A Clover lawn is worth considering. Here’s why:

With summer just around the corner lawnmowers and garden tools are getting dusted off and yardwork is on my to-do list. As I’m looking over my brown, patchy lawn, I wonder how it will make it through the summer heat. Going online there are plenty of suggestions for lawn care, but one in particular catches my eye…..clover lawns.

If you are tired of mowing the lawn every weekend, you might want to consider a clover lawn, a great alternative to the current grassy Kentucky Bluegrass monoculture which seems to be the norm for most homeowners in North-America today.

Alternatives to traditional lawns are on the radar for many this year with the forecasted dry conditions, and clover lawns thrive in Manitoba’s clay and silt based soils, as well as being low maintenance and fairly easy to establish as it can be seeded over an existing lawn.  There are several other benefits to seeding a clover lawn.

• Clover grows slowly requiring little or no mowing to keep it looking tidy.
• It is relatively drought-tolerant and stays green all summer without needing a lot of water.
• It fixes nitrogen in the soil reducing the need for fertilizer and increasing the health of the overall lawn as well as surrounding plants and soil.
• The flowers attract beneficial insects such as bees, which in turn help pollinate your garden, as well as bugs that eat common pests like aphids.
• And it is immune to “dog patches”.

So if all the information available is correct, planting a clover lawn sounds like a win-win on all fronts, being easier to maintain, greener, healthier, cheaper and more ecological and environmentally friendly than a traditional lawn. With the lawn practically taking care of itself, maybe I can spend more time this summer enjoying my deck with a good book.