hoping to grow clover instead of grass - what to do? - Ask Extension
Chemically or otherwise. I'm not interested in rounding up the whole yard then planting. I have some clover seed, so I'm spreading it whenever there...
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hoping to grow clover instead of grass - what to do? #865420
Asked April 22, 2024, 11:59 AM EDT
Chemically or otherwise. I'm not interested in rounding up the whole yard then planting. I have some clover seed, so I'm spreading it whenever there's a bare spot, and any other opportunities (for one, three years ago I started collecting tree trimmers wood chips - there's an app called chip drop for free chips - and I spread these 10" thick over half my land hoping to promote mushroom growth, which did happen. Now three years later, they're not so "hot" and things are growing, so I seeded with clover )
My question is this: we have a TON of chemicals notes and knowledge about promoting grass growth. What do we have, and where is it, the information to promote CLOVER growth? More N? P? Neither? Both? What?
It seems to me that clover, with its food for bees, low height, and mowability would be MUCH preferred by nature than grass. Smell good too.
Thank you!
Lorain County Ohio
Expert Response
I'll start by addressing your question about encouraging growth and with the assumption that you are using white clover/Dutch white clover [Trifolium repens L.], that being the most common.
From the articles I found regarding the cultivation of clover, the general consensus is that clover does not typically require any significant fertilization to grow. Clover is a legume and legumes are able to create their own fertilizer by converting nitrogen from the air into nitrogen that can be used to feed plants.
Clover grows best during cool, moist weather on well-drained, fertile soils with a pH between 6 and 7. If a soil test determines that your soil pH is significantly below 6, it may be necessary to apply lime to raise the pH. Here's an article that explains how soil pH affects plant growth and how to use lime to change it:
https://extension.psu.edu/liming-turfgrass-areas
In looking for the answer to your primary question, I found several good articles about using clover as a lawn alternative.
First, here are fairly comprehensive descriptions of the plant, its characteristics, uses, and growing preferences:
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/trifolium-repens/
https://naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/dutch-white-clover
While the common white clover is more readily available and less expensive, you may want to consider the more recently introduced 'microclovers'.
https://naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/dutch-white-clover
https://extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/microclovers-making-comeback-lawns-grow-biodiversity
Because clover does have some limitations, there are other possible lawn alternatives that might work better in areas where clover would struggle and/or would provide greater ecological benefit:
https://marylandgrows.umd.edu/2023/05/11/qa-pros-and-cons-of-the-no-mow-may-movement/
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/lawn-alternatives/
I hope this information answers your questions and also helps make your project a success.
From the articles I found regarding the cultivation of clover, the general consensus is that clover does not typically require any significant fertilization to grow. Clover is a legume and legumes are able to create their own fertilizer by converting nitrogen from the air into nitrogen that can be used to feed plants.
Clover grows best during cool, moist weather on well-drained, fertile soils with a pH between 6 and 7. If a soil test determines that your soil pH is significantly below 6, it may be necessary to apply lime to raise the pH. Here's an article that explains how soil pH affects plant growth and how to use lime to change it:
https://extension.psu.edu/liming-turfgrass-areas
In looking for the answer to your primary question, I found several good articles about using clover as a lawn alternative.
First, here are fairly comprehensive descriptions of the plant, its characteristics, uses, and growing preferences:
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/trifolium-repens/
https://naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/dutch-white-clover
While the common white clover is more readily available and less expensive, you may want to consider the more recently introduced 'microclovers'.
https://naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/dutch-white-clover
https://extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/microclovers-making-comeback-lawns-grow-biodiversity
Because clover does have some limitations, there are other possible lawn alternatives that might work better in areas where clover would struggle and/or would provide greater ecological benefit:
https://marylandgrows.umd.edu/2023/05/11/qa-pros-and-cons-of-the-no-mow-may-movement/
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/lawn-alternatives/
I hope this information answers your questions and also helps make your project a success.
Cindy B.,
Thank you so much!
Riley
