White Clover- Overseeding.

Mach Two

I am looking for information on overseeding white clover on existing grassland. Anyone with practical experience might share their experience.

endainoz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058242092/white-clover-overseeding

https://www.teagasc.ie/publications/2021/management-and-establishment-of-grass-white-clover-swards.php

Teagasc have a decent write up here, I don't have experience in overseeding grazing paddocks, only meadows but the method would be pretty much the same. Graze as tight as possible, even do a run of the chain harrow to open up the ground a bit. Then spread/stich in the seed followed by a roll.

Mach Two

Heard lately that if the seed just hits the bare soil that is enough. No need to till whatsoever.

endainoz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118939626#Comment_118939626

A light chain harrowing would hardly be considered tilling, it's just to scarify the ground a bit to make more bare soil.

Reggie.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118939626#Comment_118939626

You'll have to blacken the soil somewhat. Say a chain or tine harrow but yes once it hits soil white clover will germinate. Its way more resilient than red clover

weatherbyfoxer

Had Philip Creaton from Teagasc here a week ago for a farm walk,he is doing lots of trial work in Athenry on established white clover in grazing swards.The genral concensus is the most successful over seeding job is to go in after a cut of silage in may with grass harrow or similar and put in pelleted white clover then roll..thats the easy part,keeping the grass from smoothering out the seedling clover is the trick,worth bearing in mind white clover sown from now on wont be of much benefit till next year too

Mach Two

A Teagasc man told me lately was not to cut silage but to graze tightly and then spread seed. And then wash in with something like parlour washings.

Which is better pelleted seed or straight seed.

weatherbyfoxer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118940187#Comment_118940187

once its grazed tight enough its a good job,only the white stubble after the silage is cut gives the clover a great chance

Reggie.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118940187#Comment_118940187

All white clover is pelleted