Frost Seeding Clovers

Frost seeding clovers into pastures and hay fields is easy for low cost forage production and to improve pasture and hay quality. The key management used to maintain clovers are: soil fertility, proper harvest, and occasional reseeding. Frost seeding is inexpensive and, when done at the correct time and managed properly, very successful. Frost seeding should be made between late January and late February when there is little snow and the soil surface is freezing and thawing. The preferred management is to start preparing the site the previous summer. Take soil tests and apply lime, phosphorus, and potassium as needed. A good liming and fertilizer program should keep your soil test in the top two inches of the soil at a pH above 6.0, P above 50 ppm, and K above 120 ppm.