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Old Cobblers Farm™ Wicked Tuff Turf Alsike Clover
Clover for wet, acidic soils—thrives where Red and White Clover fail. Fixes 75-150 lbs N/acre. Tolerates flooding and pH 5.5+. Trifolium hybridum. Zones 2-7.
Growing Guides & Fertilizer Education
The wet soil clover. Alsike Clover thrives in poorly drained, acidic conditions that kill Red Clover and White Clover. It tolerates seasonal flooding, heavy clay, and soil pH as low as 5.5—expanding nitrogen fixation into sites too challenging for other clovers. Its distinctive pink-and-white bicolor flower heads are a familiar sight along northern roadsides and wet meadows. Alsike appears at 8% in the Tuff Turf Hillside Stabilizer mix for its ability to fix nitrogen on wet, acidic slopes.
Category
Legume
Type
Alsike Clover
Scientific Name
Trifolium hybridum
Zones
2-7
Brand
Wicked Tuff Turf
What Is It ?
The wet soil clover. Alsike Clover thrives in poorly drained, acidic conditions that kill Red Clover and White Clover. It tolerates seasonal flooding, heavy clay, and soil pH as low as 5.5—expanding nitrogen fixation into sites too challenging for other clovers. Its distinctive pink-and-white bicolor flower heads are a familiar sight along northern roadsides and wet meadows. Alsike appears at 8% in the Tuff Turf Hillside Stabilizer mix for its ability to fix nitrogen on wet, acidic slopes.
How to Apply ?
Step 1
Inoculate with Rhizobium; test pH (5.5+)
Step 2
Apply phosphorus based on soil test (no N)
Step 3
Spread seed (6-8 lbs/1k sq ft new; 3-4 lbs overseed)
Step 4
Plant 1/4" deep; firm seedbed
Step 5
Keep moist (thrives in moisture)
Step 6
Harvest at early bloom; 5-6 weeks between cuts
Best For
Wet, poorly drained hay fields and pastures|Acidic soils (pH 5.5-6.0) where other clovers fail|Low-lying areas with seasonal flooding|Mixed stands with timothy or reed canarygrass on wet sites|Erosion control mixes for slopes (Hillside Stabilizer component)|Northern climates (Zone 2-5) where cold hardiness matters|Conservation plantings on challenging soils
FAQs
1.
What is alfalfa?
Alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum) is a short-lived perennial clover that thrives in wet, acidic, and cold conditions where other clovers fail. Native to Sweden, it is the most cold-hardy and wet-tolerant clover available, surviving in USDA zones 2-7. Alsike grows 12-30 inches tall and produces pink-to-white flowers. It is the go-to clover for poorly drained fields, stream banks, acidic soils (pH 5.0-6.5), and high-altitude or far-northern locations.
2.
What does 85/80 Kentucky bluegrass mean in this mix?
Yes—Alsike clover tolerates wet, poorly drained, and seasonally flooded soils better than any other common clover. It survives conditions that kill red clover, white clover, and alfalfa. Alsike is commonly used in pasture mixes for low-lying fields, flood plains, and areas with high water tables. While it tolerates wet conditions, it does not tolerate standing water for extended periods (more than 2-3 weeks continuously).
3.
How much clover is in the All Purpose Lawn Mix and will it be visible?
Alsike clover tolerates soil pH as low as 5.0, making it the most acid-tolerant clover species. For comparison, red clover needs pH 6.0+, white clover needs pH 5.5+, and alfalfa needs pH 6.5+. This acid tolerance makes Alsike ideal for unlimed pastures, forest clearings, blueberry field borders, and naturally acidic soils in northern New England, the upper Midwest, and the Pacific Northwest.
4.
How much nitrogen does Alsike clover fix?
Alsike clover fixes 50-150 lbs of nitrogen per acre annually, depending on stand density and growing conditions. It fixes slightly less nitrogen than red clover or alfalfa but fixes nitrogen in soil conditions (wet, acidic) where those species cannot survive. In mixed pastures with grasses, Alsike typically provides enough nitrogen to reduce fertilizer needs by 50-75%.
5.
What is the seeding rate for Alsike clover?
The All Purpose Mix performs in 3-8+ hours of direct sunlight. Optimal performance is at 4-6 hours. In shadier spots (3-4 hours), creeping red fescue carries the stand. In full sun (8+ hours), tall fescue tends to dominate over time. For less than 3 hours of direct sun, the Sun & Shade Mix is a better choice with its 65% fine fescue content designed specifically for heavy shade. The All Purpose is best described as a moderate-shade-tolerant blend.
6.
What fertilizer program does the All Purpose Lawn Mix need?
Apply 2-3 lbs nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft annually, with the white clover component providing an additional 0.5-1 lb N through biological fixation. Fall fertilization (September-October in zones 4-6) produces the best results. A simple program: 1 lb N per 1,000 sq ft in September, 1 lb in late October, and optionally 0.5-1 lb in late May. Avoid heavy spring nitrogen which promotes disease and weed pressure. Slow-release or organic fertilizers complement the clover's natural fertility contribution.
7
How long does Alsike clover persist in a pasture?
Alsike clover is a short-lived perennial lasting 2-4 years under typical pasture conditions. It is less persistent than white clover but more tolerant of adverse soil conditions. Alsike can self-reseed if allowed to flower, extending stand life. In well-managed pastures with rotational grazing, Alsike stands often maintain themselves through a combination of plant persistence and self-reseeding for 4-6+ years.