Lush green lawns are often equated to the value of a property. These pretty-looking lawns come at an environmental expense, though. You spend a lot of time, money, and effort behind the upkeep of such lawns.
A microclover lawn is a natural alternative that is growing in popularity these days. It is a variety of Dutch clover and looks similar to grass, making it an ideal addition to your lawn.
The article will look at different environmental concerns behind traditional lawns and how microclover can help combat them.
The Current State of Lawns
According to a report, manicured grass lawns cover up to 50 million acres of land in the US. That is much more land compared to the amount of land used for growing irrigated corn. In addition, water and different types of fertilizers and pesticides are used to maintain the lawn’s lush look.
Three trillion gallons of water are used across the US in a year, especially for lawns. Then there is money spent on pesticides. Overall, Americans spend about $36 billion a year to maintain their lawns. Chemicals used in the process can cause air, water pollution and also degrade soil quality.
Why Should You Consider Microclover Lawns?
- Microclover is an environment-friendly and cost-effective plant that behaves similar to grass. It will blend well with your existing lawn.
- Clover is a popular nitrogen-fixing plant. It can absorb atmospheric nitrogen gas and convert it to an organic form with the help of bacteria in the soil. Surrounding grass can use this nitrogen, reducing the need for fertilizers.
- When allowed to flower, microclover can attract insects like bees. Mixing clover with other grass species can create a natural habitat for birds and insects.
- They require much less water compared to traditional lawns.
- Microclover can also be used to rid the lawn of weeds, dandelions, and violets.
How to Grow a Microclover Lawn?
You can add clover to an existing lawn or plant a new lawn only with clover seeds. Clover is a plant that grows best in soils with pH levels between 6 and 7. You could use a soil test kit to check the pH level of your soil on your own. According to the soil test results, you can use lime or peat moss if you need to make the soil alkaline or acidic.
As per lawn experts, the best way to grow a lawn would be by mixing grass and clover seeds. Your lawn will look similar to a grass lawn but with the added benefits of clover protecting the grass. Clover seeds are small in size, so they might clump together when spreading and result in uneven growth. It is recommended you buy a seed mix of grass and clover for better coverage.
Mow the lawn as close to the terrain as possible. Remove thatch patches, if any. If your soil needs aeration, now would be the time to do so. Next, spread the seed mix onto the lawn. If you need to cover a large area, use a broadcast spreader.
Clover seeds require water for healthy growth. So make sure to keep the seeded soil moist for the next two weeks.
If you plan to use only clover for your lawn, mix the clover seeds with other materials like sawdust or fine soil for better and even coverage.
If the grass starts taking over the lawn, you can reseed clover once every two years.
Microclover can help you maintain a lush and green lawn while cutting down on costs and effort. In addition, they minimize the amount of water and fertilizer required. The main advantage of using the plant is that they help combat the environmental challenges traditional lawns present, and thus the trend of a microclover lawn is here to stay.
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