White clover present in a lawn

A clover lawn is composed of clover and can be used as an alternative to grass lawns. It requires less maintenance than a traditional lawn and utilizes less water.[1][2] White clover is the plant most frequently used.[3] Red clover may also be used.[4]

Trend

Clover lawns have grown in popularity, along with other grass alternatives, becoming trends shared across social media platforms like TikTok. As a trend, clover lawns gained widespread attention in 2023, being Google's most searched for home improvement.[5] Historically, particularly in the early 1900s, clover was often intentionally included in turf mixes. After the widespread adoption of herbicides for lawn maintenance, clover eventually became undesirable.[3] Then, clover was typically dealt with as a weed before its newfound resurgence.[6]

Usage and maintenance

White clover, commonly used in clover lawns, attracts pollinators and can have a beneficial effect on local nectar production. It is also a nitrogen fixing plant. White clover is able to withstand damp environments and can be desirable in areas prone to flooding.[1] It also functions as groundcover and can reduce a homeowner's reliance on fertilizer, leading to its desirability among environmentally conscious consumers.[7] To maintain a height of about 3 to 4 inches, it can be mowed every four to six weeks.[8] Other homeowners allow the clover to grow taller and only mow it a few times a year.[4] Clover is also more robust in alkaline soils than grass. A technique, when clover is preferred to grass, is achieved by adding lime to the soil to encourage the clover to dominate the lawn.[9] Research conducted in Iran and former usage shows that either alone or mixed with grass it is more resistant to heat and requires less water to be maintained.[2][10]

Clover lawns are vulnerable to anthracnose and are not desirable in grass used for sports due to the leaves causing more slipping than grass.[10] They are functionally desirable for people engaged in urban chicken keeping as they are useful as green forage for the birds.[11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Hirsh, Ally. "Here's why people are ditching their grass lawns for clover". National Geographic. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  2. 1 2 سعیدی پویا, الهام; تهرانی فر, علی; گزانچیان, غلامعلی; کاظمی, فاطمه; شور, محمود (April 2021). "ارزیابی چمن های شبدری به عنوان جایگزین چمن های گراسی رایج فضای سبز به منظور کاهش هزینه های سرزنی" [Evaluation of the Replacement Ability and Comparison the Growth and Quality Characteristics of Clover Lawn with Common Grass Lawn in Landscape to Reduce the Mowing Costs]. علوم باغبانی (in English and Persian). 36 (1): 15–16. doi:10.22067/jhs.2021.60852.0. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  3. 1 2 Koski, Tony. "Clover lawns: Colorado expert shares pros, cons on recent trend". The Gazette. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  4. 1 2 Wellbank, Lauren; Buiano, Madeline. "Clover Lawns Are the Landscaping Trend That Calls for Just 4 Mowings Per Year". Martha Stewart. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  5. ↑ Krizia, Ramos. "Clover Lawns are the 2023 Trend That Will Stand the Test of Time". HGTV. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  6. ↑ Millstein, Hallie. "What Is A Clover Lawn? Here's Everything You Need To Know". Southern Living. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  7. ↑ Dixit, Vijay. "Clover lawns rise in Midwest for eco and drought benefits". Eden Prairie Local News. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  8. ↑ "How Often Will You Have To Mow A Clover Lawn?". HouseDigest.
  9. ↑ Shewell-Cooper, Wilfred Edward (1976). Mini-work Gardening (1st ed.). London: Adam and Charles Black. pp. 60–61. ISBN 978-0-7136-1623-1. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  10. 1 2 Carleton, R. Milton (1971). Your Lawn: How to Make It and Keep It. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company. pp. 48–49. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  11. ↑ Basley, A. (1922). Western Poultry Book (4th ed.). Los Angeles: Germain Seed and Plant Co. pp. 23, 108, 110. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
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