Clover lawn6/23/2023 ![]() ![]() Martin in Wilmington, DEWe're trying to establish Dutch White clover as a lawn. Mark in PhiladelphiaAre there any down sides to having a "lawn" of clover? Do you have any advice on creating a clover lawn? I know most people want to kill the clover in their lawns, but I want the opposite-to lose the grass and get the clover to take over. (Conversely, if you want to decrease the amount of clover in a cool-season lawn, you would feed it with corn gluten meal in the Fall and in the Spring.) Instead, use a mulching mower the pulverized, nitrogen-rich grass clippings (and in your case, the even more nitrogen-rich clover clippings) these specialized mowing machines return to the turf will give your lawn-including the clover-a gentle feeding every time you mow. The short answer is that clover grows best in poor soil so to help it compete well with the grass, you would not directly fertilize your turf. I like your idea of using corn gluten meal in the fall to prevent lawn weeds, but I don't want to get rid of the clover in my lawn-in fact, I'd like to have more of it. All-clover lawns often need reseeding after 2-3 years. If you want to discourage blooming, mow at lower heights. Mowing at higher heights in the summer encourages more clover blooms. Because most herbicides for lawns kill clover, avoid using herbicides. They require no additional nitrogen fertilizer. Once established, clover lawns are fairly easy to maintain. Lightly water the soil after seeding and regularly water until the clover establishes itself. ![]() A handheld broadcast spreader makes the job easier. Because white clover seed is small, it can be mixed with sand and put in a seed spreader. Sow clover seed at a rate of 4 to 6 ounces per 1,000 square feet. To germinate, white clover seed needs contact with the soil. If you want a mixed clover lawn, aerate the lawn and mow the existing lawn very short. Planting clover in summer is not recommended.įor an all-clover yard, remove the grass in your lawn. If adding clover to an existing lawn, spring is the best time. Planting clover lawn is best done in early to mid spring (March/April) or the fall. The best clover for lawns is White Dutch Clover or microclover. Microclover is a dwarf variety of white clover that is lower and slower growing than White Dutch Clover and has fewer flowers and smaller leaves. Red clover is a biennial, grows taller and is often used as a cover crop. Because it is low growing and tolerates summer heat better, White Dutch Clover is usually used for lawns. The two most common types of clover are White Dutch Clover and red clover. If you want a lawn that requires minimal mowing, a pure clover lawn is the way to go. If you have an existing grass lawn, it's easier to incorporate clover into an existing lawn than starting over with an all-clover lawn. If you have quite a bit of foot traffic in the lawn, then mixed grass is a better option. When considering mixed grass lawns versus pure clover lawns, consider how your lawn is used. Often needs to be reseeded every 2-3 years-especially to maintain all-clover lawns. While clover lawns have many benefits, there are some cons to the clover lawn. White clover seed is inexpensive-and you'll also have savings from not using herbicides and fertilizers. Costs less to incorporate into your lawn.Homeowners with all-clover lawns may mow periodically to keep the lawn at a more uniform height. White clover usually only grows up to 8 inches tall. This may be a disadvantage if a family member is allergic to bee stings. Attracts beneficial insects, including bees.Clover can handle some dry spells and heat better than grasses. Clover has ground-covering properties and can choke out or reduce the amount of weeds in the lawn. In mixed grass lawns, grasses can use this nitrogen to help them grow. Clover thrives in poor soils and converts nitrogen from the atmosphere into fertilizer. Reduces or eliminates the need for fertilizer.Growing a lawn of clover instead of grass offers many benefits. Benefits of Planting Clover Instead of Grass ![]() Read on to learn more about clover lawns, when to plant clover lawns and clover lawn care. As uniform grass lawns became popular, homeowners began using weed control products that killed both weeds and beneficial clovers.Ĭlover lawns offer many benefits over a grass lawn, but there are some disadvantages too. Clover in grass seed mixes reduced or even eliminated the need for additional fertilizer. Clover is a legume and can convert nitrogen from the atmosphere into fertilizer using bacteria in its root system. ![]() Until about 60 years ago, clover was a standard part of grass seed mixes. A clover lawn may be a mixture of grasses and clover-or it might be an all-clover lawn. As homeowners look for more environmentally friendly lawns, clover lawns are making a comeback. ![]()
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