Over Seeding Clover Plots

Randy from SC asks,

Bill, we currently have a half acre clover plot that is great during the fall and winter. However, due to the extreme summer heat the clover tends to go a bit dormant during late spring and summer. Do you think it will damage the clover if we were to over seed with a spring/summer crop to provide food when the clover is a bit dormant? Thank you for your time.

Bill responds,

Topic: Over Seeding Clover Plots:

Randy,

I don’t think I would over seed that plot because the clover needs all the moisture and nutrients it can get and over seeding with something else will cause too much stress I think. 

I would be more tempted to possibly plant something else if the clover is not producing enough forage.   Another option might be a different clover blend – one that favors dry and hot conditions. Durana seems to offer some promise here.

Alfalfa is very tolerant of dry conditions but is more expensive to plant and requires careful maintenance to keep it from being eaten by leaf hoppers.  For sure worth considering.

Soybeans are another option but the deer will hit the beans hard in the spring and unless the spot is big, or the deer numbers moderate, there may not be much left in the summer.  

I know some people will over seed their clover plots with more clover when the clover starts to play out and get thin.  This may get them one more year, but eventually they have to recycle that plot into something else (brassicas are a great option) before coming back into clover again the next year.  Good luck. (8/26/22)