How to Grow a Clover Lawn—a Low-Maintenance Turf Alternative That Only Needs 4 Mowings Per Year

Clover lawns are a drought-tolerant, low-maintenance, and eco-friendly alternative to turf lawns. Clover is also easier to establish than turf and can withstand partial shade, making it ideal for areas of your yard where grass seed won't grow. Plus, clover's blooms are a pollen source for bees and butterflies, improving your garden's biodiversity.

If you're interested in converting your lawn to clover, we spoke to experts who shared their tips for growing and caring for this ground cover plant.

What Are Clover Lawns?

Clover is a ground cover plant recognized for its shamrock-shaped leaves and small white blooms. A clover lawn can be exclusively clover or a combination of clover and traditional turf grass. "Clover is actually a legume, which means that it draws nitrogen from the air and pulls it to the ground, which is highly beneficial to the soil, grass, and plants nearby," says Jen McDonald, co-founder of Garden Girls. Depending on the species, clover grows best in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 10.

The Pros and Cons of Growing a Clover Lawn

While clover is a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plant with many benefits in the landscape, there are some drawbacks to growing this ground cover as a lawn alternative.

Pros

Clover lawns are extremely hardy. "They are disease- and pest-resistant and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides," says Carrie Spoonemore, co-creator of Park Seed's From Seed to Spoon app. "But that’s not all—another big appeal of clover lawns is their ability to help prevent soil erosion and improve soil health." Clover also attracts pollinators, promoting biodiversity and providing nutrients for bees and butterflies.

If your main goal is a lush, beautiful lawn, you're in luck. Unlike turf, clover stays green even during hot, dry summer months when other grasses look yellow and patchy. Plus, clover can thrive in partial shade, so it can grow in areas where grass is more stubborn.

Cons

Despite the benefits of clover lawns, there are a few downsides to this type of lawn. Clover doesn't wear evenly under heavy foot traffic. Additionally, some homeowners associations may have restrictions against clover, so make sure you check your neighborhood's rules before planting it, says Spoonemore.

Another important thing to keep in mind is that clover attracts honeybees. "It's primarily insect-pollinated, so if you have a family member with an allergy to bees, you'll want to avoid planting a clover lawn," says McDonald.

Clover Lawn Varieties

Turn to these popular clover varieties when choosing one for your landscape.

• Dutch white clover (Trifolium repens): The variety most commonly seen in chemical-free parks or yards is Dutch white clover, which grows and spreads quickly when started in the spring. "This clover variety will mature to 8 to 10 inches tall but can be kept shorter with regular mowing," says Spoonemore.
  
• Micro clover (Trifolium repens L): A great choice for homeowners who want to transition away from grass but still have a tidy lawn, micro clover is drought tolerant, has a dense growth habit, and matures to 4 to 6 inches tall. "This variety has the same benefits as Dutch white clover but in a smaller form and is more tolerant to low mowing," says Spoonemore.
• Red clover (Trifolium pratense): A perennial herb, red clover is ideal to grow as a combination with other types of clover or turf grass. The low-maintenance plant is hardy in zones 4 to 8 and grows to be 12 to 18 inches tall.
  

How to Plant a Clover Lawn

While you may already have some clover growing in your grass, you can achieve a fuller thatch by spreading the seeds over your lawn. "A clover lawn will be more successful when planted in the fall but can also be planted in the spring," says Spoonemore. To plant clover in your lawn, follow the steps outlined by Spoonemore below.

1. Clear the area where you plan to establish the clover lawn by removing any existing grass, weeds, rocks, and debris.
2. Spread the clover seeds evenly over the soil, following package instructions for the recommended seeding rate. This rate can be adjusted based on your desired density.
3. Lightly rake the seeds into the soil to ensure good contact without burying them deeply.
4. Water the area thoroughly and keep moist until germination. As the clover seedlings emerge, they will begin to establish, spread, and become thicker and denser over time.

How to Mix Clover With Turf Grass

If you don't want an entire lawn of clover, try mixing it with your existing turf. "Micro clover is the best variety of clover to integrate with existing turf grass," says Spoonemore. "It can handle frequent mowing and will have a more uniform appearance."

To mix clover with existing grass, reseed your lawn in the fall with clover seed instead of grass seed. "It will add nitrogen to the soil and feed the grass, eliminating the need for fertilizer," she says.

How to Care for a Clover Lawn

While clover requires minimal maintenance once established, there are some things to keep in mind when caring for clover.

Sun

Clover performs best in full to partial sun but it can tolerate some shade, says Spoonemore.

Water

Clover will need frequent watering until it gets established, but after that it will only need to be watered once or twice a week in periods with no rain.

Soil

Clover is adaptable to a wide range of soils and can even tolerate compacted or poorly drained soil, says Spoonemore. That said, it does prefer soils with a pH above 6.0. If your soil is too acidic, amend it with lime.

How to Mow Clover

For the most part, clover maintains itself and doesn't need to be mowed often. "You'll likely mow it three to four times per year, but this can be adjusted based on your preference," says McDonald. "Some homeowners prefer lush green clover lawns and will mow more frequently, before the clover blooms." On the other hand, if you're someone who prefers an English garden aesthetic, you can let your clover lawn grow to its maximum height of 8 inches, says McDonald.