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As someone with two young kids who loves spending time outdoors but hates the hassle of maintaining a traditional grass lawn, I found the switch from grass to clover to be a game-changer. Not only is clover easier to care for than grass, but it also looks great and offers a bunch of ecological benefits. Let me walk you through why clover lawns are becoming a popular choice and how you can grow a fabulous clover lawn that benefits both your yard and the environment.
What Are the Ecological Benefits of Clover?
Clover is an environmentally-friendly choice for your lawn — here’s why:
Clover Attracts Wildlife
One of the first things I noticed after planting my clover lawn was how many more bees and butterflies I was seeing (especially bumblebees and honey bees). Clover is a fantastic nectar source for pollinators, which have been struggling due to habitat loss and pesticide use.
Watching the bees happily buzz around my yard has been a heartwarming sight. And don’t even get me started on the rabbits — families of bunnies (including babies that my kids are thrilled to watch from our patio) enjoy the clover patch.
Another perk for my kids is that they love hunting for four-leaf clovers in our clover lawn. We’re up to five this summer so far!
Clover Helps With Nitrogen Fixation
Clover is also a natural nitrogen “fixer.” This means it has the ability to convert nitrogen from the air into a form that plants can use to grow.
Traditional grass lawns often require chemical fertilizers to stay lush and green, but clover naturally enriches the soil and always looks great. It also does a great job of crowding out weeds so they can’t grow.
This reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers, which can leach into waterways and harm aquatic ecosystems.
What Are the Practical Advantages of Clover Lawns?
Along with the environmental benefits, clover also has some great practical advantages.
Clover Grows Well in Poor Soils
If your yard has rocky or poor soil like mine, clover is your new best friend. It thrives in conditions where grass typically struggles. I’ve seen my clover patch flourish in the rocky soil where any grass that managed to grow used to look thin and patchy.
Clover’s deep roots help break up compacted soil, improving overall soil health over time. I first planted clover seeds three springs ago, then replanted with more seeds last fall to fill in some areas.
After two seasons of planting, it looks lush and incredible (see above). Hard to believe this was the rocky, patchy part of my yard that looked like it couldn’t grow anything green just a few years ago!
Clover Is Low Maintenance
One of the biggest perks of a clover lawn is how little maintenance it requires compared to grass. Clover needs far less water, which is a boon during dry spells like we had in New England last summer. I’ve cut back significantly on my water usage, which not only saves on my water bill but also conserves a precious resource.
Plus, clover doesn’t grow as tall as grass, so it doesn’t need to be mowed as frequently (about half as often or less, in my experience this spring and summer). This means more time enjoying your yard and less time tending to it. Clover is soft underfoot and looks gorgeous and green all season long.
What Are the Financial Benefits of Clover Lawns?
Clover lawns can also be more affordable than grass lawns for a couple of reasons.
Reduced Need for Fertilizers and Pesticides
Since clover naturally fertilizes soil, I’ve saved a lot of money by not having to buy lawn fertilizers. Clover’s dense growth also suppresses weeds, reducing the need for herbicides (and for back-breaking weeding). The fewer chemicals you use, the less runoff there is into local water systems, too, which is much better for the environment.
Less Frequent Watering and Mowing
With clover’s drought-resistant nature, I’ve found myself watering the lawn far less frequently than before. In fact, the only time I watered it at all was the two weeks after planting the clover seeds. This has led to lower water bills, and I feel good that I’m not wasting so much water on my lawn.
Final Benefit of Clover: It’s Beautiful!
Converting part of my lawn to clover has made me feel so good about my yard. Whenever I see the bees landing on my clover lawn and the bunnies munching away, I love that I took on this project. Plus, knowing that my yard is a safer place for my pets and dog to play, without the presence of fertilizers and other chemicals, is a huge relief.
How to Start Your Own Clover Lawn
Follow these simple directions to get started on your own clover lawn.
1. Choose the right clover: White Dutch clover is a popular choice for lawns due to its low growth habit and resilience. If you have grass that grows in the area you’re considering for a clover lawn, then you can mix clover in with your existing grass starting at a ratio of about 5% to 10% clover seeds to grass seeds. Alternatively, you can grow a 100% clover lawn in areas where grass struggles, which is what I did.
2. Prepare your soil: Loosen the soil where you want to plant clover. You don’t need to till it completely — just enough to help the seeds settle in. You can add compost to make the soil richer in areas that are rocky and devoid of nutrients (I added about ten bags of compost to my clover lawn before laying down the seed).
3. Sow the seeds: Spread the seeds evenly over the area with a seed spreader. Lightly rake the soil to cover the seeds, then water gently.
4. Maintain proper moisture: Keep the soil consistently moist (water morning and night) until the clover is established. This takes a few weeks. Once it’s grown, you’ll notice that clover needs far less water than grass.
Final Thoughts on Embracing Clover in Your Yard
Switching to a clover lawn has been one of the best decisions I’ve made for my yard. It’s eco-friendly, low-maintenance, and beautiful. It has the same lush green look as grass but without all the maintenance costs and efforts.
Whether you’re looking to reduce your environmental footprint, save money on lawn care, or support more wildlife in your yard, clover is a fantastic alternative to traditional grass.
For more eco-friendly tips, check out our guide to home composters.
