February is the ideal time of the year to increase the amount of clover in your pasture in most situations. Increasing the amount of clover in your pastures is normally recommended to improve the forage quality and animal performance on the pasture, plus since clover is a legume it adds nitrogen to the soil. To be successful in seeding clover there are a few things you should keep in mind.

First of all, you need to think about the amount of broad leaf weeds presently in the pasture. Once you get a good stand of clover started it greatly limits what you can do to control weeds in the future. In situations with a lot of weeds you may choose to work on the weeds this year and plant clover next year.

Secondly, the fescue or other grasses need to be grazed fairly close so the newly “broadcasted” clover seed can hopefully get in contact with the soil. Close grazing is also helpful to allow the new clover seedling space to grow once it germinates.

The third thing to keep in mind is that, it is recommended to leave the livestock on the pasture being over seeded so they can help trample the seed into the soil with their hooves. Here in North Georgia the freezing/thawing action of the soil also helps get the seed lightly covered with soil.

This time of the year, we recommend broadcasting seeding 3-4 pounds/acre of a white clover such as “ladino” to over seed pastures. For more details or questions about improving pasture quality call the Walker County Extension Office at 638-2548.

Norman Edwards is coordinator of Walker County Extension Service.