Instead of cursing the clover that springs up in your grass lawn, try embracing it. Clover lawns are growing in popularity as a low-cost, low-maintenance, environmentally friendly alternative to grass lawns. But is clover the right choice for you?
What to Expect: The Look and Feel of a Clover Lawn
A clover lawn is lush and green, with a more natural appeal than a traditional lawn. The three-lobed leaves give the lawn a softer look and feel. Periodically, delicate blooms in white, pink, or red, depending upon the type of clover, add visual interest and a charming, wildflower appeal. (Clover blossoms are even edible, dressing up a salad beautifully!) A clover lawn has a soft, cushiony feel to the touch.
Clover Lawn Pros and Cons
Clover lawns offer multiple benefits to the environment and homeowners. But clover also has a few drawbacks.
Clover Lawn Benefits
Clover lawns are good for the environment:
- Pollinator Support: Clover lawns attract and nourish various pollinators, including butterflies and bees.
- Natural Fertilizer: Clover is a legume that fixes nitrogen from the air into the soil, nourishing both the soil and itself.
- Weed Suppression: Clover grows densely, out-competing common weeds, greatly reducing the need for weed control.
- Erosion Control: Clover’s branching, fibrous roots help to stabilize soil, reducing erosion, even on slopes.
- Requires Less Water: An established clover lawn needs just .5 to an inch of water weekly, compared to 1.5 inches for grass lawns.
- Drought Tolerance: Clover lawns are drought-tolerant, remaining lush and green even in hot, dry summers.
Clover lawns also benefit homeowners:
- Less Mowing: Clover lawns need mowing just two to four times per year!
- Pet-Friendly: A clover lawn is an excellent choice for pet owners, as it resists damage from dog urine.
- Skip Fertilizing: There is no need to spend money or energy fertilizing a clover lawn.
- Pest Resistance: Clover is naturally resistant to pests that plague grass lawns, such as grubs. It also attracts beneficial insects that prey on pests, so you use far less pesticide.
- Less Expensive: Clover seed is far less expensive than turf grass seed, and you need far less to cover the same space. You need six to eight ounces of inexpensive clover seed per 1,000 square feet, compared to four to seven pounds of grass seed for the same space! Clover lawns also require far less water, fertilizer, herbicide, and maintenance.
- Resilience: Clover lawns remain lush and green in conditions where grass may turn yellow or brown.
- Visual Interest: The delicate texture and many colorful blooms of a clover lawn add visual interest.
- Shade Tolerance: Clover thrives in full sun but tolerates shade better than turf grass.
Clover lawns require far less effort and expense to look their best.
Drawbacks of a Clover Lawn
To determine whether a clover lawn is right for you, consider these potential drawbacks:
- Durability: A clover lawn is less durable under heavy foot traffic than turf grass.
- Lifespan: Although a perennial, clover has a shorter life span than turf grass, requiring more frequent overseeding.
- Attracts Bees: The bees attracted to clover lawns won’t bother most adults or pets, but families with young children or a member allergic to bees may want to avoid it.
- Wildlife: A clover lawn may attract deer and rabbits, though typically only in areas where they already feed on grass lawns.
- Invasive: Although clover is said to be invasive, showing up in nearby flower beds, etc, turf grass demonstrates the same invasive qualities.
- Restrictions: Some homeowners’ associations or local ordinances may restrict the planting of grass lawn alternatives.
How To Grow a Clover Lawn
Follow Lawn Pride®’s step-by-step guide to growing a clover lawn:
- Choose the Right Time: Clover seeds germinate best when planted in the early spring or late summer/early fall.
- Check Soil pH: Clover thrives in soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Amend if necessary.
- Select Your Clover Seed: Purchase high-quality clover seed to suit your climate and preferences.
- Prepare the Site: Remove all existing grass, weeds, and debris. Rake the soil even.
- Spread the Seed: Evenly spread six to eight ounces of clover seed per 1,000 feet, lightly raking afterward to ensure good seed-to-soil contact.
- Water Well: Gently but thoroughly water the space, but avoid washing away the seeds. Continue to water lightly each day until you see good germination, in about 15 to 21 days. Once you have good growth, reduce watering to once a week.
- First Mowing: Once the clover first grows three inches tall, mow it to about two inches tall to promote spreading and thickening. After that, two to four times per year is sufficient.
Clover Lawn Maintenance
A clover lawn requires minimal maintenance to look its best. Once established, water it once a week during hot, dry periods. If you get rainfall, you can skip the watering. Occasional hand weeding may be required until the lawn becomes thick and full.
Is a Clover Lawn Right For You?
A clover lawn is a beautiful, low-maintenance, environmentally friendly alternative to traditional grass lawns. There are excellent clover varieties that thrive as lawns in every climate in the country. Carefully consider both the pros and cons of clover lawns to determine whether it’s the right choice for you. If you need help making this determination, contact us. The Lawn Pride pros are happy to help!
Trust Lawn Pride for Your Clover Lawn Solutions
At Lawn Pride, we’re always happy to share our expertise with homeowners who are working on their lawns. But sometimes, you may just want to turn the work over to the pros. Our comprehensive lawn care services include establishing a lovely, low-maintenance, and environmentally friendly clover lawn for you. You’ll love our service because the Neighborly Done Right Promise™ backs everything we do.
Are you ready to enjoy a lawn that is the pride of the neighborhood? Request your free estimate today, and let Lawn Pride take care of the rest.
This article is intended for general guidance only and may not apply to every situation. You are responsible for determining the proper course of action for your property and your situation. Lawn Pride is not responsible for any damages that occur as a result of any advice or guidance derived from blog content. For the most accurate guidance, contact an independently owned and operated Lawn Pride for more information and a professional on-site assessment.