Trifolium repens Dwarf

The white clover is a perennial legume, used as a green manure for several years or as fodder. It has the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in its roots. It is a herbaceous plant, reaching a height of 10 to 15cm (4 to 6in). This green manure will help to loosen the soil, limit weed growth, and combat soil leaching or rain compaction. Sow in March-April or, alternatively, in September.

The white dwarf clover belongs to the Fabaceae family (formerly Leguminosae) and the genus Trifolium like the purple clover or the Alexandrian clover. These different clovers are characterised by their leaves with 3 leaflets and their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil. The white dwarf clover stands out due to its small size (10 to 15 cm (4 to 6in) in height). It has a significant root system, which helps to restructure the soil. Its flowering, in the form of white spherical heads, occurs throughout the summer. Very hardy, it thrives in all types of soils except for excessively acidic or wet soils. It can be sown in a secluded area, mixed with grass, or used as fodder.

Widely used in organically cultivated gardens, green manures like white dwarf clover have many advantages. They nourish and improve the soil by providing it with various nutrients and stimulating the soil's microbial life. Their roots will loosen, break up, and aerate the soil. Moreover, the presence of a vegetative cover protects the soil from leaching (nutrient loss in sandy soil), rain compaction (formation of a crust in loamy soil), and erosion (caused by runoff in case of heavy rain on sloping terrain). This vegetative cover also helps limit weed growth by preventing the growth of unwanted grasses. Finally, green manures are often honey-producing and attract pollinators.

Green manures are sown on uncultivated plots or intercalary plots, between rows of vegetables. They are either naturally destroyed by frost or mowed before seed formation. Once destroyed, they can be left in place as mulch, or crushed and incorporated into the superficial layers of the soil, or collected and added to compost.