Clover Comeback: Learn All About the Benefits of White Clover
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I live in coastal Massachusetts, Zone 7A. There are parts of my yard that are full sun and won't grow grass without massive amounts of watering and fertilizer. I'd like to convert portions of those areas to clover — with some grassy walkways between. Any suggestions for something that doesn't grow too high (4 - 6 inches is fine) and has a long blooming season? Thanks.
Hi Maronn,
As mentioned above, white clover is a commonly planted clover for lawns and fits, for the most part, into your height requirement with white flowers that can have a pink tinge during the growing season. White Dutch clover also seems like it could be an option. Strawberry clover is similar in growth to white clover, but has a higher salinity tolerance and can be used in coastal areas. But in terms of your specific area, it might be best to talk to your local gardening center or a lawncare professional to see what experiences they have with clover planting and if there is a specific variety that has performed better in your location.
And just remember that even with perennial clover, you will need to do some reseeding in 2 to 3 years to maintain a consistent ground cover.
Hope this helps!
Thanks very much. The advice is appreciated. Now to call the local lawn care folks and bounce your ideas off them.
Maronn
I live out west & have an ongoing fight with bindweed & goat heads. Will clover displace these demon plants?
Hi Harri,
Sorry to hear about your issues with a couple of destructive weeds. Unfortunately, planting clover will not completely remove your unwanted growers. It will take time and persistence to fully eliminate your areas of concern, using a mixture of pulling, digging, and while not ideal, herbicides. These invasive and destructive plants are not easy to get rid of, but don’t be discourgaed because it can be done. It will just be a matter of staying on top of what needs to be done and when.
Here is a link to get you started: https://www.almanac.com/6-noxious-destructive-invasive-weeds-and-how-get-rid-them.
Hope this helps.
I have a very large Oak tree in my front yard. There have always been some patchy spots, I assume because of the roots of the tree. I have tried spreading clover seed, but it too is patchy. Any suggestions? I live in a rural area of Piedmont NC and as the trees have grown and all the rainy, cloudy weather the back yard has grown mostly moss. Only on full sunny days is there sun on the yard. How can I best turn this over to the clover?
Hi Alison,
You will want to make sure to chose a clover that grows well in shady locations because it will not get a lot of sunlight under your oak tree. You also want to plant it in either the spring or fall when the ground has adequate moisture. You should avoid sowing during dry spells or when heavy rain is in the forecast.
Try planting Wood Sorrel ( violets ) under the tree. They grow well in shady red lines and should do nicely under that oak. I have had white dogtooth violets under a shade tree and it looks so lovely.
I don't use pesticides at all on my lawn, despite my neighbor's fascination with perfectly clipped baseball diamond bluegrass. My yard is fescue, ajuga, violets, forget-me-nots, and clover. I laid down clover 10 years ago, and though my poor dog Caleb stepped on a bee and needed to be consoled for days, it really was wonderful. I had lots of wildlife, birds, bunnies and honeybees pollinating my herb garden and my lawn was GREEN in August when all the neighbors and their 4 step program had brown dead grass. I highly recommend it for those looking for an alternative for their yards. Love it!
What is the difference between white and yellow clover.i have a lot of yellow clover in my yard.