Check Out What White Clover Can Do For Your Back Yard
Imagine I mentioned there are a couple of things you might do that could permanently eliminate the need to feed your lawn? Would that peak your interest? Excellent. So let me share exactly how simple it is to set your grass up so that you can retire your spreader permanently.
You see if just five percent of your lawn is laced with white clover it can save you on what you shell out to fertilize. That's because a smattering of clover can easily crank out two pounds of nitrogen for every 1000 square feet of lawn. That comes to fifty percent all the nitrogen necessary each year. Plus if you leave your mulched clippings behind you might be able to create a self sustaining feeding system.
So it's almost shame on you for viewing clover as just another weed. Besides it wasn't always that way. Actually it wasn't until late into the 20th century that lawn enthusiasts started to regard clover as a less than desirable.
Just so you know clover is a member of the legume family. It is capable of capturing nitrogen from the air and storing it in its roots. That nitrogen is then released into the soil. Pretty much sounds like a natural fertilizer factory, don't you think?
But don't think that's all cover can do for you.
Clover can attract bees and parasitic wasps which are useful if you garden.
Clover can also bring a dash of green in your lawn even during periods when rain is lacking. It holds its vibrancy well even during dry spells.
The nitrogen clover produces won't change your soil's PH as chemical based fertilizers might. Plus the fact clover is thriving tells you your soil is balanced and fertile.
Weeds are kept in check better in lawns with the right blend of grass and clover. Clover does its part by shading the weeds out.
Homeowners supporting clover often enjoy lower water bills too. Because clover is on the drought resistant side. It also requires less mowing being low growing yet does tolerate being mowed regularly. Overall it's a low maintenance grass alternative ideal for they busy homeowner who sometimes lacks time for yard work.
One more plus? It readily adapts to low fertility soils and is somewhat shade tolerant. Okay that was two. Both of which suggest it's a pleasantly flexible plant.
Of course one of those pluses might be minus for some. The bees. If you are allergic and like to go barefoot in the back yard you may end up getting stung. You can avoid that for the most part by mowing often enough to keep the clover from flowering.
Another problem some cite is it doesn't do well in heavy traffic situations. Which is true. But when sheltered among sturdier blades of grass which do stand up well to foot traffic that is less of a problem.
Now if this brief overview has changed how you look at clover you can get bulk seed locally at most garden centers. Likely for less than $7 a pound - with a pound covering about 4000 square feet in some cases. When planted in the spring, which is best, it should germinate in a week or so.
So given all these advantages, why not do your bit for the environment and throw some white clover into the mix? It's a smart choice for those who want to water less, mow less and fertilize less while still enjoying a green lawn.
And for those wanting to find out more about the John Deere zero turn mowers, or who are curious about lawn tractors vs garden tractors, or who just need some ZTR mower reviews, then MowerMania.com is the place to go. That helpful site has the ideas and advice you're looking for about lawn care.
