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Old Cobblers Farm™ Wicked Tuff Turf Birdsfoot Trefoil
Only bloat-safe forage legume—safe for continuous grazing. 3-4 foot taproot, tolerates poor and wet soils. Lotus corniculatus. Zones 3-7.
Growing Guides & Fertilizer Education
The non-bloating legume with a 3-4 foot taproot. Birdsfoot Trefoil is the answer when you need a persistent, deep-rooted legume but can't grow alfalfa—whether due to wet soil, acidic conditions, poor drainage, or livestock bloat concerns. Its condensed tannin content prevents bloat in cattle and sheep (a common risk with clover and alfalfa), making it the safest legume for continuous grazing. Yellow flowers from May through September provide season-long pollinator habitat. The Empire variety appears at 8% in the Tuff Turf Hillside Stabilizer for its unmatched slope-anchoring taproot.
Category
Legume
Type
Birdsfoot Trefoil
Scientific Name
Lotus corniculatus
Zones
3-7
Brand
Wicked Tuff Turf
What Is It ?
The non-bloating legume with a 3-4 foot taproot. Birdsfoot Trefoil is the answer when you need a persistent, deep-rooted legume but can't grow alfalfa—whether due to wet soil, acidic conditions, poor drainage, or livestock bloat concerns. Its condensed tannin content prevents bloat in cattle and sheep (a common risk with clover and alfalfa), making it the safest legume for continuous grazing. Yellow flowers from May through September provide season-long pollinator habitat. The Empire variety appears at 8% in the Tuff Turf Hillside Stabilizer for its unmatched slope-anchoring taproot.
How to Apply ?
Step 1
Scarify and inoculate seed; prep clean bed
Step 2
Plant with companion grass (Orchard/Timothy)
Step 3
Spread seed (6-8 lbs/1k sq ft new; 3-4 lbs overseed)
Step 4
Plant 1/4" deep max; firm seedbed
Step 5
Keep moist for 2-3 week germination
Step 6
No graze/harvest in year 1; full stand in 2-3 yrs
Best For
Bloat-safe livestock pasture (the only non-bloating forage legume)|Slope stabilization (deep taproot anchors soil)|Poor, acidic soils where alfalfa fails|Wet or poorly drained sites|Conservation plantings and CRP|Pollinator habitat (yellow flowers May-September)|Long-term low-maintenance stands|Mixed pasture with orchardgrass or timothy
FAQs
1.
What is vetch?
Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) is a perennial legume named for its seed pod arrangement resembling a bird's foot. Unlike clovers, birdsfoot trefoil contains condensed tannins that prevent bloat in ruminant livestock—making it the only common forage legume that is completely bloat-safe for cattle and sheep. It also tolerates a wider range of soil conditions than alfalfa, persists under close grazing, and provides nitrogen fixation of 80-150 lbs per acre annually.
2.
What does 85/80 Kentucky bluegrass mean in this mix?
No. Birdsfoot trefoil is completely non-bloating due to its condensed tannin content, which prevents the foam formation in the rumen that causes bloat. This makes it the safest forage legume for cattle, sheep, and goats. Animals can graze pure birdsfoot trefoil stands without bloat risk—a significant advantage over alfalfa, red clover, white clover, and Ladino clover, all of which can cause bloat when grazed as dominant stands.
3.
How much clover is in the All Purpose Lawn Mix and will it be visible?
Birdsfoot trefoil is notoriously slow to establish. Germination takes 7-14 days, but seedlings grow slowly for the first 60-90 days, often appearing to stall. First-year stands are typically thin and may look like failures. Full productivity is usually not reached until the second growing season. This slow establishment means birdsfoot trefoil requires patience and weed management during the seeding year—nurse crops like oats can help suppress weeds while trefoil establishes.
4.
What soil conditions does birdsfoot trefoil tolerate?
Birdsfoot trefoil tolerates a wider range of soil conditions than alfalfa. It grows in pH 5.5-7.5 (more acid-tolerant than alfalfa), tolerates moderate drainage issues, and persists on shallow, infertile, and droughty soils. Its deep taproot (3-4 feet) provides drought access. Birdsfoot trefoil is an excellent choice for fields that are too acidic, too wet, or too infertile for alfalfa but where a persistent nitrogen-fixing legume is desired.
5.
What is Empire birdsfoot trefoil?
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
Can birdsfoot trefoil be used for erosion control on slopes?
Yes. Birdsfoot trefoil is excellent for slope stabilization and erosion control. Its deep taproot (3-4 feet) anchors soil, nitrogen fixation sustains growth without fertilizer on infertile slope soils, and its prostrate growth habit under grazing or mowing provides good ground cover. Empire birdsfoot trefoil is included in erosion-control seed mixes like the Wicked Tuff Turf Hillside Stabilizer at 8% of the blend for exactly these properties.