Trifolium repens

Trifolium repens, or white clover, is a small creeping and stoloniferous perennial plant of the Fabaceae family, cultivated as a forage plant. It is often used as green manure, as well as mixed with grasses as an alternative to lawns in dry areas. Like all plants in this family, it can fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil. Its natural vigour competes with weeds, and its spread-out and abundant roots hold the soil well, protecting it from erosion. Its dense vegetation limits compaction from rain. Used as a green manure, white clover can be sown in any type of soil, even very chalky, from March to June. Once incorporated in the soil, the decomposed residues will naturally enrich the ground with nitrogen.

White clover, also known as Dutch clover or creeping clover, is a very common herbaceous plant in Europe and North America. It naturally grows in meadows and lawns, and spreads through stolons that can reach up to 40cm (16in) long. Its characteristic leaves are usually composed of 3 leaflets. However, once in every 10,000 cases, a leaf may have 4 leaflets! The long flowering period extends from April-May to September, in the form of spherical white heads that are sometimes slightly pink. Rich in sweet nectar, they are highly appreciated by bees and bumblebees.

Widely used in permaculture, green manures have many benefits. They enrich and loosen the soil while preventing weeds. They provide a vegetative cover that protects clay soils from rain compaction and sandy soils from leaching. They can be sown throughout the year. They are crushed before seed production to incorporate them through shallow cultivation or left in place as mulch.

White clover is sown from March to June. It remains in place for at least 3 months and must be mowed before flowering. Do not let it establish for too long, as it would then be quite difficult to eliminate.