13+ Micro Clover Lawn Pros and Cons ( Harmful or Not)

Here are 13+ micro clover lawn pros and cons. If you’re like many Americans, you might not realize that clover wasn’t always considered a weed and a nuisance. In fact, it was almost always included in grass seed mixes many years ago. 

For a long time, there have been unfortunate misconceptions about clovers, specifically micro clover, being a component of lawns. The small plants have traditionally been considered a weed or a nuisance to lawn grass.

This is simply not the case, and the White clover is quickly shedding that stigma across the country.

Is Clover Harmful to Lawns?

The simple answer is no. Clover is not harmful to lawns. Indeed, clover may be beneficial to your lawn because it requires less water, fertilizer, compost, herbicide, and weeding.

Most homeowners today prefer a grassy monoculture. However, as the cost of water and energy rises, many people are looking for alternatives to the traditional thirsty, labor-intensive American lawn.

White clover (Trifolium repens), also known as Dutch clover or Dutch white clover, is a popular lawn alternative. Although many people now consider white clover to be a weed, it was considered a standard of excellence in lawn care until the 1950s, when people began using broadleaf herbicides to kill harmful weeds.

Because the herbicides also killed the clover, people became accustomed to thinking of well-kept lawns as grass-only.

On the other hand, Clover lawns have seen a revival in recent years due to their numerous benefits and charms. Clover lawns are classified into two types:

• Pure clover lawns are best for low to moderate traffic areas.
• While mixed grass-clover lawns are best for playing fields and other high-traffic areas.

Here Are 13+ Micro Clover Lawn Pros and Cons

But let’s first know the pros of micro clover lawn:

The Pros of Clover Lawns: Here Are 10 Pros of Clover Lawns

Clover lawns offer numerous benefits over traditional bluegrass or Bermuda grass lawns.

1. Clovers Remain Green Throughout the Summer

In most parts of the United States, with little or no watering. It is drought-tolerant and greens up early in the spring and stays green until the first frost. It may stay green all winter in the South.

2. Clover Needs Little to No Mowing

White clover grows only 2-8 inches tall and requires little to no mowing to maintain its appearance. Some homeowners, however, may prefer to mow in the middle of summer to deadhead old blooms, neaten the appearance of the lawn, or prevent it from blooming.

3. Clover Attracts Beneficial Insects 

(Such as bees), which help pollinate your garden. It also attracts parasitic wasps, which eat aphids, scales, and whiteflies. These wasps are tiny and harmless to humans, and they’ll be eager to help you control insect pests in your garden.

4. Clover Does Not Require Fertilizer

Clover is a nitrogen-fixing legume, which means it produces its own fertilizer while also fertilizing nearby plants. Grass that has been intermixed with clover is healthier and greener, and it requires less care than grass that has been planted alone.

5. Clover Does Not Require Herbicides

In fact, the majority of herbicides kill it. Fortunately.

6. Clover Out-competes Other Weeds

Anyone who has tried to remove clover from a grass lawn knows how persistent it can be. Its dense root structure enables it to easily outcompete most other weeds, reducing the need for weeding and costly herbicides.

7. Clover Thrives in Poor Soil

It can withstand a wide range of soil conditions, including the low-quality subsoil found around many new homes.

8. Clover Looks Great With Bare Feet

Walking barefoot on a clover lawn is a luxurious experience because it is soft, lush, and cool. Those leaves and blossoms also have a pleasant, mild scent.

9. Clover is Immune to “Dog Patches”

Although dog urine discolors lawn grasses, clover remains as green and lush as ever.

10.Clover is Cheap

Clover seed is typically cheap. The average cost per 4000 square feet is around $4. Homeowners who have been fighting it as a weed get it for free if they stop fighting and allow it to grow.

The Cons of Clover Lawns Here Are 4Cons of Clover Lawns

1. Clover is a short-lived perennial that may require reseeding every 2-3 years in pure clover lawns to maintain an even stand. Clover will reseed itself adequately in mixed grass-clover lawns to maintain a consistent presence.

2. Bees are drawn to clover. In most cases, this is advantageous. Bees are important pollinators that will aid in the growth of your garden from spring to fall. If someone in your family is allergic to bee stings, this could be a problem. See the following section for more information on clover and bees.

3. Clover, unlike grass, stains clothing more easily.

4. Clover, unless mixed with grass, is not durable enough for playing fields or high traffic areas.

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Does Clover Attract Bees: Myth or True

Clover is a favorite flower of bees, and it produces delicious honey. Many homeowners, however, are hesitant to plant a clover lawn because they are afraid of bee stings.

It is possible to have a clover lawn without the presence of bees. If you are allergic to bees or have young children, you can keep them away by mowing regularly during the summer blooming season.

Clover Seed Planting Instructions

1. Clover seed should be planted shallowly. It should be enough to sprinkle it on the surface or lightly rake it into the soil.
2. It prefers direct sunlight. It will grow in light shade, but at a slower rate. On the other hand, it will not thrive in full shade.
3. If you’re planting in a shadier area, double the amount of seed.
4. Maintain moisture in newly seeded areas until the new plants have a chance to establish.

Which Is Better, Clover or Grass?

Why is it always either/or? A happy medium is a mix of traditional grass and clover!

Consider this: You’re letting the grass and clover fight it out on the front lawn. Survival of the strongest: Let the strongest win.

Conclusion

This is the end of this post, which is micro clover lawn pros and cons. On the other hand, I’m not sure if this is true or not, but it sounds logical: For many years, clover was regarded as a valuable addition to the lawn. In 1973, one of the herbicide manufacturers developed a new, highly effective herbicide. The only issue was that this new herbicide was lethal to clover. The formula remained lethal to clover regardless of how the company altered it. 

Rather than abandoning the pesticide, they launched a massive advertising campaign claiming that clover is a weed that should be eradicated. People began removing clover from their lawns as a result of the advertising campaign, and the company made a lot of money with their new herbicide.

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