While they’re not for everyone, clover lawns are pretty easy to start and a breeze to maintain.
What is a clover lawn?
Clovers are small, rapidly-growing legumes.
For these reasons, clover lawns are now experiencing a comeback.
The different types of clover.
Clover seeds are a lot more affordable than other turfgrass seeds.
Once it germinates and grows, clover can add more texture and interest to your lawn.
It doesn’t need to be fertilized.
Thanks to a partnership with a group of soil bacteria known asRhizobia, clover plants are nitrogen fixers.
It needs less water than a standard lawn.
It can help fill out bare patches of lawn.
Once your clover lawn is in, it’ll also stay pretty resilient to daily wear and tear.
Murphy notes that this makes it a great option for households with dogs who love to run around.
It supports more biodiversity than a standard lawn.
Lawns with short, uniform turfgrass or artificial turf are ecological nightmares.
Are there any downsides to a clover lawn?
It takes a few weeks to grow.
“To start a clover lawn from scratch, you have to plant it from seed.
For many people, that will be the biggest drawback,” says Murphy.
If you aren’t into bees, it may not be for you.
If you let your clover lawn flower, it will attract buzzing bees to your yard.
If a wildlife-friendly garden is your goal, there are better options out there.
Establishing a clover lawn.
Maintaining the lawn.
Once you’veput your clover in the ground, it really takes care of itself because of those nitrogen-fixing properties.
It should only need water during very dry, hot periods.
While it does best in full sun, it can also acclimate to shade.
It’s really a matter of preference.
Re-seeding your clover lawn every two to three years will keep it looking fresh.
