Believe it or not, back in the day, clover was considered a sign of a healthy lawn. It wasn’t until the 1950s that weed killer came onto the scene and, with it, killed the clover growing on nearly everyone’s lawn. Nowadays, with the help of herbicides, we can control what does and doesn’t grow on our lawns. But is clover good for your lawn, and should you leave it alone? Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of having clover on your lawn.
Is Clover Good for Your Lawn? (The Short Answer)
Clover poses many benefits for your lawn. The clover plant can combat other weeds and works as a natural herbicide, it helps diversify the ecosystem by attracting pollinating insects, it enriches the soil by acting as a natural fertilizer, it keeps the lawn green most of the year, it is resistant to dog urine, and its extensive and long-root system prevents erosion.
The Benefits that Clover Can Have for Your Lawn
Most of us are probably trained to think that a healthy lawn means a green, grass-only yard. I know I was until one of my neighbors started telling me about a clover lawn. So is clover good for your yard? Let’s take a look.
Clover Kills Other Weeds
One thing’s for sure; clover is a persistent plant. So, if you don’t mind the look of clover in your lawn, but you do mind other weeds, then letting clover grow on your lawn might be a good way to combat other weeds.
Clover naturally out-competes other weeds, acting as a form of natural herbicide. Its dense root system blocks other weeds from growing. So, put away that weed puller and let the clover do the dirty work for you.
Clover Attracts Pollinating Insects
Now, whether you love them or hate them, pollinating insects are good for the environment. I feel like I’m always reading in the news about bees dying off. Clover is a good source of nectar for bees and caterpillars. So if you’re not allergic to bees, knowing you’re helping the natural ecosystem might be a good enough reason to let clover grow in your yard.
Clover is a Natural Fertilizer
One of the main reasons you might want to think about letting clover grow on your lawn is because it boosts the health of the soil. Clover is a legume, and one of its functions is to absorb nitrogen and bring it into the soil, making it available for the grass and other plants to feed on.
So, having clover on the lawn might save you a few bucks in fertilizer and be an easy way to boost the health of your grass.
Clover Stays Green
If you have trouble keeping your yard green, then clover could help. Clover stays green throughout most of the year if you live in the north and all year if you’re in the south. It is drought resistant, so it will even stay green through a hot and dry summer.
Because it does well with low water, it’s a cheap way to keep your grass looking lush. Also, if you have a spot in the yard that gets scorched by the sun, clover could be a good filler.
Clover is Resistant to Dog Pee
If you’ve got a dog, then you know how much your grass can suffer. Not only can they tear it up with their regular horsing around, but their dirty business can leave your grass with yellow blotches.
However, while grass turns yellow because of dog pee, clover actually stays green. This is a good enough reason for me to consider letting clover grow on my lawn since my dog is always making a mess of it.
Clover Stops Erosion
If you’ve tried removing clover, then you know how hard it is to remove its taproot. This is because a fully grown clover can dig its roots up to 10 feet into the ground.
So, even though this is a headache when you try to remove it, it’s really good for areas that are prone to erosion because the roots hold the soil in place.
The Potential Drawbacks that Clover Can Have on a Lawn
So there are clearly many benefits to letting clover go on the lawn. But why have we been told to get rid of it? Is clover in the lawn good or bad? Let’s look at some of the cons of clover in your lawn.
Clover Can Weaken Grass
If you have sandy soil and your grass isn’t doing too well, then letting clover grow freely in your yard may not be such a good idea. Clover has a dense root system that can compete with your grass if it’s not strong enough. As the plant produces seeds, it will quickly spread and take over the lawn. Before you know it, you will only have a few shoots of grass left.
Clover Spreads Quickly
Now, this is only really a drawback if you really don’t want clover in your yard. Clover spreads really fast, which is great if you’re trying to cover bare patches fast but not so great if you’re trying to keep it out of specific areas. Its taproot system branches outward and can get into a flower bed, driveway, or sidewalk. So, you’ll have to put some effort into keeping it controlled.
Clover Doesn’t Look Like Grass
While clover looks green and grows low to the ground, it really does change the way your grass looks. It has white flowers and rounded leaves. So if you’re looking to only have grass on your lawn, then the look of clover isn’t for you.
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