White Clover Mixed Lawn
White clover lawns have been making a buzz online over the past couple of years, and for good reason. People are getting tired of the upkeep and costs of maintaining a soft green lawn and have begun looking into other alternatives. The weekly watering and mowing becomes excessive after a while, and clover has promised to put that to a stop. A white clover lawn is known to infuse nitrogen and nutrients into the soil, negating the need for fertilizers. It also is drought tolerant and known as a “pervasive” weed. This means it will flourish with little to no care and still be lush and green. So for those who are willing to make the switch, this guide will breakdown how to actually go about planting a clover lawn.
When To Plant
Weed Lawn
The intensity of your seasons will determine your planting time for white clover. For best results, it’s recommended to plant in late summer or fall, but planting in spring works all the same. Seeds should be planted once the soil temperature has reached 15C.
Once you figure out when to plant the next step is to prep the lawn. The first thing is to dethatch the lawn by using a rake to stir up the soil and organic matter. You can spread the clover by hand or use a seed spreader to lightly sprinkle the lawn. Some people will put in fine soil to help it spread but this is personal preference. Clover will also fill the gaps in your lawn fairly quick, so don’t stress about covering each square inch.
Most people will have a pre-existing lawn which should be mowed short to the soil. This will help the young clover sprouts by decreasing competition and allow more sunlight to reach the growing plants. This could be done after laying the seed so the grass cuttings can be left as a natural mulch. Once you have the seed laid out and lawn mowed, sprinkle the lawn with a little topsoil. Afterwards, you just have to keep the soil wet and wait for the magic to happen.
White Clover Lawn Care
White Clover Choking Out Grass
It will take a few months for your white clover lawn grows in, and after that it’s pretty self sufficient. Watering can be done once a year, but if there’s a drought it may need some extra help. Fertilizing is not needed, nor is raking or aerating. White clover will grow up to 8” so mowing is up to personal preference. If you do choose to mow, it’s recommended to leave the cuttings on the lawn as a natural mulch. Because white clover is a fast growing plant, it will help choke out weeds in your lawn. It overtime will take over the lawn and kill your grass, but if you want a mixed lawn just use a combination of clover and grass when you reseed, which could be done every 2 – 3 years.
White clover has been gaining public interest for many reasons. It is an easy swap out to save on water and time required to take care of a classic grass lawn. While most people work full time, it is an alternative plant to help remove a chore off of the list. They require little care throughout the year and are for the most part a set and forget lawn. If you need more information, check out this article all about White Clover and other alternative options.