Clover lawn
{{Short description|none}}
{{For|the mansion also known as Clover Lawn|David Davis Mansion}}
{{For|the locality|Leduc County}}
File:White clover (Trifolium repens) in a backyard lawn (14442094141).jpg
A clover lawn is composed of clover and can be used as an alternative to grass lawns. It requires less maintenance than a traditional lawn, uses less water,{{cite web |last1=Hirsh |first1=Ally |title=Here's why people are ditching their grass lawns for clover |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/grass-lawn-alternatives-clover-moss-sedge-native-plants |website=National Geographic |access-date=15 December 2023}} is more heat tolerant,{{cite web |last1=Wolfe |first1=Debbie |title=Should you plant a clover lawn? The pros and cons. |url=https://www.popsci.com/diy/clover-lawns-pros-cons/ |website=Popular Science |date=2 August 2024 |access-date=3 August 2024}} and fixes its own nitrogen using symbiotic bacteria in its root nodules, removing the need to fertilize. It is less robust to foot traffic than grass, and can stain clothes if bruised. Clover can be oversown on grass if some grass in the lawn is acceptable. If the variety chosen doesn't self-seed efficiently in-place, it may need resowing every few years. If grown continually, it may be susceptible to clover sickness.
White clover is the plant most frequently used,{{cite web |last1=Koski |first1=Tony |title=Clover lawns: Colorado expert shares pros, cons on recent trend |url=https://gazette.com/life/clover-lawns-colorado-expert-shares-pros-cons-on-recent-trend/article_4ba2e896-e83d-11ed-8e59-af870b318566.html |website=The Gazette |date=6 May 2023 |access-date=15 December 2023}} sometimes in dwarf cultivars such as Pirouette and Pipolina.{{cite web |title=All You Need to Know About Clover Lawns |url=https://www.groundsguys.com/blog/clover-lawn/ |website=www.groundsguys.com |access-date=26 October 2024 |language=en}} Red clover is also used, but is less resistant to treading, cropping, and disease, and need more frequent reseeding.{{cite journal |last1=Harris |first1=Ciaran |last2=Ratnieks |first2=Francis L. W. |title=Clover in agriculture: combined benefits for bees, environment, and farmer |journal=Journal of Insect Conservation |date=June 2022 |volume=26 |issue=3 |pages=339–357 |doi=10.1007/s10841-021-00358-z |doi-access=free |bibcode=2022JICon..26..339H }} Tall crimson or incarnate clover, and shorter, more shade-tolerant strawberry clover, are also used.
There are 240 species of true clover, most of which are native to Eurasia, but some of which are naturally found in parts of Africa and the Americas.{{cite web |title=Clover |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/clover |website=www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca |access-date=26 October 2024 |language=en}} Clover is traditionally used as a field crop, so there are many commercial cultivars. Many clover species have been introduced to areas in which they are not native,{{cite journal |last1=Harris |first1=Ciaran |last2=Ratnieks |first2=Francis L. W. |title=Clover in agriculture: combined benefits for bees, environment, and farmer |journal=Journal of Insect Conservation |date=June 2022 |volume=26 |issue=3 |pages=339–357 |doi=10.1007/s10841-021-00358-z |doi-access=free |bibcode=2022JICon..26..339H }} where they displace native species, so native alternatives are recommended for cultivation.{{cite web |title=Native Plant Alternatives to Trifolium repens (White Clover) |url=https://www.gardenia.net/guide/native-plant-alternatives-to-trifolium-repens |website=Gardenia |access-date=26 October 2024}}
File:Tapestry lawn image 1.jpg
File:Tapestry lawn at Avondale Park Summer.jpg are clover.]]
[[File:Bochum - Vor den Teichen - Rotklee 03 ies.jpg|thumb|Field of red clover, "Harmonie" cultivar.Sign in field: [[:
File:Bochum - Vor den Teichen - Rotklee 01 ies.jpg]]]]
File:Clover Field (Washington County, Oregon scenic images) (washDA0013).jpg, also called crimson clover.]]
== Trend ==
Clover lawns have grown in popularity, along with other grass alternatives, becoming trends shared across social media platforms like TikTok. As a trend, clover lawns gained widespread attention in 2023, being Google's most searched for home improvement.{{cite web |last1=Krizia |first1=Ramos |title=Clover Lawns are the 2023 Trend That Will Stand the Test of Time |url=https://www.hgtv.ca/clover-lawns/ |website=HGTV |date=3 May 2023 |access-date=15 December 2023}} Historically, particularly in the early 1900s, clover was often intentionally included in turf mixes. After the widespread adoption of herbicides for lawn maintenance, clover eventually became undesirable. Then, clover was typically dealt with as a weed before its newfound resurgence.{{cite web |last1=Millstein |first1=Hallie |title=What Is A Clover Lawn? Here's Everything You Need To Know |url=https://www.southernliving.com/what-is-a-clover-lawn-6536512 |website=Southern Living |access-date=15 December 2023}} Clover appeals to homeowners who wish to be more environmentally friendly.{{cite web |last1=Wetli |first1=Patty |title=Clover Lawns Went from Mainstream to Maligned. Now They're Making a Comeback |url=https://news.wttw.com/2021/05/01/clover-lawns-went-mainstream-maligned-now-they-re-making-comeback |website=WTTW |access-date=19 August 2024}}
Clover lawns are also promoted for erosion control and no-mow highway verge plantings.{{cite web |title=Ampac Seed Company {{!}} Clover Types |url=http://www.ampacseed.com/clover1.htm |website=www.ampacseed.com |access-date=26 October 2024}}
File:Clover crop with footpath, Maidensgrove - geograph.org.uk - 886658.jpg
== Usage and maintenance ==
White clover, commonly used in clover lawns, attracts pollinators and can have a beneficial effect on local nectar production. It is also a nitrogen fixing plant. White clover is able to withstand damp environments and can be desirable in areas prone to flooding. It is less suited to shaded areas. Clover also functions as groundcover and can reduce a homeowner's reliance on fertilizer, leading to its desirability among consumers.{{cite web |last1=Dixit |first1=Vijay |title=Clover lawns rise in Midwest for eco and drought benefits |url=https://www.eplocalnews.org/2023/10/20/clover-lawns-rise-in-midwest-for-eco-and-drought-benefits/ |website=Eden Prairie Local News |date=20 October 2023 |access-date=15 December 2023}} To maintain a height of about 3 to 4 inches, it can be mowed every four to six weeks.{{cite web |title=How Often Will You Have To Mow A Clover Lawn?|url=https://www.housedigest.com/1363705/how-often-mow-clover-lawn/ |website=HouseDigest|date=14 August 2023 }} Other homeowners allow the clover to grow taller and only mow it a few times a year.{{cite web |last1=Wellbank |first1=Lauren |last2=Buiano |first2=Madeline |title=Clover Lawns Are the Landscaping Trend That Calls for Just 4 Mowings Per Year |url=https://www.marthastewart.com/8322420/clover-lawns |website=Martha Stewart |access-date=15 December 2023}} Clover is also more robust in alkaline soils than grass. A technique, when clover is preferred to grass, is achieved by adding lime to the soil to encourage the clover to dominate the lawn.{{cite book |last1=Shewell-Cooper |first1=Wilfred Edward |title=Mini-work Gardening |date=1976 |publisher=Adam and Charles Black |location=London |isbn=978-0-7136-1623-1 |pages=60–61 |edition=1st |url=https://archive.org/details/miniworkgardenin0000shew/page/22 |access-date=18 December 2023}} Research conducted in Iran and former usage shows that either alone or mixed with grass it is more resistant to heat and requires less water to be maintained.{{cite journal |last1=سعیدی پویا |first1=الهام |last2=تهرانی فر |first2=علی |last3=گزانچیان |first3=غلامعلی |last4=کاظمی |first4=فاطمه |last5=شور |first5=محمود |title=ارزیابی چمن های شبدری به عنوان جایگزین چمن های گراسی رایج فضای سبز به منظور کاهش هزینه های سرزنی |journal=علوم باغبانی |date=April 2021 |volume=36 |issue=1 |pages=15–16 |doi=10.22067/jhs.2021.60852.0 |url=https://archive.org/details/jhs-volume-36-issue-1-pages-15-28 |access-date=18 December 2023 |trans-title=Evaluation of the Replacement Ability and Comparison the Growth and Quality Characteristics of Clover Lawn with Common Grass Lawn in Landscape to Reduce the Mowing Costs |language=english, persian}}{{cite book |last1=Carleton |first1=R. Milton |title=Your Lawn: How to Make It and Keep It |date=1971 |publisher=Van Nostrand Reinhold Company |location=New York |pages=48–49 |url=https://archive.org/details/yourlawnhowtomak0000carl/page/48 |access-date=18 December 2023}}
Clover lawns are vulnerable to anthracnose and are not desirable in grass used for sports due to the leaves causing more slipping than grass. They are functionally desirable for people engaged in urban chicken keeping as they are useful as green forage for the birds.{{cite book |last1=Basley |first1=A. |title=Western Poultry Book |date=1922 |publisher=Germain Seed and Plant Co. |location=Los Angeles |pages=23, 108, 110 |edition=4th |url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924003150921/page/n28 |access-date=19 December 2023}} Clover can easily spread to other areas and may not be desirable for homeowners who wish to keep "distinct garden areas".