White Clover Reseeding Practices

Soil pH

• White clover needs to grow in a soil pH of 6.4, according to the University of Kentucky. Check your soil in the early spring after the last frost with a soil pH test. To test your soil, dig at least 10 3- to 4-inch holes in the yard. Collect soil from the bottom of each hole. Mix up the soil in a bucket and pour 1 cup into a container to send to your local county extension office. Results are usually mailed in two to three weeks.

Amending Soil

• Your existing soil pH will determine what soil amendments to spread over the lawn. Elemental sulfur is used on soils that have a pH over 6.4. Dolomite lime is used on soils that are under 6.4. Spread the soil amendment in the yard according to the recommendations made by your local cooperative extension office. Water the lawn after applying the soil amendments. Leaving soil amendments on the lawn can burn grass and any existing white clovers.

Sowing

• Mow your lawn if you want to reseed in existing grass. Rake the surface of the lawn to loosen up the soil, as recommended by the University of Minnesota. The amount of white clover seeds you use depends on what you want as your dominant ground clover. Sow your white clover seeds at a higher rate if you are reseeding over existing clover or want a predominantly white clover lawn. For example, 2 oz. of white clover seeds should be distributed per 1,000 square feet over a lawn that you want to fill in, according to the University of Minnesota. Whereas, 8 oz. of white clover seeds per 1,000 square feet should be applied over lawns that will consist of primarily white clovers.

Care

• Keep your soil moist after reseeding. White clover seeds cannot germinate on hard, dry soil. Once you see white clover seedlings emerging, reduce the amount of water that you apply to the lawn. Avoid fertilizing your lawn with fertilizers that are high in nitrogen. White clovers aren't tolerant of heavy fertilization programs, according to the University of Minnesota. You may have to reseed the lawn again the following year depending on your winter. However, white clover lawns usually have the ability to bounce back, according to the University of Minnesota.