White Dutch Clover addition

[SwedeBee1970]

I've been experimenting with some red clover amongst my orchard trees. I don't care to mow in between the trees and try to help out the bees. Turns out that red clover only attract bumble bees because the depth of the flower is just beyond reach of the honey bee. Anyhow, last year I planted this red clover and it grew great. This spring it started to grow again and we've had a lot of rain early on. Something happened to the clover and died. If you see in my orchard section of my site: http://greenanything.yolasite.com the ground is mostly brown. Something happened where the decomposing clover drawn up all the nitrogen in the soil where the trees leaves where turning yellow with brown dots and falling off. This was several months ago. Now I see how the honey bees love the White Dutch Clover in the grass and bought a few pounds of seed.
The stuff is beginning to germinate amongst the orchard trees now. I felt it would be a good slow nitrogen for the soil and help the bees. Anybody else doing this ?:D

[Jay Burgess]

I use it as my lawn around my house, and around my fruit trees as well, its low growing unlike the red ,and the girls love it, my trees dont seem to mind it either.

[SwedeBee1970]

I can't wait until next spring to see if my colonies will pollinate my trees. I got 'em this year in early June and they missed the flowers by a month. Drat ! My garden is going good now. You must mow early in the morning to avoid scalping the workers in the clover.

[Apple Farmer]

Swedebee1970,
I have 5+ acres of orchard with a lot of white dutch in it, my bees and the neighbors bees love it!
Remember to mow it down before applying any sprays to your trees, so the bees don't forage on the treated blossoms and carry the chems back the the hive.

[justin]

i have about 2 acres of it and love it. i only mow where the kids play. lot's of stings this spring before i started mowing it around the swingset. i hate mowing.

[SwedeBee1970]

Justin,

What color is your mower ? I was told they don't like brown or black or dark colors because they're instinct is to attack animals of this origin.

I usually mow early in the morning before they wake up with the sun. At least mow their area. My mower is red and landscape tractor is light blue/white. Also, their hives are set back about 10 feet from the grass line. See my pictures: http://greenanything.yolasite.com under Orchards.

[justin]

it's red. i did not mean that they don't like for me to mow, although they have certainly come after me mowing, i just don't like to mow the grass.

[SwedeBee1970]

I agree. I'll wait until late May to cut the grass. It's nice and tall with seeds. This pisses off the wife greatly. I tell her we can't afford grass seed right now.

[Camp9]

I notilled it between the rows of trees and it worked great


Camp

[Zane]

I also plant white clover between my apple tree's its a nice nitrogen source and good compost once mowed. I also plant yellow clover around the outskirts of my orchard. I plan on killing the white clover in my yard after too many stings walking barefoot in the grass. I guess I'll have to plant more someplace else? it cost me $5.95lb here in KC

[SwedeBee1970]

Careful not to kill your bees when cleaning up the white clover. Chemicals or scotts weednfeed might be harmful to the hives. Maybe the white clover is the best source of pollen right now. Careful .

I've never heard of yellow clover. Do bees like it ?

[smith]

Some good news for beekeepers is that a lot of CRP land is being required to be replanted with a red-while clover mix. I haven't checked any of the fields to see how well the plantings have established themselves, but if things go well next year might be great. I'm looking to set some hives on these parcels, since you have a good guarantee of forage and no spraying.

[SwedeBee1970]

Yes, I told my farmer when I got them. No sense telling the state. Their is no benefit. They only put you on file and maybe schedule you for a inspection, thus wasting more of our time. Just keep your neighbors close and friendly. If their family is getting stung by wasps, hornets, yellow jackets or whatever, they'll blame it on your bees. The farmer is the only person to tell and if they don't care, it's time to get another farmer to cash rent with.

I have two acres of prairie grass that contain alfalfa. This is not controlled by any chemicals. I wish I could grow clover in those fields, however the farmer can't get their livestock to eat it.