How to Grow Clover Lawn

The Advantages of a Clover Lawn

Grow Clover Lawn can enhance your soil’s health, support bees and pollinators, and pave the way for a more eco-friendly approach to lawn maintenance. It’s a fresh perspective, but your methods can remain the same – cultivating a clover lawn is as straightforward as growing regular grass seed!

Clover lawns offer a climate-conscious solution, combating nitrous oxide pollution. Clover captures or ‘fixes’ nitrogen from the air, distributing it through its roots, and then uses it to nourish itself and any companion grass seed growing nearby. In addition to aiding the environment, a clover lawn also benefits bees and pollinators. The white clover flowers bloom when fully grown, providing a habitat for them to thrive.

What Makes Our Clover Unique

Our clover is tough and beautiful!

These small leaves are drought-tolerant and happy in most soils. They even help improve the soil as their roots grow deep and decompose. Plus, they have a special double-root system that helps them survive in dry weather and harsh winters. This means you get a beautiful, low-maintenance lawn that thrives almost anywhere!

Benefits of Planting a Clover Lawn

• Drought Resilience: One of clover’s exceptional characteristics is its remarkable ability to endure drought. Even during periods of limited rainfall or heatwaves that may lead to water restrictions, clover lawns maintain their vibrant appearance and require less water compared to traditional grass lawns. Choosing clover ensures a low-maintenance, lush green garden throughout the year.
• Natural Nitrogen Enrichment: Clover, being a legume plant, has a unique ability to capture nitrogen from the air and convert it into a form that it and nearby plants can use. This natural nitrogen enrichment reduces the need for fertilizers, promoting a sustainable approach to achieving healthier soil and minimizing environmental impact.
• Minimal Maintenance: Clover lawns grow slower than grass, meaning less frequent mowing is required. The dense clover coverage also acts as a barrier against weed growth, further reducing maintenance requirements. Occasional mowing is only needed to maintain the desired height of the grass within the seed mix.
• Sanctuary for Pollinators: Delicate white clover flowers create a sanctuary for bees, butterflies, and other vital pollinators. Establishing a clover lawn contributes to the visual appeal of your garden, fosters local ecosystems, and promotes biodiversity.
• Environmentally Responsible Choice

Sowing a New Clover Lawn

To sow clover, simply scatter the seeds across your lawn by hand. When planting a new clover lawn, we recommend sowing at a rate of 50g per m2. Here are the steps to sow a new clover lawn:

1. Turn over the soil to a depth of 20-25cm.
2. Remove weeds manually or use a weed killer.
3. Add topsoil if you believe the soil to be of poor quality.

Cultivating a clover lawn will enhance the health of your soil, support bees and pollinators, and pave the way for a more eco-friendly approach to lawn maintenance. While it offers a fresh perspective, you can keep your methods the same – cultivating a clover lawn is as straightforward as growing regular grass seed!

Over-Seeding an Existing Lawn with Clover

If you’re looking to introduce clover into an existing lawn, the process is slightly different. Here are the steps:

1. Mow your lawn: Start by mowing your lawn to a height of about 1-2 inches. This will allow the clover seeds to make contact with the soil more easily.
2. Prepare the soil: Use a garden rake to loosen the top layer of soil. This will create a better environment for the clover seeds to germinate.
3. Sow the clover seeds: Scatter the clover seeds across your lawn. We recommend sowing at a rate of 25g per m2 when over-seeding.
4. Water the lawn: After sowing the seeds, water your lawn thoroughly. Continue to water regularly until the clover seeds have germinated and established.

Maintaining Your Clover Lawn

Maintaining a clover lawn is relatively easy compared to a traditional grass lawn. Here are some tips:

• Mowing: Clover grows slower than grass, so you won’t need to mow as often. However, if you want to encourage the growth of the clover flowers, you should mow your lawn less frequently during the flowering period.
• Watering: Clover is drought-resistant, so it doesn’t require as much watering as a traditional grass lawn. However, during particularly dry periods, you may need to water your lawn to keep it looking its best.
• Fertilizing: Because clover can fix nitrogen from the air, it doesn’t require as much fertilizer as a traditional grass lawn. In fact, too much fertilizer can actually harm the clover and encourage the growth of weeds.

How to Plant Clover in Existing Lawn

1. Mow your lawn short and rake it clean.
2. If your soil feels hard, aerate it (optional).
3. Mix clover seeds with sand/sawdust/soil for easier spreading.
4. Scatter the seed mixture over your lawn.
5. Lightly rake or walk on the area to cover the seeds a bit.
6. Water regularly until the clover sprouts.

Best Clover for Lawns

There are many clovers, but two are used in lawns: white clover and microclover. White clover, also called Dutch clover, is the most common clover seed for lawns. It has white, round flowers that smell nice.

Clover Lawn Pros and Cons

Clover: A Bee-autiful Choice for Your Lawn

Clover is a great option for your lawn for several reasons:

• Bee Friendly: Clover is a favorite food source for bees and other pollinators. By planting clover, you’re helping support these important creatures.
• Tough and Tolerant: Clover can handle both hot summers and frosty winters, making it a good choice for many climates.
• Pet-Friendly (with limits): In general, clover is safe for pets. However, some pets may find clover flowers irritating, so keep an eye on them.
• Adds Beauty: Clover has attractive flowers that can add a touch of color to your lawn.

Keep in mind:

• Delicate Footing: Clover can be damaged by heavy foot traffic, so it may not be ideal for high-use areas of your lawn.
• Misunderstood: Clover sometimes gets a bad rap, but it can be a valuable addition to your lawn.
• Planting Time: Depending on the clover variety, planting time may vary slightly. Make sure to choose a clover type suited for your climate and planting season.

By considering these points, you can decide if clover is the right choice for your lawn.

The Bottom Line How to Grow Clover Lawn

Clover lawns are a sustainable, low-maintenance alternative to traditional grass lawns. They’re beneficial for the environment, support pollinators, and can even improve the health of your soil. So why not give it a try? Cultivating a clover lawn could be the best decision you make for your garden this year!

• What is a Clover Lawn?
• How to Grow a Clover
• Maintaining a Clover Lawn