Clover Lawn - Ask Extension
We live in Lansing and are looking to convert most of our lawn to clover. Is there a preferred type for the area that can stand up to the weather?
Knowledgebase
Clover Lawn #795569
Asked June 12, 2022, 4:53 PM EDT
We live in Lansing and are looking to convert most of our lawn to clover. Is there a preferred type for the area that can stand up to the weather?
Ingham County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello Katie
Yes, white clover, Trifolium repens, is hardy to USDA Hardiness zone 3. Microclover is a small-leafed variety of white clover called ‘Pirouette’ or ‘Pipolina’.
Overseed in spring or fall in the sunny parts of your lawn. It may not do well in part to full shade, according to some studies.
Pros: It blends well with cool season lawns. Clover fixes nitrogen, and so reduces the amount of nitrogen fertilizer you need to apply for the grass. If allowed to flower, it provides an important food source for bees and other pollinators.
Cons: It will be killed by common lawn broadleaf weed killers. It goes dormant and the tops die back in winter, but it resprouts from the crowns in spring. It is not tolerant of heavy foot traffic. 100% clover tends to be slippery when wet.
The ‘cons’ are why it is recommended to mix clover with a grass lawn, rather than trying to grow 100% clover as a lawn.
Here are some links to articles-
https://turf.purdue.edu/using-clover-for-lawns/
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/lawns-and-microclover
Some additional information on pollinator friendly gardening, should you like to review it.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/smart_lawns_for_pollinators
https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/shady_lawn_alternatives
Yes, white clover, Trifolium repens, is hardy to USDA Hardiness zone 3. Microclover is a small-leafed variety of white clover called ‘Pirouette’ or ‘Pipolina’.
Overseed in spring or fall in the sunny parts of your lawn. It may not do well in part to full shade, according to some studies.
Pros: It blends well with cool season lawns. Clover fixes nitrogen, and so reduces the amount of nitrogen fertilizer you need to apply for the grass. If allowed to flower, it provides an important food source for bees and other pollinators.
Cons: It will be killed by common lawn broadleaf weed killers. It goes dormant and the tops die back in winter, but it resprouts from the crowns in spring. It is not tolerant of heavy foot traffic. 100% clover tends to be slippery when wet.
The ‘cons’ are why it is recommended to mix clover with a grass lawn, rather than trying to grow 100% clover as a lawn.
Here are some links to articles-
https://turf.purdue.edu/using-clover-for-lawns/
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/lawns-and-microclover
Some additional information on pollinator friendly gardening, should you like to review it.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/smart_lawns_for_pollinators
https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/shady_lawn_alternatives
