damp or green material can rot in storage.
Use paper envelopes rather than plastic bags so seeds keep drying instead of sweating.
Label white and red clover separately, as they grow and spread differently.
Water new sowings through dry spells, because clover seedlings fail if the topsoil dries out.
Questions
How long can I store saved clover seed?
Properly dried seed kept in paper in a cool, dry place stays viable for a year or more. Label the envelope with the date so you know how old it is.
When is the best time to sow clover?
Late summer and early fall work well, or sow in spring after the last hard frost. Both give the seedlings time to settle before harsh weather.
Do I need to cover the seed with soil?
No deep burying is needed. Rake the surface loose and work the seed heads in gently so the seeds sit in contact with the soil.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
