Are there any pitfalls to doing a lawn in clover instead of grass?


Joined
Jun 18, 2014
Messages
28
Reaction score
4
I'm considering replacing my lawn with clover because I hear it uses less water, chokes out weeds better, requires less maintenance/ mowing and will stand up to kids/pets better. Is there a downside to using clover? If not, why aren't more people using it?
 
Ad

Advertisements

Joined
Feb 2, 2014
Messages
11,142
Reaction score
5,319
Location
Tarpley Tx
Hardiness Zone
8b
Country
United States
I'm considering replacing my lawn with clover because I hear it uses less water, chokes out weeds better, requires less maintenance/ mowing and will stand up to kids/pets better. Is there a downside to using clover? If not, why aren't more people using it?
Where are you located?
 
Joined
Jul 17, 2013
Messages
3,375
Reaction score
943
Oh my, I've always wanted to have a lawn full of clover! Let me know if you manage to get that done, I'd love to see the pics of that! I love clovers! In my opinion they look waaay better than grass.
 

zigs

Moderator
Joined
Oct 10, 2012
Messages
9,147
Reaction score
10,746
Location
Kent
Hardiness Zone
9a
Country
United Kingdom
Don't let Sheep loose on it, clover makes their tummies explode :eek:
 
Ad

Advertisements

Joined
Jun 18, 2014
Messages
28
Reaction score
4
Oh my, I've always wanted to have a lawn full of clover! Let me know if you manage to get that done, I'd love to see the pics of that! I love clovers! In my opinion they look waaay better than grass.
Thanks. I'll keep that in mind. :) I planted some in a small section of my yard and it's holding up very well. I don't see the down side to doing up the whole yard, so I'll probably go for it soon.
 
Joined
Mar 19, 2013
Messages
348
Reaction score
132
Location
Northern Alabama
Hardiness Zone
7B
I love having clover in my lawn ! I like walking barefoot in clover,too, and it is much softer than grass. Plus, it makes a great soil enricher when it is mowed. Speaking of mowing, that is about the only downside that i can see to the clover lawn. It grows very thick and heavy, so you have to keep it well-mowed, or it will be hard to mow if it gets too tall and thick. Other than that, I can't think of any problems with it, and it does spread easily, too.
It blooms all summer, so if it is not kept mowed, you will have the little white or purple blossoms all over your lawn; which is either good or bad, depending on how you feel about flowers all over in the lawn.
 
Joined
Feb 2, 2014
Messages
11,142
Reaction score
5,319
Location
Tarpley Tx
Hardiness Zone
8b
Country
United States
I don't know what kind of soil you have in AZ, alkaline or acidic, but here in Texas it is alkaline. Clover will grow just fine here, for 3 or 4 years and then cotton root rot kills it.
 
Joined
Jul 17, 2013
Messages
3,375
Reaction score
943
Thanks. I'll keep that in mind. :) I planted some in a small section of my yard and it's holding up very well. I don't see the down side to doing up the whole yard, so I'll probably go for it soon.

Yaaaaay! Go for it! I'm sure your yard will look so beautiful and original... Wish there were more yards and lawns staring clovers instead of boring grass!
 
Ad

Advertisements

zigs

Moderator
Joined
Oct 10, 2012
Messages
9,147
Reaction score
10,746
Location
Kent
Hardiness Zone
9a
Country
United Kingdom
Is that true, or is it another urban legend like rice exploding pidgeons?

It's true if Thomas Hardy is to be believed, think its in the opening scene of "Far from the Madding Crowd" :)
 
Joined
Feb 2, 2014
Messages
11,142
Reaction score
5,319
Location
Tarpley Tx
Hardiness Zone
8b
Country
United States
It's true if Thomas Hardy is to be believed, think its in the opening scene of "Far from the Madding Crowd" :)
I am pretty sure it is true but only in the early mornings when there is a heavy dew. Same thing with horses eating Johnson grass that has frost on it.
 
Joined
Sep 10, 2014
Messages
54
Reaction score
8
I don't see any danger in having a lot of clover in your yard. Shouldn't do any damage to your grass or your lawn in general. I think it's perfectly safe and I have some clover in my yard as well. I just think it's pretty. No real use to me other than that. You should be fine.
 
Ad

Advertisements

Joined
Sep 10, 2014
Messages
2,794
Reaction score
3,981
Location
central Texas
Showcase(s):
1
Country
United States
Bees love clover, so as a beekeeper, I'm all for having as much clover around as possible! We have clover in our "lawn" and enjoy both the look and the benefits of it. Don't worry about stepping on a bee, or getting stung--the bees are so intent on getting the nectar and pollen from the clover that they just ignore humans, or move to another patch if there is a human nearby. Of course, I'm talking about honeybees, who are notoriously kind and gentle:giggle:.
 
Joined
Sep 20, 2012
Messages
5,313
Reaction score
1,842
Hardiness Zone
7a
Country
Poland
Don't hesitate, AZ Athena. A clover lawn sounds absolutely wonderful, I would love to have one too!:love: I've always felt that regular grass looks kind of boring and not very pretty.
 
Joined
Sep 29, 2012
Messages
3,404
Reaction score
1,119
Location
Louisiana
Hardiness Zone
9b
Country
United States
I have come to believe that grass is greatly overrated. I say go for it! The bees love it so you'll always have them around to discover and pollinate your other plants, at least in the spring when it's in flower. How big is your lawn?

I don't know what kind of soil you have in AZ, alkaline or acidic, but here in Texas it is alkaline. Clover will grow just fine here, for 3 or 4 years and then cotton root rot kills it.

That's odd; I'm glad that's not the case here. The lawn here has been poorly managed since care of the property changed hands and I am thinking of replacing it with some kind of ground cover.
 
Ad

Advertisements

Joined
Feb 2, 2014
Messages
11,142
Reaction score
5,319
Location
Tarpley Tx
Hardiness Zone
8b
Country
United States
I have come to believe that grass is greatly overrated. I say go for it! The bees love it so you'll always have them around to discover and pollinate your other plants, at least in the spring when it's in flower. How big is your lawn?



That's odd; I'm glad that's not the case here. The lawn here has been poorly managed since care of the property changed hands and I am thinking of replacing it with some kind of ground cover.
Just about all of Texas is alkaline. Its starts being acidic slightly west of the Big Thicket in east Texas
 
Ad

Advertisements


Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Top