What Is A Clover Lawn? Here's What To Know About Growing One.
It's time to let your weeds run (intentionally) wild.
We've traditionally been taught to keep pesky clovers off our lawns. Now, more and more people are making a case for appreciating those once-vexing clovers. What was once considered a pesky weed, is now often thought of as a hassle-free, eco-friendly option for landscaping. Before your next weeding marathon, we're here to answer all your questions and make a case for letting clover flourish in your lawn. Read on for the pros and cons of a clover lawn and everything you need to know about this ground-breaking trend.
Types Of Clover For The Lawn
Clover is a dense ground cover known for shamrock leaves. Some homeowners are choosing to foster clovers, specifically white clovers, in their lawns alongside other turf or grass. Also known as Dutch clover, white clover (Trifolium repens) is known for small white flowers that flourish in Southern climates. While some stop wrestling their clover and let nature take its course for it to spread, others plant clover seeds. Once it grows, it's easy to care for and maintain. The result is a lively and biodiverse lawn blooming with attractive white flowers.
Micro clover is simply a selection of white clover with smaller leaves and shorter growth. Micro clover also tends to be less clump-forming than its full-sized relation. For these reasons, it does a better job of mingling with grasses instead of competing and taking over. Some seed companies have started mixing small amounts of micro clover in with tall fescue or bluegrass. The idea is that the two can live in harmony, with the micro clover providing nitrogen to the lawn.
Red clover (T. pratense) looks similar to white clover, but the flowers are a pinkish purple and the leaves more elongated. Red clover can make a drought and shade-tolerant lawn alternative, but it is more often grown as an annual winter cover crop and then tilled into the soil as green manure. Red clover stands taller, is less amenable to mowing, and can be short-lived.
Why Is Clover Popular Now?
"What is a weed really?" asked Dr. David Han, an Alabama turf specialist from Auburn University. "A weed is just a plant that you don't want there." Changing the intention and reputation of clover is all it takes to change its narrative.
Why now? "I think it's following up on a trend of the last 20 years. We're providing a habitat for the pollinators and reducing our use of mowers, blowers, and all kinds of equipment. We're reducing our lawn maintenance and it's a wonderful way to do it," said Teresa Watkins, the Florida-based landscape designer behind Sustainable Horticultural Environments. Plus, encouraging clover adds interest to a lawn. "Especially in the South, your traditional monoculture, one-species of grass certainly has got a bad rep. It's not 'in' to be growing just one variety of something in a lawn," Han said. Essentially, people are recognizing clover's benefits and following suit.
What Are the Advantages of Clover Lawns?
They'll Grow In Low-Fertility Soil (And Even Help It)
While Watkins explains that clover needs soil with a balanced pH to grow, generally, white clover does not need very high-fertility soil to prosper and spread vigorously. In fact, white clover is helpful to soil health because it works to feed nitrogen into the dirt. Jay McCurdy, a turfgrass specialist at Mississippi State University, explained that clover is a legume. "Legumes form symbiotic relationships with soil bacteria that are capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen," he said—no synthetic fertilizer necessary. Watkins compares fertilizers to vitamins: if fertilizers are supplements to give your lawn's soil the nutrients it needs, then clover is a nutritious meal.
They're Eco-Friendly
Eliminating the need for synthetic fertilizers is just one part of the equation for this sustainable pick. If you're embracing your clover rather than fighting it with herbicides, you'll be further reducing the amount of synthetic material introduced to your lawn while enhancing your lawn's biodiversity. Clover is good for bees and pollinators too.
They Can Take The Heat And Frost
"Warm season plants predominate lawns in the Southeast," said McCurdy. Whereas many grasses flourish in the spring and summer but go dull and dormant once the colder months hit, clover blooms in the winter. It's also durable enough to take the heat. In fact, white clover flourishes best in full sun, said Watkins who sees the potential for clover to flourish in USDA Zones 6-9 and beyond year-round. Ask your local farm store for the clover varieties that best suit your local ecosystem and climate.
They're Low-Maintenance
No need to worry about digging out the clover in your yard. That's already a lot of time and effort saved. To make it better, clover demands significantly less watering and, most likely, less mowing.
They're Pet-Friendly (To An Extent)
Pet urine can leave yellow spots of microblooms across your grass lawn, leaving it discolored and uneven, but clover won't falter. Clover lawns are generally okay to have if you have a dog, however, if eaten in large enough quantities, clover can be toxic to dogs and cause skin irritation, upset stomach, and vomiting. Nevertheless, dogs will not typically eat the clover in large enough quantities for any side effect of toxicity to happen because it does not taste good to them.
They Are Budget-Friendly
In addition to cutting down the fees associated with lawn maintenance equipment, fertilizers, and herbicides, buying clover seed is often less expensive than grass. That's a win for the bank account.
They're Pretty
Though it may take a mindset switch to replace the stigma against them, clover blooms can be quite pleasing and the soft white flowers can add delicacy to a manicured lawn. "Whenever I see clover in a lawn, a meadow, or a botanical garden, I always stop and take photos. I just think it's so cute," Watkins said.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Clover Lawns?
They're Susceptible To Trampling
Clover can handle some light wear and tear, but only to a limited extent. "Will it take the high school football team coming over and practicing on it?" Watkins mused. Probably not.
They Have A Bad Rep
Even if you have had a change of heart about clover, your homeowner's association may not feel the same way. If your neighborhood regulates "weeds," a clover lawn may not be welcome.
They Sometimes Have Bad Timing
We love that clover flourishes in cold weather. However, because most grass works on an opposite seasonal schedule, there may be some conflicts. If you have both grass and clover in your lawn, you might find that green clover stands out against dull grass in the wintertime.
How Do You Start A Clover Lawn?
"There's a recipe for success," said McCurdy. It all starts by taking a step back. If you already experience clover pop-ups, cut out herbicides and mowing that will affect your lawn's clover and just leave your "weeds" be. Or, speed up the process and pick up white clover seed from a nursery or online. Clover will germinate in cool temperatures, so you can seed as soon as temperatures reach around 50° F in the spring. You can also seed in fall about eight weeks before your first frost, but it's often easier to establish clover in spring. Follow these steps to plant clover:
Before sprinkling the seeds around your entire lawn, de-thatch your lawn to remove the thick pressed layer of organic materials from your soil. Do this by raking deeply into the soil to break up that thatch layer. Also, remove undesirable weeds and loosen the top inch or so of soil.
Clover prefers a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. If you have very acidic or alkaline soil, apply lime or sulfur according to your local extension office's instructions.
Lightly sprinkle seeds across the lawn (clover does not need to be sown as densely as grass). Gently rake so that seeds are in contact with soil.
Water with a sprinkler or use a gentle shower setting on your hose. Keep soil moist, watering whenever there isn't adequate rainfall. Once clover is established, rainfall provides the moisture it needs except during long and hot dry spells.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a clover lawn attract pollinators?
Yes! Because the clover produces flowers, pollinators love it. Expect both bees and butterflies.
How often will I need to mow my clover lawn?
While grass lawns need to be mowed monthly or even weekly, clover lawns will only need to be mowed a few times a year. Plus, mowing your clover can stimulate growth.
When should I plant the clover seeds?
It is best to plant your clover in early spring, after the final frost.
Will a clover lawn prevent weeds?
Clover does not typically give the space for other weeds to grow.
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