Establishing a clover and/or moss lawn. - Ask Extension
I want to establish a clover lawn in my backyard in Chesapeake Beach, MD. Before doing so, I want to get the soil tested to make sure the clover will ...
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Establishing a clover and/or moss lawn. #609086
Asked December 26, 2019, 6:27 PM EST
I want to establish a clover lawn in my backyard in Chesapeake Beach, MD. Before doing so, I want to get the soil tested to make sure the clover will live and thrive. I know that different laboratories' basic soil tests test for different things that others do not. For clover, what should I be testing the soil for? Only Ph, only certain macronutrients, only certain micronutrients, or organic matter? Please tell me specifically what I should be looking for so that I know what lab to use? Or do you recommend a certain lab?
Calvert County Maryland
Expert Response
You don't need soil to be very exact for clover to grow. As a legume, it fixes its own nitrogen. It prefers a 6-7 pH, but it not picky. Moss perfers lower pH and tolerates much lower pH, so we would not recommend that you raise pH much.
A basic soil test will tell you all you need to know. It will give you pH and nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium readings.
When you send in the soil sample, be sure to note on the form that you are growing white lawn clover and they will give you recommendations for clover fertilization. Their recommendations will probably be for clover as a pasture or cover crop, so their levels of fertilization will be fairly high.
They should give you an organic matter (OM) reading, too. 5% is considered good, but the more organic matter you add on an annual basis, the better your sandy soil will be.
Search 'soil testing' on our website for our page which includes how to take the sample, and gives several labs where you can send it.
Ellen
A basic soil test will tell you all you need to know. It will give you pH and nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium readings.
When you send in the soil sample, be sure to note on the form that you are growing white lawn clover and they will give you recommendations for clover fertilization. Their recommendations will probably be for clover as a pasture or cover crop, so their levels of fertilization will be fairly high.
They should give you an organic matter (OM) reading, too. 5% is considered good, but the more organic matter you add on an annual basis, the better your sandy soil will be.
Search 'soil testing' on our website for our page which includes how to take the sample, and gives several labs where you can send it.
Ellen
Hi Ellen,
Thank you for your response. When I sent off the soil sample, I mentioned that the intended crop was going to be for clover, but I forgot to mention specifically "White Lawn Clover." There was no recommendation for Nitrogen, but there are other recommendations that seem a little high and I'm wondering if you would be able to help me correctly reduce those amounts for my backyard which is about 1000-2000 square feet. So could you make recommendation amounts per 1000 square feet? Also, are there other varieties of clover that might do better than White Lawn Clover in my soil?
Thank you for your response. When I sent off the soil sample, I mentioned that the intended crop was going to be for clover, but I forgot to mention specifically "White Lawn Clover." There was no recommendation for Nitrogen, but there are other recommendations that seem a little high and I'm wondering if you would be able to help me correctly reduce those amounts for my backyard which is about 1000-2000 square feet. So could you make recommendation amounts per 1000 square feet? Also, are there other varieties of clover that might do better than White Lawn Clover in my soil?
It would be helpful to attach your soil test results to this reply so we can see what you are referring to. If some of the nutrients are in the high range, that means that you do not have to add anything to the soil. Nitrogen will not be listed as a recommendation as this is always mobile in the soil.
Another type of clover is microclover. In general, clover can be used as a component of lawns but there is no current research that supports its successful use exclusively as a groundcover or lawn alternative in Maryland. Take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of clover. There are many benefits but In general, clover goes dormant in the winter, disappears, and returns in the spring. In the winter the area may be prone to some bare areas and erosion; it does not grow well in the shade; does not tolerate foot traffic; and does not tolerate high heat and drought.
If this will not work in your area, then consider a mix of clover and turf type tall fescue grass seed using recommended cultivars for full sun to part shade locations.
Since the area is not that large you can experiment with the clover and see what happens.
https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/lawns-and-microclover
Also, here is some additional information on lawn alternatives https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/lawn-alternatives
Marian
Another type of clover is microclover. In general, clover can be used as a component of lawns but there is no current research that supports its successful use exclusively as a groundcover or lawn alternative in Maryland. Take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of clover. There are many benefits but In general, clover goes dormant in the winter, disappears, and returns in the spring. In the winter the area may be prone to some bare areas and erosion; it does not grow well in the shade; does not tolerate foot traffic; and does not tolerate high heat and drought.
If this will not work in your area, then consider a mix of clover and turf type tall fescue grass seed using recommended cultivars for full sun to part shade locations.
Since the area is not that large you can experiment with the clover and see what happens.
https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/lawns-and-microclover
Also, here is some additional information on lawn alternatives https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/lawn-alternatives
Marian
