missouristatebeekeepers.myfreeforum.org

Pintado · Joined: 13 Feb 2009 Posts: 11 Location: Fordland, MO

I was thinking about planting some clover on a hillside next to where I'm putting my bee hives. I think I should be plant some seed and let it go. Has anyone ever had experience with this? Just curious. Thanks in advance for any reply's.

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Dave Kayser
dkayser@centurytel.net

Scott Moser · Joined: 29 Dec 2008 Posts: 15

Planting clover is a wonderful idea. It will give them a bit of forage close to home. For them to really take advantage of it though, you would need several acres of it to really make a difference. The thing is though, evey little bit helps. Clover is a tough one to get started though. It really needs to be planted in February, and the old timers will tell you to plant it on top of the last snow of the year. I dont know if that is really true or not, but my Uncle swore by it. I have never planted it before, but from what I have heard, it doesnt want to readily take hold. I had a friend overseed a hay field, and the first time it barely came up. He tried it again the next year, but this time he used a drill, and it came in a lot better. Someone else may know more about this than I do, so hopefully, they will reply too.

Zane · Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Posts: 8 Location: Cameron,MO(NW MO)

I hand broadcast clover and always get a good stand(someplaces like when I got some in my strawberries it was too good!). I try to lightly disc the area first but dont always. I heard the last snow broadcast also. I mix it with some sand. You can see it better in the snow that way. I have white and red in the yard althogh the red some say dont help the bee's. it does help the soil w/ Nitrogen. I also planted alot of yellow clover on the edges of my pastures and wild fields. I made some food plots w/ clover, buckwheat, and numerous flowers for the girls this year. They are just beginning to grow good w/ all this rain. Hopefully it helps on production.
Try it out. I have lots of it come up ea year.
Good Luck