Microclover® - a breakthrough in sustainable turf care
Imagine if you could have sustainable grass that stays dark green most of the year - even during dry spells. With Microclover® seed you can grow a green turf all year round – with minimum effort. Microclover is one the few plant species that produces its own nitrogen fertiliser. This ensures that your turf gets the needed amount of fertiliser so that it stays green, which also saves you money.
About Microclover®
Microclover® is a very tiny white clover. The unique small leaved clover is developed specifically for use together with turf grasses and has a special ability to grow in between the grass plants, keep an even distribution over the turf and supply the grass with the nitrogen needed. Furthermore, it keeps the turf dense and thereby it decreases the amount of weeds and the amount of work you need to put into it.
Microclover® is a leguminous species. Legumes can fix nitrogen from the air which eliminates the need for artificial fertiliser. This N-fixation takes place in the root nodules formed by the symbiotic Rhizobium bacteria. The continuous process of roots dying and degenerating means the accumulated nitrogen is available to the surrounding grass plants. This is truly a sustainable solution.
Microclover® is a plant that produces stolons so that it can spread itself evenly in the turf. This means it is good for closing bare spots quickly, which ultimately reduces the chance that weeds can be established and therefore you do not need to spend so much time on weed control. Additionally, the stolons allow it to regenerate itself after severe stress giving you a green turf faster.
Microclover® is adapted to a wide range of climatic and soil conditions tolerating wet and shade conditions, as well as drought. However, it can only tolerate wet conditions as long as the area is not flooded for long periods.
Microclover® together with turf
Microclover® grows quite aggressively and is very well suited with the latest fine leaved, dense, high quality perennial ryegrasses.
Strong creeping types of red fescue are ‘strong’ enough to be used in mixtures with perennial ryegrass and Microclover®. Slender creeping red fescue and chewings fescue are used more in mixtures without perennial ryegrass where they find balance with Microclover®.
Smooth stalked meadow grass is a good partner for more continental climates. It grows less aggressively and is an ideal species to mix with Microclover® in areas that receive a lot of wear. In dry areas Microclover® can be added to a tall fescue and smooth stalked meadow grass mixture.
Trials made by STRI-Bingley demonstrates how Micoroclover® improves the quality when it is added to a mixture.
Microclover® appearance over the growing season. Plots indicated with blue contain Microclover®.
.jpg&width=640&format=webp&quality=99)
Where to use Microclover®
Microclover® is suited for public areas like parks as well as in municipal sport areas (football, rugby etc.) where it will be cost saving because of the reduced need for artificial fertiliser and maintenance operations.
Microclover® is not only suited for public areas, but is also a great option for home lawns.
How to manage Microclover®
To maintain Microclover® at the desired level below 50% in the sward, some nitrogen could be applied in spring and early summer. The nitrogen will favor the growth of the grasses. Depending on the growing conditions and level of wear, 0 - 100 kg N/ha is needed; around 40 kg N/ha should normally be sufficient. Summer and autumn applications will not be necessary.
Fertiliser application is most important in the year of establishment.
As Microclover® doesn’t fix P, K or Mg from the atmosphere, these elements have to be applied as usual.
What do customers say about Microclover®?
Belgium – Sport pitch
“I was predominantly interested in decreasing the amounts of fertilizers and water used on the pitches. In spring we decided to sow half a pitch with and half without Microclover®”, said Mr. Frans Vercammen, pitch manager for KRC Genk in Belgium. “The first thing we noticed was the fast establishment of the Microclover® part; within two months we could use it, additionally we had far less weeds in this part of the pitch. The pitch has been in play intensively since July same year. Also, the stability of the pitch is tremendous. Mowing of the Microclover® pitch is easy, and the result is always perfect.”
“It was at this moment we decided to use Microclover® in all further renovations of our pitches, especially in the goalmouths; not only on the training pitches for our young players, but also on the main A-field.”
Denmark – lawn
Landscape gardeners, Mette and Lars Krog have recently set up business as, Krog’s Havekompagni in Kirke Hyllinge on Sealand in Denmark. They already have seven employees and operate throughout all of Sealand. Their clientele is mainly made up of private gardens, but the company also undertakes construction work for business clients.
“We recommend that our customers use turf with Microclover®, because their lawn will be much more attractive, greener, and denser. Our clients will find the lawn much easier to look after as it will need less irrigation and fertilizer compared to ordinary lawns without Microclover®”.
Netherlands – park
Menno van de Bos, employed by Krinkels in the Netherlands, is responsible for all the lawns in the famous Vondelpark, in Amsterdam.
The lawns in the Vondelpark are intensively used. Microclover® really improves the wear tolerance of the lawns. Even after two years of use the lawns in which Microclover® was sown have a fresher and greener appearance compared to the other lawns. At the same time, they needed less fertilizer and maintenance in general was easy and sustainable. It is a superior product, especially when high wear tolerance is needed.”
Belgium – landscaping
Landscaper Tom Colenbunders from Belgium employs two staff and has a wide spread of activities: from traditional seeding to hydroseeding, from public works to cemeteries, roadsides to camp sites and private houses. He uses Microclover® everywhere.
“Once established, Microclover® remains very persistent in the lawn and tolerates close mowing. Its wear tolerance is excellent for pop festival sites.” With Microclover® all the usual maintenance products are unnecessary; no more fertilizer, no more pesticides, less need for mowing - which will make your lawnmower last longer. As Microclover® takes care of itself, the only task is to enjoy the appearance of the lawn; a constant green colour, no diseases, no drying out – and all this without effort.”
Reduce your environmental impact with Microclover®
Our breeding and product development, has through more than 30 years, aimed to develop, and breed more sustainable varieties adapted to local climatic conditions. We offer Microclover® that are optimized to maximize performance and minimize resource input, by increasing resilience to changing climate conditions and disease pressure. This solution can reduce the impact on the climate and environment. With Microclover®, maintenance becomes easier and more sustainable as it requires less input in terms of fertilisers, water and plant protection products.
The UN has identified 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all in 2030. Turf solutions with Microclover® can contribute to meet some of the UN SDGs because Microclover® needs fewer resources. By choosing Microclover® from us, your business can help meet the UN SDG no. 6 (clean water), no. 13 (climate action) and no. 15 (life on land).
UN goal and Microclover®
Microclover® not only ease the work of growing beautiful and resilient turfs. They also help reduce the impact on the environment.
- Less need for water – less irrigation – less pressure on water resources – help meet UN goal 6
- Less fertiliser - less maintenance operations – less CO2 emission – help meet UN goal 13
- Less fertiliser - less risk of leaching – help meet UN goal 15
- Less weed – less need for herbicides – help meet UN goal 15
Brochures
Find the perfect mixture
The Masterline® mixtures are designed for golf courses, stadiums, parks, etc. The mixtures consist of very fine-leafed and dense-growing, quality varieties. For enhanced performance two varieties of each species are always used in the mixtures.
For over 175 years Johnsons Sports Seed mixtures have been equivalent to quality sports turf with an unequalled reputation for technical excellence, reflecting the standards set by the people who use them - those who lead the way in sports turf management.