You Actually Want This Weed To Grow On Your Lawn
When most people think of weeds, they imagine something that needs to be pulled, sprayed, or dug up. Not all weeds are bad news though, and in fact, there's one you might actually want to keep around: clover. Once considered a staple in healthy lawns, clover has been wrongly labeled a nuisance to be destroyed. It's time to take a closer look at what it really brings to your yard and why you might be better off letting it grow.
Clover Feeds Your Lawn for Free
Clover naturally captures nitrogen from the air and stores it in the soil, essentially acting like a slow-release fertilizer. Grass needs nitrogen to stay green and healthy, and clover delivers it without needing a bag of store-bought fertilizer. This makes your whole lawn stronger, healthier, and greener over time, all without extra effort or cost. Instead of you constantly needing to feed your lawn, clover helps your lawn feed itself.
It Stays Green When Grass Doesn't
During dry spells, your grass may go brown and brittle, but clover keeps its soft, green look no matter the weather. It's more drought-tolerant than most turf grasses, which means your lawn won’t look dead in summer heat. It will help cover bare spots and bring life back to worn-out areas that grass can't hold onto without constant watering.
Clover Fights Weeds for You
Once clover takes root, it grows low and thick, crowding out other, more aggressive weeds that will harm your grass. It also creates a blanket over the soil, blocking sunlight from reaching unwanted weed seeds. That means less crabgrass, dandelions, and other prickly lawn invaders. You end up with a fuller lawn, but with fewer maintenance headaches. It's like having a natural weed control system built right in.
It's Soft and Gentle Underfoot
Clover has a soft texture that's easy on bare feet. Unlike grass varieties that can feel rough or brittle, especially if it's drought weather, clover has a cushion-like feel. It doesn't grow tall or wiry, and it doesn’t get sharp when it dries out. If you or your kids like walking through the yard barefoot, clover feels like a small upgrade to comfort you didn’t know you were missing.
It's Friendly to Pollinators
Clover flowers feed bees and other pollinators. If you're trying to support the environment, planting clover is one of the simplest steps you can take. While the blooms are small and easy to mow if needed, they help keep pollinator populations strong without overtaking your yard. A lawn with clover helps the ecosystem thrive, especially as bees face more and more challenges in the wild.
You Can Blend It With Grass
While some people do choose to do this, you don't need to replace your entire lawn with clover. It mixes well with most common grass types and will help support the grass you already have, so many people seed clover right into their existing lawn. It doesn’t stick out in a bad way once it grows in. If anything, it adds visual texture, stays green longer, and helps the whole yard look fuller. No need to start from scratch, just add clover to what you've already got!
Not all weeds are worth fighting. Clover proves that sometimes, nature knows best. It helps your lawn stay healthy, saves you time and money, and supports the ecosystems local to your yard. Before you reach for the weed killer, take a second look. That patch of clover in your yard might just be doing more good than harm, and if you let it grow, your lawn might be better for it.