White Clover Lawn
Clover lawns have increasingly become more well known, talked about on social media and in garden centers. Some alternative lawn plants options are popping up in retail stores, and there are landlords that are choosing those seeds over grass seeds. Many people are starting to make the switch to these tolerant groundcover plants, but why? What is the difference between that and the classic green lawn? To understand this more, it is important to understand where lawns came from.
History
Old Castle with Grass Clearing
Historically, lawns were only seen around castles during the 16th century and had a much more practical use than they do today. Having such a wide clearing allowed the guards to see approaching hostiles from a great distance away, giving enemies a disadvantage as they were open for attack. During the 17th century however, there was a shift. England began cultivating different grass types to be used as a status symbol around residential properties. Only the wealthy had the money to spend on gardeners to water and fertilize their lawns so they are kept green and fresh. Nowadays a lawn is seen less as a status symbol and more as a requirement for homes, although most people are too busy to tend to them.
Grass Lawns
Green Golf Course Grass Lawn
It is quite impressive to see a well manicured lawn and it does dramatically improve the look of a house. However, with all that beauty comes a high cost of upkeep. For one, lawns need regular watering to keep alive, which can be an extra cost. They say to water lawns about one a week! If you have a large yard, the time and water costs will add up greatly over time. It is also recommended to fertilize the lawn four times a year, while also reseeding your lawn every year. This doesn’t even include mowing, weeding, aerating, and raking. On top of that, if you have a pet extra work has to get done to fix up the dead grass patches that appear in the yard. Exhausting!
Clover Lawns
Clover Lawn
There are many reasons to put down clover and retire your grass lawn. The most unexpected is that clover actually improves your soil quality by naturally infusing the lawn with nitrogen and other nutrients. This means that clover can grow in poorer soil conditions and actually add nutrients to it! Clover is also a low care plant. It requires little water, usually only once a year unless there is a drought. There is no fertilizing required, since it feeds itself naturally. Clover only grows about 8 inches, so mowing is more of a personal preference. Some people only mow their yard a few times a year. Clover lawns are soft on the feet, repel weeds and also don’t die when peed on by pets. They are also great for bees and birds as a source of food.
Other Alternatives
Kitchen Thyme
Clover is not the only option! You can also plant creeping thyme, which adds beautiful color to the yard when the flowers bloom. For shaded properties, moss is also an extra soft option. Some people choose to turn their yard into a natural meadow or pollinator garden. There are many other gardens that can take up lawn space, such as food forests, rock gardens, and herb gardens. Some simply chose to plant native grasses to cut costs and save time. If you are a homeowner who is sick and tired of all the upkeep, research your options to pick which is right for you. You can still have a lovely green lawn without having to sacrifice so much time, money, and effort.