Ladino and red clover are much more aggressive than Birdsfoot trefoil or alfalfa and are easier to establish in thick, heavy stands of grass. Establishing legumes in heavy fescue stands is more difficult than in most other grasses. Legumes can be established much more easily in bunch grasses such as orchardgrass or timothy. Also, legumes can be easily established in bluegrass because of its lack of height, even though it is a rhizomatous species. The rate of seeding is determined by the method of sowing.
Numerous seedlings fail because of poor legume inoculation.
Use moisture to apply the inoculum to the seed. Mixing the dry inoculum with the seed without moistening the seed will fail more times than it will succeed. Legumes for pasture use Ladino. The easiest legume to establish in most grass sods is ladino clover. Ladino will grow on almost any soil that is well supplied with phosphorus, potash and lime.