5 Reasons Why More Home Gardens Now Feature a Clover Lawn

Nowadays, more lawns in home gardens have areas of clover, if not the entire lawn is covered with it.

Due to its lush, green look and low care needs, clover lawns are growing in popularity among homeowners.

Clover has been present for generations, and up until it started being viewed as a weed, farmers utilized it to feed their animals. However, more and more house owners are becoming aware of its potential as a hassle-free, environmentally responsible landscaping option.

Here are five reasons why clover lawns are popular among home gardeners:

#1 Variety of Choices

Experts from the Planet Natural Research Center advise combining several varieties of clover with grass to create a beautiful lawn. In the US, white clover is widely recognized for its quick spread, ability to choke off weeds, and tolerance of poor soil.

It grows four to eight inches tall and has white blooms.

Reaching a height of six to 24 inches, red clover has gorgeous reddish-purple blossoms and therapeutic effects. Pair ryegrass, sweet clover, Bermuda, or tall fescue with red clover.

With smaller leaves, fewer blooms, and a height of four to six inches, microclover is a popular new type. It blends nicely with tall fescue or Kentucky bluegrass. Clovers also support grass health.

#2 Low Maintenance: Mowing, Watering, and Fertilizers

Clover lawns require less mowing than grass lawns, usually only a few times a year. White clover only develops to a height of two to eight inches, requiring less regular upkeep.

A mid-season mow helps revitalize the lawn and get rid of wasted flowers. Mow the clover lawn four to six weeks before the first frost to get it ready for winter.

Clover lawns require less irrigation than turfgrass lawns and continue to be green in northern climates. Every week, turfgrass needs at least an inch of water, which causes chemical runoff.

The dense roots of clover require less irrigation.

Due to its status as a legume, clover helps the soil and adjacent plants by absorbing nitrogen. Due to its ability to fix nitrogen, clover in a grass-clover mixture enhances grass health without further fertilizer.

#3 Cost Effective

The average cost of white clover seed for lawns is $4 per pound. One dollar may be enough to seed an area measuring 1,000 square feet.

Clover grows well in full sun to some shade and is either evergreen or semi-evergreen. On the other hand, certain turfgrasses struggle in the intense sun or light shade.

As long as the correct spacing is maintained, white clover may be used as a ground cover that can withstand droughts when given enough room.

Clover and grass are combined to create shade, lessen water evaporation, and assist grass withstand dry times.

#4 Erosion Control

Although core aeration is good for turf, doing it yourself or hiring a lawn care firm may take a lot of time and money.

Providing nutrients and assisting in the resistance to soil compaction, clover serves as a living mulch. It doesn't require aeration and doesn't allow thatch to accumulate because of the macropores that its decaying roots produce that draw earthworms.

Strong roots and quick development of white clover reduce weeds, negating the need for herbicides, according to Planet Natural Research Center.

Many gardens include expansive areas of soil that are usually planted with annuals or vegetables but are left naked in the autumn and winter, where they are vulnerable to erosion.

The red clover root structure retains dirt in place when it is put over soil that would otherwise be left bare, keeping it from flowing off and even lowering surface water pollution, Week& reported.

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#5 Wildlife and Pets

Insects including ladybugs, lacewings, tiny pirate bugs, and parasitoid wasps, as well as pollinators and predators like them, are drawn to clover, according to American Meadows.

These insects naturally control garden pest issues by feeding on pests including whiteflies, aphids, and cabbage worms. Herbicides injure people, plants, and animals, thus planting clover alongside other flowers encourages a chemical-free approach.

Unlike grass, which stains and turns brown, clover is resistant to dog pee. Despite pet-related discoloration, it helps maintain a consistently green grass, Planet Natural Research Center reported.