White clover (Trifolium repens), also known as white clover seeds, is becoming an increasingly popular lawn fixture in place of or alongside standard grass. It is native to North America and is often used for erosion control, soil improvement, and even as a grazing crop for livestock.
White clover is a cool-season perennial plant and grows low to the ground. White clover spreads by sending out little shoots and nodes and creating new plants.
Why white clover?
One of the reasons white clover is becoming so popular is because it is a nitrogen fixer. That means white clover pulls its nitrogen from the air and fixes it into the soil, improving the quality of the earth and allowing white clover to thrive in unfertilized soil.
White clover is also an attractive addition to a yard. Whether grown alone or with grass, white clover can add a beautiful flare of little white flowers to a lawn.
White clover is an excellent pollinator plant. The little flowers it produces will likely attract bees and butterflies. This has an amazing effect on the health of nearby plants.
Plant the seeds
White clover can be grown with standard grass or can be developed to replace the grass completely. Clover-only lawns (called “clover lawns”) are becoming increasingly popular due to the plants’ nitrogen-fixing ability. This article is intended for a clover lawn.
Plant the white clover seeds in the spring or summer. White clover does best in an area with minimal foot traffic.
- Remove the old grass. Start on a clean slate. Remove all the old grass and weeds so the new clover will have a new place to grow. Removing all the old grass and weeds also helps eliminate competition for the fresh clover.
- Rake and scratch the surface of the yard. Irritating the top part of the soil with a rake will help the clover seeds take root.
- Sprinkle seeds. Some garden seeds are tiny and difficult to see. They may not completely cover the intended area, but the white clover will fill in any missed spots once it is established.
- Water. Water the area deeply. Water the site regularly for the next several weeks until the clover has established itself. Keep the ground moist.
White clover maintenance
Luckily, white clover requires little to no maintenance. Therefore, it does not need any added fertilizer — this may even hurt the plant.
White clover is also reasonably resistant to pests and diseases. Any maintenance to the white clover crop will likely be the occasional need to curb its spreading tendencies.
However, white clover is best for areas of low foot traffic. High foot traffic will damage the clover and lead to patchy and dead spots. To best maintain the white clover, plant it in an area with minimal foot traffic.
Summary
White clover is an excellent cover crop for a low-nutrient yard. With a little bit of care, it will grow quickly and spread well in the beginning. White clover is a fine addition to any yard.
