If you’d prefer to have a low-maintenance lawn, consider switching to clover.
Key Points
- Clover lawns are a sustainable alternative that requires less water and protects against soil erosion.
- Mixing clover with your existing grass is a simple way to start benefiting from clover’s positive qualities.
- Clover lawns require minimal care, such as maintaining a higher mowing height and reducing the use of herbicides.
Clover lawns look great and are a wonderfully sustainable alternative to traditional turf lawns. They require less water and fewer herbicides and pesticides; they fix nitrogen, help protect against soil erosion, and serve as a food source for wildlife and livestock. They don’t require much mowing and are easy to maintain with proper care. And better yet, switching from a mostly grass turf to a mostly clover turf is easy.
If you’re considering clover for your lawn, you can aim for full clover, but mixing clover into your existing grass is also a great approach. Ahead, we spoke to turf specialists who explain the steps.
Meet Our Expert
- Jon Trappe, extension horticulture educator, horticulture, turf, and urban greenspace at the Department of Agricultural and Natural Resource Systems, University of Minnesota Extension
- Grady L. Miller, professor and extension turfgrass specialist, Crop and Soil Sciences Department, North Carolina State University
Related: How to Grow a Tapestry Lawn—the Landscaping Trend That Turns Your Yard Into a Living Masterpiece
Materials and Tools You’ll Need
- Clover seed (about a 1/4 to 1/2 pound of seed for the average lawn, or 2 pounds per acre)
- Pelletized lime or clay cat litter
- Rotary spreader
Instructions
- Mix the clover seed with a filler like pelletized lime or clay cat litter to weigh it down and help it spread more evenly.
- Add the seed mixture to a rotary spreader.
- Start spreading the clover seed mixture at the perimeter of your lawn. Depending on your lawn’s shape, move the spreader in rows from the longest to the shortest sides for coverage.
Tips
If possible, spread your clover seed before rain is expected. Clover needs moist soil to germinate; planting before the rain will reduce the need to water your lawn.
It’s best to seed the clover over your grass in late summer through fall to give the clover a chance to germinate and establish…