06/22/2023
Last night me : husband has sent me to the loft for the night with no children- I’m going to sleep in so hard!
5am me: but if I sleep in, when will I have time to convince everyone to re-seed their lawn with Clover?
SEED STARTING: Clover
Clover is botanically a legume. It can grow in poor soil and does not need fertilization. Not only does clover look and feel beautiful, there are so many benefits that by the time you have finished reading, you will be wondering how we ever got scammed into thinking that high maintenance turf lawns were superior.
I’m not here to convince anyone (Narrator: but she was, in fact, hoping to convince everyone), just giving you options. We are slowly reseeding our property with clover, creeping thyme and other no maintenance ground covers so I’ll just share my thoughts on the matter and leave the rest up to you.
Did you know that Clover can absorb nitrogen in the atmosphere and fix it use for other plants (and itself), providing a natural boost of fertilizer? Because of its nitrogen-fixing abilities, clover is considered a living mulch. Compare this to Turf lawns: so thirsty for water, often demands an array of synthetic chemicals to look lush and green, requires constant maintenance and mowing often with gas guzzling law mowers.
In you’re not yet convinced, here are a few more benefits of clover:
Drought-Resistant. With water being such a precious resource, this one is huge. We have never watered our lawn yet look at this photo.
Clover requires no fertilization (it even makes its own!)
Clover attracts and provides food for Pollinating Insects with its flowers (or you can mow it as it flowers if you are concerned about stepping on a bee). By attracting the bees to your area you will have a better rate of pollination for your fruits and vegetables that require it.
Clover is one of the preferred food of rabbits. Our garden is completely open and accessible with gorgeous lettuces right at mouth level but the rabbits don’t touch it because they are too busy feasting on clover (and running from the foxes).
Clover grows in poor soil. Our food garden has a rich, beautiful soil, but the rest of our 2 acres is pure sand and total crap. Yet look at this section of our lawn. Just look at it!
Clover lawns have a soft, cool feel when you walk on it barefoot.
Since clover outcompetes broadleaf weeds by forming dense clumps that spread by secondary roots, there is no need for herbicides.
As it only grows 2 to 8 inches tall Clover lawns only need to be mowed a couple of times a year. Most people mow it in mid-summer after the clover has bloomed and has dropped its seeds, and again four to six weeks before the first fall frost.
Except during its establishment phase (during the germination period of growing from seed and about two weeks after), a clover lawn does not need watering as clover has deep roots that draw moisture from deeper in the soil.
If you add up the costs of lawn (grass seed, watering, gas for mowing, fertilizer and other chemicals, aeration) a clover lawn is more economical than turfgrass.
Clover can grow in pretty much any type of soil, including compacted soil. Its deep roots help with erosion control and naturally aerate and loosen up compacted soil so there is less rainwater run-off.
Clover is resistant to pet urine and stays lush and green no matter how many times you p*e on it. Ask me how I know that 🤭
