Just go native with the herbs in the lawn. Here in Sweden the clover is at home, it's mixed with moss, yarrow, wild strawberrys, Roman camomile, bluebells and small daises all mingled up with different grasses, it's beautiful, looks green in the early winter and the smal animals love it if we let it grow in the edges.
This! This is the best. When I moved into my new apartment there was a large portion of the lawn that was just bare dirt. But moss has naturally overtaking it from the edge of the woods. With a little helping hand but I'm just encouraging not introducing anything new. And with the moss has come wildflowers and mushrooms and lots of wildlife. It's gorgeous.
I love that channel who posts about their clover lawn AND I appreciate this channel for recognizing that a clover lawn is not the answer to it all. To some,yes; but, this, promoting more local species is what I want.
People seem to forget that the US is massive. So the perfect ground cover for Florida won’t be perfect for NYS and the perfect ground cover for NYS won’t be perfect for the Midwest and so on . . . So plant native, do what’s best for your lawn that isnt harmful for the environment. And you’ll do great
Probably northeast or upper midwest. Where in winter time lots of things die back and doesn't look as pleasant. But yea it would help if region was included.
The other thing, as mentioned in this video, is that invasive species aren't necessarily adapted to the environment and can be really difficult to work with. It can be disadvantageous for you (not just the environment) when you pick the wrong tools to get the job done.
There are 14 different types of clover in my state, only 2 introduced. I appreciate native plants & encourage everyone to plant them. It's best to be more specific than simply saying "clover" is non-native or invasive. For many people, that's simply not true.
Thank you. I've always used clover, in my province in Canada. I've never encountered any of those issues, especially cause we plant a type that is absolutely native. Some regions are even known for their clover honey.
@@sango323That's the text overlay, not what she said which is what most people will absorb when hearing that dissonance from words not matching clearly.
I live in northern IL, we have a native species here called prairie clover. It comes in both white and purple, and not only is it drought-tolerant, it prefers dry areas. It looks nothing like the clover she had in the video - flower spike are taller, leaves are a different shape, etc. She’s right about looking into what is native to your area, but should have specified the clover in her lawn is a “species of clover not native to the US”, rather than implying all clovers are non-native.
My main issue with our clover lawn is that as soon as it took hold the leprechauns moved in. Nothing worse than a colony of leprechauns snoring at night and don’t get me started on trying to mow around a drunken leprechaun 🍀
Good points. I do want to add though that anyone looking replace their lawn should check with local organizations (like your extension office or native plant society) for suggestions. For example in my area the are at least two native clovers (Trifolium carolinianum and Trifolium reflexum). They are very pretty and fairly easily obtained from local nurseries.
My clover doesn’t die back in winter (zone 5a, Dutch white clover). It was green under the snow and the bunnies were able to munch on it instead of my seedlings and shrubs! I know it’s not native, but it’s in my lawn anyway, so 🤷🏻♀️. I have fescue and native violets and stuff as well.
My clover law brought purple flowers, decorative strawberries, and dandelions. And while most home owners around us want perfect manicured lawns. We get to have some of the best nature interactions because of it. Best part nobody had to put it down. It came with the house.
We decided we are going to a micro clover lawn in an area where people care way too much about their lawns. I hate mowing and trying to keep up. Plus I get a lot of leaves. I’m glad someone else here feels the same
I think that her main problem was and still is monoculture and not checking for native species. The successful clover lawns mix a couple of types. By checking your State University extension you will find species adapted and native to your area.
Yeah, that's what I thought as well: monoculture is never a good thing, and the US suburban/jardin à la française image of a neat lawn with equal length monocultured green grass is one of the worst kinds of lawns in terms of maintenance and environmental benefits. I'm living in an apartment right now, and I like it better than I think I'd like a house, but if I do get a house with a lawn I'll probably just let it do whatever for the most part, and add in a few native plants here and there as I go.
@@willmako5009 I agree. The time, money, water and chemicals spent on a lawn is ridiculous. CZcams has channels that just focus on this subject. I'm a gardener and I spend my money on growing food and cool plants.
@@tigolbitti3sIn this case "Extension Office" is the actual name of the department, it doesn’t mean phone ext. # I didn’t understand your question at first.
just as an fyi to people looking for alternative lawns - "non native" is not synonymous with invasive. certain plants like dandelions, while not native, are not necessarily invasive because they do not outcompete natives in their niche, and provide benefits to the ecosystem. there are lots of clover and grass varieties that are native to the USA too. and still, using non-natives isn't always a bad thing. white clover from Europe fills a niche for many lawns that others cannot and provides food for animals and pollinators and helps fix nitrogen in the soil to promote native grass growth, and reduce water waste and soil erosion. the key is that it should be used in a polycultural lawn as it can be difficult to get self-seeding and thrives best when paired with grasses. we have a mix of clovers, native grasses, moss, and various "weeds" because anything is better than dead dirt. but it took us several years to find the right balance of plants that can survive in our specific climate.
One of the great things about clover and other nitrogen fixers is that they get outcompeted when they'd improved the soil enough for other, native, plants to move in. YOu should never mow your lawn closer then 3 inches either way, but overseeding multiple species so that the ones that do grab on will do well is a better route than trying for a perfect monoculture. How dull of a space to have only one kind of plant!
We planted Clover in Alberta Canada and we love it. When you first plant you need to plant the right kind, you need to mow as it grows in to thicken and spread. After it’s established you only have to mow a few times a year. Our clover is green before Kentucky blue grass and stays green way past KBG or fescue. And the bees love it. And we can eat it too.
That’s all fine, but it’s still not a native plant. If the goal is to remove lawns to improve ecosystems for native pollinators, it’s best to plant native ground covers.
@@Blossomandbranch , The video said that clover was planted and then gave reasons why it wasn’t loved. The reasons were dying off early, coming in late, mud and not being good for pollinators and then you went into the native grasses you were experimenting with. I was just sharing our experience with clover. It did none of those things. Also, we never planted a lawn, so we didn’t remove one. We just threw down clover seeds over top of an old canola field. And you’re right, it doesn’t keep dandelions at bay, but I haven’t found anything that does. Nor does it form a thatch like a lawn to keep your kids and pets from tracking in dirt and mud. I’d love to find something native that forms a thick thatch.☺️
@@Blossomandbranch It depends on the kind and area. There are a few native clovers to Arkansas for example, that the native wild life thrives on. Hence why my lawn is predominantly (native) clover and native mosses. Also, just because something isn't native doesn't mean it isn't naturalized. Many plants and animals were introduced that meshed with local ecosystems and became part of the web. Dandelion in my area is a good example and many native bees, bugs and butterflies utilize these non-native species as much as the native ones. So long as they don't out compete a native entity, a naturalized creature can be a benefit to a local ecosystem.
Almost every single lawn in my neighborhood is completely natural, including us 😊 If you were to walk down my street you would see an array of colorful flowers that others would consider weeds, different species of clover, dandelions, etc. Two of my neighbors did a reverse lawn where the lawn is half grass, half flower beds. The lawn is different types of grass while the flower beds are all native plants that grow naturally in our area. It looks like the ultimate fairy garden! They managed to find the perfect balance between keeping a yard nice and neat while allowing the native plants to have the freedom to flourish as well. The results are stunning! The only plants we pull (and I say we because we all work together in the community to help care for each others lawns if needed) are Virginia Creepers, poison ivy, and really anything that could cause a serious reaction if one do the kids got into it but that’s pretty much it. My kids and I walk twice a day and they love identifying new plants as well as watching how much changes from our morning walk to our evening. The first time we really focused on this as a lesson it blew their minds lol, so much so that my middle son said “why can’t my strawberry plant grow that fast? 😩”. 😂😂
That's a bummer it didn't work out for you, but I've been doing a lot of research and still think I'm going to try it, we're going with several different species though and hopefully that will help us not to have the same problems! Fingers crossed 🤞
same for me! just going to reduce my grass and overseed it though, not starting from a tilled plot.and i read in several places that Fall is a better time to try. fingers crossed for me too!!
Yarrow flowers are a really good herb (as in drinking herb and good for skincare and menstruation). And when we were kids we used to use the leaves to help clot a wound if we didn’t have a plaster.
I'm zone 9b and I love my clover lawn. With 6 months of dry hot summers here, it's perfect with its drought tolerance. We have a mix of clover and grass. It's used on school fields here also. Ive never had any of the issues that she described.
Same. I just overseed with random stuff from time to time. As long as the livestock will eat it, and it can be mowed, I don't care what it is. I just want more native plants and fewer of the grass seed that's mass produced as lawn. I don't need no stinkin' lawn! I need graze for geese and fertile soil for gardening!
A lot of our lawn is clover and we love it. We don’t get muddy patches in winter. The shady part of our yard is covered in common blue violet which looks like you’re walking in a fairy tale forest lol. We have a good bit of mock strawberry and just regular grass and these little sprouts that have tiny purple flowers and some that have tiny yellow flowers. Our lawn is made up of so many types of plants lol.
YES THIS IS THE WAS TO DO IT. THIS WARMS MY HEART 💖. There are so many ways to help the environment and just this one can have a big impact like you said helping the bees and other insects is great (although honey bees are invasive to North America). The more pollinators the more plants the lower CO2 levels are.
It may work well for you but unfortunately doesn’t have many more ecosystem benefits than grass as a non native (assuming you’re in North America of course!)
@@Blossomandbranch If your personal philosophy is that natives trump non-natives, it shouldn't matter to you where someone is. Unless you think people in other areas don't have your resources or you don't care how overbalanced their native ecosystem might be, I guess. Clover has wonderful benefits for soils wherever it grows. Whatever species you decided to plant might not be native to your area, but it can do perfectly well as a non-invasive nitrogen fixer that gets out-competed after it does it's job. (That is what happens most of the time if you let things take their course.) Non-native does not equal invasive. The over-planting of short grasses through what used to be tall grass prarie easily does the same damage to the ecosystem that planting an "invasive" non-native might. Depending on where you are in Colorado, planting buffalo grass is just continuing the damage you've already started.
@@bennie1223 It turns brown in the winter, can't speak so much to the mud because that area is higher up on our property and doesn't collect much sitting water
Most native clovers have a different form and won’t create the “lawn” look many are going for, but I do love Dalea purpurea and would seed a ton of it if the seeds weren’t so expensive!
@@Blossomandbranch Nice nice! Im gonna look them up. Like you, I am changing my lawn as well. I just started with native clovers. So far its okay, I got some sprouts but now some of them died 😮💨😮💨😮💨. Thanks for the idea I hope something like this is native in my state as well.
@@Blossomandbranch Sorry to bother you, but I couldn't catch what you said after"lacy" in the video... what plant is it? Thanks! (My lawn has a bunch of non-grass plants mixed in with the grass and I'm interested in adding more!)
Love this honest video! So many people putting in clover lawns... its not better! Monoculture is Monoculture. Mixed species is always better and native grasses arent the devil
it’s a very good idea if you do it right. she did a monoculture. nature is never a monoculture so of course it failed. Two, she said clover is invasive, which is untrue assuming she is American. Many kinds of clover are native to many regions of the US. So either she didnot research the right clover native to her area to choose as the main plant. Another issue is she planted it all on its own. as a main plant, clover doesn’t usually do that on its own. So adding other low vegetation wouldve allowed for better roots in the soil to keep it together in muddy conditions/keep the soil from being over-saturated by water. this video is a very poor resource and example of how to plant native lawns. The lack of location context, broad use of the word invasive, not specifying the species of clover used. It’s practically misinformation
People put way too much work into their lawn. I simply let my lawn grow long, and mow it a couple of times a year. In my lawn grows: at least 6 different grasses, plantain, dandelion, wild Strawberry, violet, red and white clover, creeping Charly and probably a dozen others. Simply let it be, let it grow, let whatever seed wants blow into it and you will have a lush, diverse, and healthy lawn. It's not worth the work. Now, when your clover is all dead anD patchy is the perfect time to simply let it be. Mow it when it gets longer than you like, don't add fertilizers, pesticides, or irrigation and within a couple of years you will have a diverse and healthy lawn
I come from a state (Florida) where some of our native grass really irritates my skin and also I am allergic to certain types of weeds, most people are getting into lawn care where I’m from to combat that because it’s super common and our parents and grandparents just left it cause they just thought who cares it’s grass without thinking of people like me who couldn’t play in grass unless I wanted to be left itching and with rashes 😂
I agree with that honestly.. my back garden is a mix of fluffy grasses, native clovers, wild violets, dandelions, and some flowers I don't know the name of. It's beautiful in spring with all the colors of purple, yellow, and white flowers poking up through the green 😊 I don't think we need our lawns to be all one type of something I never understood putting so much effort into making sure you have the perfect lawn with nothing but grass or some type of ground cover
Yarrow has been encroaching our lawn for years we love it! It's also got tons of clover, sweet Woodruff, and other border ground covers that have crept in and mixed with the grass. Big agree on the monoculture point!
We are fortunate to have wild geranium and purple dead nettle in abundance to compliment the clover .. some shepherd's purse and hairy bittercress, oxalis and violets all like to grow here
There is several native clover in united states and canada. Only 2 are actually invasive( white and yellow clover sweetclover). Lawn replaced clover come in native and non native options. You have to care for clover in colder season and some clover dont like excessive heat so some are not good for the hot seasons. Those types of clover can not be planted in hot climates in the south like georgia, texas, florida, and arizona for example. Some species of yarrow is not native in some states in the us. For instance georgia has white yarrow. I agree about yarrow though. Its absolutely pretty and bees and butterflies/moths love them here.
Well dang I had bought some clover seeds to add to our lawn cus my husband doesn't want to give up his water space of a lawn-_- lol. The school I went to had a clove yard and it was always pretty and green and fluffy looking. And I remember seeing so many bees on the little flowers. Were here in the central valley, it's hot and we don't get much water, I'll be looking for a native ground cover to add her, I'm always looking to make things better. Thanks for sharing!
It's still worth a try! A clover-grass mixed lawn works better than each by itself. I live in an semi-arid region in Canada where it can go 2 months without rain, and white Dutch clover does well for me. I never run a sprinkler like all my neighbours do, just water it before a long hot stretch.
There are over 10 types of clover. Saying all clover is invasive is just false. I’ve had a clover yard for years and live in a very cold state. You actually have to take care of it during the winter.
@@Blossomandbranch I think people should always be open to critique. Your video is critiquing mono-clover yards and you make some good points for people to consider before making a decision. However, your points don't apply to everyone. They don't apply to mixed clover yards. They don't apply to people who don't mow. They don't apply to people who live in places where the clover is native. Etc etc etc. The tone of your response makes you seem like a dick and alienates your audience. The people you want to reach are everyday folks who have a regular lawn, but want to do something simple to be more eco friendly. If you're asserting yourself as better than everyone based on your experience with one clover yard... no one is going to do what you say regardless of the validity of your message. We should all be open to learning more and doing better without developing a better than thou attitude. My critique is meant to help you and your channel. I'm not saying these things to be a dick to you.
Clover lawn actually worked very well for me. I’m in zone 6b and I have bunnies that I keep for manure. I’m 6.5 wks before my LFD and this is yr 2 for clover. Its fully in already and my rabbits consume it. I just let ot get tall enough to trim handfulls at a time and feed it to my rabbits and chickens. It really has worked well for our needs
Yes, that is what I am doing this year. I,m seeding Buffalo grass here in Montana. It,s native to here, drought tolerant, only cut it once a month or less
I think clover is still a far better option than non native water thristy grass you see far too often. I live in Florida and its terrible how much you see it.
It’s actually not, it lacks the complete amino acids pollinators need and is akin to junk food. It’s not a preferred pollen source, and works best for nonnative generalist honeybees and not the native specialist pollinators.
I’m in FL & a ground cover I’ve been trying to grow is green & sprawling & gets little pink fuzzy blossoms! Also sunshine mimosa. I hope you can find something that works for your area!
I would also like to suggest False Strawberry for your yard! If you don't have heavy foot traffic Sweet potato Vine is absolutely beautiful for a ground cover and requires no maintenance besides trimming the edges.
This summer, I planted dutch white clover (zone 6a) and love it. So far, it's baby size, maybe grows 2" in height at most. With mower set at 6, it runs right over it and gets the higher stuff. The bunnies and bees love it.
My yard is mostly thyme, and it is great! It smells amazing, looks bright and fluffy, and gives you beautiful purple flowers of a variety of shades (you can also pick some to cook with). It’s easy to manage and it attracts little butterflies to our yard all the summer. Definitely look up if it survives well and won’t damage your ecosystem wherever you live though before considering it, I just know it works for my area.
Clover is a great lawn companion. It replenishes nitrogen which is most helpful along side grasses which tend to be nitrogen hungry. And depending on clover type and mowing method, you can manage how dominant it is. It works very well in my lawn with my grass. I think I agree with you to a point, clover is not a good individual lawn cover.
I have done clover to fill in gaps, but I have gone with other ground covers for less traffic areas. No matter what I have planted, I still have lots of native plants popping up- bramble especially- so it is not anything like I expected. I honestly find the parts of the yard that are sodded much less maintenance with no erosion. I wish the whole ground cover thing worked better, though. I will keep trying!
Learned my lesson on yarrow years ago and wont ever put it in my garden or yard again! It spread everywhere and even to my neighbors yard. Hard to kill or get rid of. Worst of all, It made me itch like crazy! 😮
I have a shaded area under a poplar & gum trees that was in lawn, but I noticed some wild violets so I have been mowing high and the violets have taken over and choked out all other weeds and grass. It’s beautiful and keeping the ground covered and cool for the trees👍
I added white clover to my lawn when I added tall fescue and it looks like a fairytale picture. Couldn’t be happier. Obviously you need to keep it watered while it sprouts. It came in thick and the soil will thank me for doing this in a few years as the nitrogen gets the microbes to flourish. Soil food web it key
You need to mix it with regular lawn, they mutually help each other. Clover has longer roots it’s more droughts resistant and bring water to the surface for regular lawn who has shorter roots
Plant creeping or Wooley thyme. The leaves die back in winter but the remaining stems (where the new leaves will re-sprount in spring) forms a soft mat that is a groundcover in itself under foot (for the mud concerns) during winter and dense enough once established to crowd out most weeds. In spring the groundcover blooms in a gorgeous low carpet of tiny purple/maroon flowers while leaving a carpet of dark green leaves until frost. There is no mowing or maintenance and only a little watering during the hottest part of summer. I grow it as a living mulch in my perennial garden to keep the weeds down and assist moisture retention in unplanted areas. To add plants to the area just cut a hole in the "carpet", dig your planting hole, add your plant, fill in and water. The ground cover spreads fast enough to cover the area you need in a season (depending on how densely its planted) but is easily controlled (non-invasive) by just running an edge trimmer where you want to tidy the boundaries. I use my grass shears. No mulch bark needed, no landscape fabric.
Biggest thing with Clovers, is to mix several species into thd yard. Years ago, we had a brand new lawn/SAND yard. And we planted 4 species of Clovers. Poof, 2 years later, it was blended into wonderful native grasses, which moved in on their own.
Clover is great for bees and re-flowers within three days after mowing, especially if mowed high. Only drawback I have is mowing slower so the bees and other insects have time to get out of the way. With a self-propelled on low speed (and earplugs) it makes for an easy and enjoyable stroll.
Don't go for monoculture. My lawn is a mix of Yarrow, Clover and various grass types to fill in the gap. By diversifying, you can assure that if something has an off-season, the others can fill in the gap until the other can grow strong again without weeds taking over. I personally, found the grass mix and clover combo to be my winning team. They compement each other so well. ❤
A lot of it comes down to zone. If yours stays green through winter then you don’t get freezing temps like a lot of the country :) glad it works for you!
Correction: There are many types of clover and you should be paying attention to what clover is native. There's tons of clover native to my state but there's some that isn't. There are 255 clover species, you definitely have a native clover you can use. There are also plant species that are non native but are classified as safe to plant because they don't do any harm to the ecosystem and rather help the local ecosystem. Dandelions are one. They aren't native to the US but are not harmful and are actually pretty helpful because they bloom so early so pollinators benefit from them right out the gate when other flowers haven't bloomed yet. So keep this in mind when looking to plant native species because a handfull of non native species are completely safe to plant because they don't do any damage.
Important to note::NOONE is using native clovers in a lawn sense. Show me one person using native Dalea purpurea as a lawn replacement, for example. The cheap and easily available seeds in bulk are white clover and native clover.
@@Blossomandbranch this was not directed directly at you so sorry if it seemed that way. This was directed to the people who claim "all clover is invasive" when the US does have native clover. People are running around saying it's all invasive when in actuality it depends on the species and area because they see a few seconds of someone saying it's invasive in their area without any further specifications. My bad.
@@Blossomandbranch Actually, many of us ARE using native clovers. Just because you didn't doesn't mean others aren't. Some of us had it growing in patches locally already and collected the seeds. Then cultivated it in our yards. Cool thing about native plants... if you're smart about it, they don't cost a penny. Just time.
Yarrow may say it's drought proof but it's definitely a dramatic plant. I have a large patch in my turtle enclosure outside that if I don't water every so often it falls and looks gross.
I wish I had seen this before I planted clover. It has led to lots of weeds. I will be covering it & putting mulch & cloth other it. Creating a new flowerbed taking up my whole lawn.
There are many kinds of clover 🍀 and her area is probably different from yours. She didnt say what kind hers is or where she lives. Comes off sounding like we all live in the same kind of area and theres only 1 kind of clover. Your better off not taking a youtubers advice. Research your area for the plants that grow best.
If you're in a wet place (like me in Scotland) moss lawns are the way to go! Keep the leaves off in winter and water if it gets too dry (when settling in)! The right moss, the right place!
So my clover lawn is mixed with some other native grasses that are know to be very hardy with low mowing needs and I think it works the best for my red clay dirt. The clover gets established first and breaks up the clay and the grasses are now filling in the gaps. You can also pick a specific mowing height and the clover will adapt and bloom.
I did clover and grass mix in northern Ontario Canada. It's been over 5 years now and I like the lawn is always green even when the grass turns brown during dry times. The bees like the clover and I mow less often. Trying to maintain a grass lawn is boring, expensive and not enviromentally friendly.
I'm allergic to grass so I love this idea. I'll slowly replacing my back yard with mint. There was already a lot when I moved so I'll put different types
If your in New England. Try violets They are great grounds cover and don't really grow over 7 inches in high. And the flowers can be white, blue, purple and the leaves are dark green and heart shaped.
I live on a farm and my honeybees LOVE clover. I usually only mow every two to three weeks and it takes a few days after a rain for new flowers to bloom and make them happy again. I’ve planted Dutch white clover but I have the yellow clover and other wild ‘weeds’. I live in a climate where I don’t have to worry too much about drought so I think if you have bees you should definitely check if your area is right for white Dutch clover.
You are definitely right about Clover laws. The mud in the winter is a huge negative. White Dutch clover is non-native, but is considered naturalized in most of the United States. It has an overall net positive effect to the local ecology And is definitely not worth excluding out of fear of its non-native origin. Yarrow and phacelia are not really a lawn Alternative. You’re basically just Growing a garden or meadow at that point. If you want a lawn, Then a combo of clover, self heal, lyre leaves sage, violets and cool season fescues or a no mow seed mix are the way to go. Sometimes it’s best to not be a purist over native status To achieve the goal you’re going for. And this is coming from a horticulturist Who specializes in native plants of the southern Appalachians
Yarrow is a fun one. I have a little corner of my hard that's starting to be primarily yarrow. Some clover (non-native to NA) and wood sorrels (native to NA) look similar and provide fun bursts of green color. Little clumps of violets everywhere. A lot of dead grass, too.
I planted clover and love it! But I raised my property due to flooding with wood chips that was free but is a carbon sink...planting clover helped trap nitrogen in the woodchips to prepare for my permaculture garden.
Clover does a lot for bee's, if the pollinate mostly clover their honey will automatically cream/crystallize. And there's other medicinal benefits for clover. And beneficial to the yard too.
It depends on the SPECIES and the PLACE . In my area in Wi we have some clover species that are on and close to being on the state’s endangered species list . There are many different types of “clover” . Check with your local DNR and or university for help identify the right species and they may be able to help you acquire that exact one.
Yes I love this, my end goal is to shift our yucky crabgrass lawn to native grasses, I like a short lawn so I’ll have to make sure I get what can handle drought and being cut short.
I’ve never done anything with our lawn. I have Buttercups and Violas that have grow in. The monkey grass that I planted around my little garden in front is starting to become our grass but very slowly. It gets mowed weekly. I always have something blooming out front. Sometimes it is a weed but once it’s cut, you can’t tell. I always keep flowers all year round. So the pollinators are always happy
Thats really weird. A channel I follow has had great success with their clover lawn and they post some really great tips for taking care of it. I'm thinking you planted a non-native clover to your area without researching beforehand. Easy mistake but one that can be solved by following your own tips. It's always best to research what it is you are planting in your lawn/garden beforehand.
Miss you research which clover to plant? Different clovers grow better in some growing zones than others. I’m from Texas and Dutch white clover does great here.
One of my professors claimed that fescue is the reason that we have the amount of soil density that we have in our area. While not idea it is effective.
I was typing my comment out for you to plant buffalo grass but it appears you've already done that. If you get it from sod it produces flowers! Really good choice for living in an area that doesn't get a lot of rain
We had a mild winter here in Michigan last year but our clover stayed green! Not entirely sure what to expect longterm. But even cutting our clover short, it still has flowers. Curious about yarrow as a ground cover!
Just go native with the herbs in the lawn. Here in Sweden the clover is at home, it's mixed with moss, yarrow, wild strawberrys, Roman camomile, bluebells and small daises all mingled up with different grasses, it's beautiful, looks green in the early winter and the smal animals love it if we let it grow in the edges.
This! This is the best.
When I moved into my new apartment there was a large portion of the lawn that was just bare dirt. But moss has naturally overtaking it from the edge of the woods. With a little helping hand but I'm just encouraging not introducing anything new. And with the moss has come wildflowers and mushrooms and lots of wildlife.
It's gorgeous.
I want to move to Sweden so stinking bad!!
Same in France it’s quite beautiful
Mountain strawberries that is genius
@@colesuqs you're very welcome!
I love that channel who posts about their clover lawn AND I appreciate this channel for recognizing that a clover lawn is not the answer to it all. To some,yes; but, this, promoting more local species is what I want.
People seem to forget that the US is massive. So the perfect ground cover for Florida won’t be perfect for NYS and the perfect ground cover for NYS won’t be perfect for the Midwest and so on . . . So plant native, do what’s best for your lawn that isnt harmful for the environment. And you’ll do great
Yeah video would be helpful if she told what region she's from. A muddy pit isn't possible in Arizona for example.
Probably northeast or upper midwest. Where in winter time lots of things die back and doesn't look as pleasant. But yea it would help if region was included.
@@mackeralsmackers you're on the internet, the information is right at your fingertips. Literally.
The other thing, as mentioned in this video, is that invasive species aren't necessarily adapted to the environment and can be really difficult to work with.
It can be disadvantageous for you (not just the environment) when you pick the wrong tools to get the job done.
She has a farm in Colorado. I did some research 😂
There are 14 different types of clover in my state, only 2 introduced. I appreciate native plants & encourage everyone to plant them. It's best to be more specific than simply saying "clover" is non-native or invasive. For many people, that's simply not true.
Thank you. I've always used clover, in my province in Canada. I've never encountered any of those issues, especially cause we plant a type that is absolutely native. Some regions are even known for their clover honey.
Thats why she said most clover is invasive in a lot of parts of north america
@@sango323That's the text overlay, not what she said which is what most people will absorb when hearing that dissonance from words not matching clearly.
I live in northern IL, we have a native species here called prairie clover. It comes in both white and purple, and not only is it drought-tolerant, it prefers dry areas.
It looks nothing like the clover she had in the video - flower spike are taller, leaves are a different shape, etc.
She’s right about looking into what is native to your area, but should have specified the clover in her lawn is a “species of clover not native to the US”, rather than implying all clovers are non-native.
She does tis all the time. I can't figure out what her motive is for lying about so many things.
My main issue with our clover lawn is that as soon as it took hold the leprechauns moved in. Nothing worse than a colony of leprechauns snoring at night and don’t get me started on trying to mow around a drunken leprechaun 🍀
I can see how that could be problematic… but don’t they also bring pots of gold?
@@Blossomandbranch as long as the unicorns don’t find them first
😂❤
@@Blossomandbranch but they don't share!
😅🤣
Good points. I do want to add though that anyone looking replace their lawn should check with local organizations (like your extension office or native plant society) for suggestions. For example in my area the are at least two native clovers (Trifolium carolinianum and Trifolium reflexum). They are very pretty and fairly easily obtained from local nurseries.
Any of this could have been solved with some research that's what i'm confused about. Did she not research What was good in her area?
Yeeee check with your local dnr they usually have lists of native plants for gardens
My clover doesn’t die back in winter (zone 5a, Dutch white clover). It was green under the snow and the bunnies were able to munch on it instead of my seedlings and shrubs! I know it’s not native, but it’s in my lawn anyway, so 🤷🏻♀️. I have fescue and native violets and stuff as well.
Would you recommend another dutchie to take white clover as a lawn?
My clover law brought purple flowers, decorative strawberries, and dandelions. And while most home owners around us want perfect manicured lawns. We get to have some of the best nature interactions because of it. Best part nobody had to put it down. It came with the house.
We decided we are going to a micro clover lawn in an area where people care way too much about their lawns. I hate mowing and trying to keep up. Plus I get a lot of leaves. I’m glad someone else here feels the same
I think that’s a crop actually. Farmers in USA use it to enrich the sail between growing seasons
Thanks for the visual of a clover lawn in winter/early Spring. That helped us decide we don't want clover.
I think that her main problem was and still is monoculture and not checking for native species.
The successful clover lawns mix a couple of types. By checking your State University extension you will find species adapted and native to your area.
I was going to make a similiar comment. Most clover seed has grass seed mixed in.
How do I find the right State University extension? Where do I look for the native species?
Yeah, that's what I thought as well: monoculture is never a good thing, and the US suburban/jardin à la française image of a neat lawn with equal length monocultured green grass is one of the worst kinds of lawns in terms of maintenance and environmental benefits.
I'm living in an apartment right now, and I like it better than I think I'd like a house, but if I do get a house with a lawn I'll probably just let it do whatever for the most part, and add in a few native plants here and there as I go.
@@willmako5009 I agree. The time, money, water and chemicals spent on a lawn is ridiculous. CZcams has channels that just focus on this subject. I'm a gardener and I spend my money on growing food and cool plants.
@@tigolbitti3sIn this case "Extension Office" is the actual name of the department, it doesn’t mean phone ext. #
I didn’t understand your question at first.
There are plenty of native clovers…
It would have been better to say “Make sure what you’re planting is native!”
yes exactly
We should do this with people too😊
just as an fyi to people looking for alternative lawns - "non native" is not synonymous with invasive. certain plants like dandelions, while not native, are not necessarily invasive because they do not outcompete natives in their niche, and provide benefits to the ecosystem. there are lots of clover and grass varieties that are native to the USA too.
and still, using non-natives isn't always a bad thing. white clover from Europe fills a niche for many lawns that others cannot and provides food for animals and pollinators and helps fix nitrogen in the soil to promote native grass growth, and reduce water waste and soil erosion. the key is that it should be used in a polycultural lawn as it can be difficult to get self-seeding and thrives best when paired with grasses.
we have a mix of clovers, native grasses, moss, and various "weeds" because anything is better than dead dirt. but it took us several years to find the right balance of plants that can survive in our specific climate.
One of the great things about clover and other nitrogen fixers is that they get outcompeted when they'd improved the soil enough for other, native, plants to move in.
YOu should never mow your lawn closer then 3 inches either way, but overseeding multiple species so that the ones that do grab on will do well is a better route than trying for a perfect monoculture.
How dull of a space to have only one kind of plant!
We planted Clover in Alberta Canada and we love it. When you first plant you need to plant the right kind, you need to mow as it grows in to thicken and spread. After it’s established you only have to mow a few times a year. Our clover is green before Kentucky blue grass and stays green way past KBG or fescue. And the bees love it. And we can eat it too.
That’s all fine, but it’s still not a native plant. If the goal is to remove lawns to improve ecosystems for native pollinators, it’s best to plant native ground covers.
What kind of clover? I live in northern Montana.
Thank you
@@rondumontier1187 , Gosh, we planted it 8 years ago and I can’t recall the type. I will ask my husband if he remembers and get back to you.🙂
@@Blossomandbranch , The video said that clover was planted and then gave reasons why it wasn’t loved. The reasons were dying off early, coming in late, mud and not being good for pollinators and then you went into the native grasses you were experimenting with. I was just sharing our experience with clover. It did none of those things. Also, we never planted a lawn, so we didn’t remove one. We just threw down clover seeds over top of an old canola field. And you’re right, it doesn’t keep dandelions at bay, but I haven’t found anything that does. Nor does it form a thatch like a lawn to keep your kids and pets from tracking in dirt and mud. I’d love to find something native that forms a thick thatch.☺️
@@Blossomandbranch
It depends on the kind and area. There are a few native clovers to Arkansas for example, that the native wild life thrives on. Hence why my lawn is predominantly (native) clover and native mosses. Also, just because something isn't native doesn't mean it isn't naturalized. Many plants and animals were introduced that meshed with local ecosystems and became part of the web. Dandelion in my area is a good example and many native bees, bugs and butterflies utilize these non-native species as much as the native ones. So long as they don't out compete a native entity, a naturalized creature can be a benefit to a local ecosystem.
Almost every single lawn in my neighborhood is completely natural, including us 😊 If you were to walk down my street you would see an array of colorful flowers that others would consider weeds, different species of clover, dandelions, etc. Two of my neighbors did a reverse lawn where the lawn is half grass, half flower beds. The lawn is different types of grass while the flower beds are all native plants that grow naturally in our area. It looks like the ultimate fairy garden! They managed to find the perfect balance between keeping a yard nice and neat while allowing the native plants to have the freedom to flourish as well. The results are stunning! The only plants we pull (and I say we because we all work together in the community to help care for each others lawns if needed) are Virginia Creepers, poison ivy, and really anything that could cause a serious reaction if one do the kids got into it but that’s pretty much it. My kids and I walk twice a day and they love identifying new plants as well as watching how much changes from our morning walk to our evening. The first time we really focused on this as a lesson it blew their minds lol, so much so that my middle son said “why can’t my strawberry plant grow that fast? 😩”. 😂😂
My yard fills with fleabane every fall. The yard comes alive with tiny bees and butterflies.
I love channels that promote native plants and species!❤❤
That's a bummer it didn't work out for you, but I've been doing a lot of research and still think I'm going to try it, we're going with several different species though and hopefully that will help us not to have the same problems! Fingers crossed 🤞
same for me! just going to reduce my grass and overseed it though, not starting from a tilled plot.and i read in several places that Fall is a better time to try. fingers crossed for me too!!
We always had clover growing here in Hawaii along with cattle and it's beautiful. I going to grow some shortly 🌱
Yarrow flowers are a really good herb (as in drinking herb and good for skincare and menstruation). And when we were kids we used to use the leaves to help clot a wound if we didn’t have a plaster.
I'm zone 9b and I love my clover lawn. With 6 months of dry hot summers here, it's perfect with its drought tolerance. We have a mix of clover and grass. It's used on school fields here also. Ive never had any of the issues that she described.
Same. I just overseed with random stuff from time to time. As long as the livestock will eat it, and it can be mowed, I don't care what it is. I just want more native plants and fewer of the grass seed that's mass produced as lawn.
I don't need no stinkin' lawn! I need graze for geese and fertile soil for gardening!
A lot of our lawn is clover and we love it. We don’t get muddy patches in winter. The shady part of our yard is covered in common blue violet which looks like you’re walking in a fairy tale forest lol. We have a good bit of mock strawberry and just regular grass and these little sprouts that have tiny purple flowers and some that have tiny yellow flowers. Our lawn is made up of so many types of plants lol.
That sounds lovely! I have clover and will look into adding more ground cover for a mixed look.
YES THIS IS THE WAS TO DO IT. THIS WARMS MY HEART 💖. There are so many ways to help the environment and just this one can have a big impact like you said helping the bees and other insects is great (although honey bees are invasive to North America). The more pollinators the more plants the lower CO2 levels are.
My native stuff is all sharp and stabby. I love my clover. The bees love it. I made jelly with it. And it's helping rebuild my garbage soil.
Working pretty well for me though? I live in a place that doesn't get cold but grass doesn't grow well. Clover has been a godsend .
It may work well for you but unfortunately doesn’t have many more ecosystem benefits than grass as a non native (assuming you’re in North America of course!)
@@Blossomandbranch If your personal philosophy is that natives trump non-natives, it shouldn't matter to you where someone is. Unless you think people in other areas don't have your resources or you don't care how overbalanced their native ecosystem might be, I guess.
Clover has wonderful benefits for soils wherever it grows. Whatever species you decided to plant might not be native to your area, but it can do perfectly well as a non-invasive nitrogen fixer that gets out-competed after it does it's job. (That is what happens most of the time if you let things take their course.)
Non-native does not equal invasive. The over-planting of short grasses through what used to be tall grass prarie easily does the same damage to the ecosystem that planting an "invasive" non-native might. Depending on where you are in Colorado, planting buffalo grass is just continuing the damage you've already started.
We have a patch of yarrow in our lawn that gets mown with the rest of the lawn, and it is so soft and lovely to walk/sit in, highly recommend it
How does it do with winter die off/spring mud?
@@bennie1223 It turns brown in the winter, can't speak so much to the mud because that area is higher up on our property and doesn't collect much sitting water
I mean... You could research native clovers for your state. Kudos to you though in searching for native ground cover!!
Most native clovers have a different form and won’t create the “lawn” look many are going for, but I do love Dalea purpurea and would seed a ton of it if the seeds weren’t so expensive!
@@Blossomandbranch Nice nice! Im gonna look them up. Like you, I am changing my lawn as well. I just started with native clovers. So far its okay, I got some sprouts but now some of them died 😮💨😮💨😮💨. Thanks for the idea I hope something like this is native in my state as well.
@@Blossomandbranch Sorry to bother you, but I couldn't catch what you said after"lacy" in the video... what plant is it? Thanks! (My lawn has a bunch of non-grass plants mixed in with the grass and I'm interested in adding more!)
We have four different types of native clover where I live AND it stays green year round.
Love this honest video! So many people putting in clover lawns... its not better! Monoculture is Monoculture. Mixed species is always better and native grasses arent the devil
Great idea. Thebright plant in the right place. Usimg native plants is really cool AND using drought tolerant plants is great!
Thank you for updating on how that turned out. I've seen a few clover yard videos and was convincing myself it was a good idea.
it’s a very good idea if you do it right. she did a monoculture. nature is never a monoculture so of course it failed. Two, she said clover is invasive, which is untrue assuming she is American. Many kinds of clover are native to many regions of the US. So either she didnot research the right clover native to her area to choose as the main plant.
Another issue is she planted it all on its own. as a main plant, clover doesn’t usually do that on its own. So adding other low vegetation wouldve allowed for better roots in the soil to keep it together in muddy conditions/keep the soil from being over-saturated by water.
this video is a very poor resource and example of how to plant native lawns. The lack of location context, broad use of the word invasive, not specifying the species of clover used. It’s practically misinformation
I'm glad that you realized what you were doing wrong and "switched sides" to the group of us native plant enthusiasts!!😉👍
People put way too much work into their lawn. I simply let my lawn grow long, and mow it a couple of times a year. In my lawn grows: at least 6 different grasses, plantain, dandelion, wild Strawberry, violet, red and white clover, creeping Charly and probably a dozen others. Simply let it be, let it grow, let whatever seed wants blow into it and you will have a lush, diverse, and healthy lawn. It's not worth the work. Now, when your clover is all dead anD patchy is the perfect time to simply let it be. Mow it when it gets longer than you like, don't add fertilizers, pesticides, or irrigation and within a couple of years you will have a diverse and healthy lawn
I come from a state (Florida) where some of our native grass really irritates my skin and also I am allergic to certain types of weeds, most people are getting into lawn care where I’m from to combat that because it’s super common and our parents and grandparents just left it cause they just thought who cares it’s grass without thinking of people like me who couldn’t play in grass unless I wanted to be left itching and with rashes 😂
I agree with that honestly.. my back garden is a mix of fluffy grasses, native clovers, wild violets, dandelions, and some flowers I don't know the name of. It's beautiful in spring with all the colors of purple, yellow, and white flowers poking up through the green 😊 I don't think we need our lawns to be all one type of something I never understood putting so much effort into making sure you have the perfect lawn with nothing but grass or some type of ground cover
I get itchy whenever I walk on grass long enough to touch my skin...
@@marshmallow4646 that's called a grass allergy...
This is my lawn too. I planned native seeds and just let them go. Mow them about 2 times a month. Bees, pollinators and dragonflies are abundant.
Thanks for the winter tip. In Colorado, it’s mostly winter season for grass. Lol
Yarrow has been encroaching our lawn for years we love it! It's also got tons of clover, sweet Woodruff, and other border ground covers that have crept in and mixed with the grass. Big agree on the monoculture point!
We are fortunate to have wild geranium and purple dead nettle in abundance to compliment the clover .. some shepherd's purse and hairy bittercress, oxalis and violets all like to grow here
I really like wild geranium! And no matter how many people claim that violets are a weed, I love them! (Zone 5, central Indiana)
There is several native clover in united states and canada. Only 2 are actually invasive( white and yellow clover sweetclover). Lawn replaced clover come in native and non native options. You have to care for clover in colder season and some clover dont like excessive heat so some are not good for the hot seasons. Those types of clover can not be planted in hot climates in the south like georgia, texas, florida, and arizona for example. Some species of yarrow is not native in some states in the us. For instance georgia has white yarrow. I agree about yarrow though. Its absolutely pretty and bees and butterflies/moths love them here.
Well dang I had bought some clover seeds to add to our lawn cus my husband doesn't want to give up his water space of a lawn-_- lol. The school I went to had a clove yard and it was always pretty and green and fluffy looking. And I remember seeing so many bees on the little flowers.
Were here in the central valley, it's hot and we don't get much water, I'll be looking for a native ground cover to add her, I'm always looking to make things better. Thanks for sharing!
Ugh. We we’re literally heading to the store, in a few minutes, to get clover, when my daughter sent me this link.
@@connier9477 lol it's frustrating isn't it? You make some plans for them to get sabotaged.
@@connier9477 Clover mixed with grass works reasonably well. It just doesn't work on its own
@@connier9477I have a full white clover lawn. It’s amazing. Year two.
It's still worth a try! A clover-grass mixed lawn works better than each by itself. I live in an semi-arid region in Canada where it can go 2 months without rain, and white Dutch clover does well for me. I never run a sprinkler like all my neighbours do, just water it before a long hot stretch.
There are over 10 types of clover. Saying all clover is invasive is just false. I’ve had a clover yard for years and live in a very cold state. You actually have to take care of it during the winter.
The ones that are used as lawn eco types are non native. No one is using Dalea purpurea as a lawn.
Also, I’d LOVE to hear how you “care” for clover in the winter. Please enlighten us
@@Blossomandbranch you seem like a joy
@@Blossomandbranch I think people should always be open to critique. Your video is critiquing mono-clover yards and you make some good points for people to consider before making a decision. However, your points don't apply to everyone. They don't apply to mixed clover yards. They don't apply to people who don't mow. They don't apply to people who live in places where the clover is native. Etc etc etc. The tone of your response makes you seem like a dick and alienates your audience. The people you want to reach are everyday folks who have a regular lawn, but want to do something simple to be more eco friendly. If you're asserting yourself as better than everyone based on your experience with one clover yard... no one is going to do what you say regardless of the validity of your message. We should all be open to learning more and doing better without developing a better than thou attitude. My critique is meant to help you and your channel. I'm not saying these things to be a dick to you.
@@pipeliner4029 exaaactly, no one likes a pompous prick!
Clover lawn actually worked very well for me. I’m in zone 6b and I have bunnies that I keep for manure. I’m 6.5 wks before my LFD and this is yr 2 for clover. Its fully in already and my rabbits consume it. I just let ot get tall enough to trim handfulls at a time and feed it to my rabbits and chickens. It really has worked well for our needs
I recommend trying sedges as a lawn alternative! Or other ground cover natives !
Sedges are lovely!!
I hope when I own a home here in the Midwest I can return the lawn to its native prairie grass and flowers
Yes, that is what I am doing this year. I,m seeding Buffalo grass here in Montana. It,s native to here, drought tolerant, only cut it once a month or less
I think clover is still a far better option than non native water thristy grass you see far too often.
I live in Florida and its terrible how much you see it.
Agree with you.
Well dandelion is good for pollinators as well
It’s actually not, it lacks the complete amino acids pollinators need and is akin to junk food. It’s not a preferred pollen source, and works best for nonnative generalist honeybees and not the native specialist pollinators.
I have some wild yarrow growing in the back of my property. I didn't know what it was exactly before this video. I just like it.
I love moss as grass, my dad has that
Probably works best if you've got lots of big trees making lots of shade! Sounds cozy and soft
I’m in FL & a ground cover I’ve been trying to grow is green & sprawling & gets little pink fuzzy blossoms! Also sunshine mimosa. I hope you can find something that works for your area!
I would also like to suggest False Strawberry for your yard! If you don't have heavy foot traffic Sweet potato Vine is absolutely beautiful for a ground cover and requires no maintenance besides trimming the edges.
This summer, I planted dutch white clover (zone 6a) and love it. So far, it's baby size, maybe grows 2" in height at most. With mower set at 6, it runs right over it and gets the higher stuff. The bunnies and bees love it.
I really appreciate the vid showing alternative
My yard is mostly thyme, and it is great! It smells amazing, looks bright and fluffy, and gives you beautiful purple flowers of a variety of shades (you can also pick some to cook with). It’s easy to manage and it attracts little butterflies to our yard all the summer. Definitely look up if it survives well and won’t damage your ecosystem wherever you live though before considering it, I just know it works for my area.
Clover is a great lawn companion. It replenishes nitrogen which is most helpful along side grasses which tend to be nitrogen hungry. And depending on clover type and mowing method, you can manage how dominant it is. It works very well in my lawn with my grass. I think I agree with you to a point, clover is not a good individual lawn cover.
I love yarrow!!!! Native grasses are amazing and also look into things like silver weed to plant with the yarrow.
Love this discussion ❤❤❤ keep it up yall
but clover for the most part isn't an invasive mono culture? even in most of America most types of clover that's growing is in fact, native clover.
I have done clover to fill in gaps, but I have gone with other ground covers for less traffic areas. No matter what I have planted, I still have lots of native plants popping up- bramble especially- so it is not anything like I expected. I honestly find the parts of the yard that are sodded much less maintenance with no erosion. I wish the whole ground cover thing worked better, though. I will keep trying!
Thank you for saying this. I was considering clover.
Learned my lesson on yarrow years ago and wont ever put it in my garden or yard again! It spread everywhere and even to my neighbors yard. Hard to kill or get rid of. Worst of all, It made me itch like crazy! 😮
That's probably because yarrow is actually extremely toxic to dogs horses cats livestock it causes liver failure and other issues
I've heard that yarrow is toxic to pets.
I'd love a lawn full of native wildflowers, sounds like a daydream
I have a shaded area under a poplar & gum trees that was in lawn, but I noticed some wild violets so I have been mowing high and the violets have taken over and choked out all other weeds and grass. It’s beautiful and keeping the ground covered and cool for the trees👍
We have a lot of clover mixed in with our grass and it attracts soooo many bees. I love Bess and all but my kids kept getting stung
Dandelions aren't bad, you can use them for medicine, making bread, making mead, and so much more
Who said anything about dandelions?
@@Blossomandbranch dandelions are invasive in North America and were also featured in the video lol
I added white clover to my lawn when I added tall fescue and it looks like a fairytale picture. Couldn’t be happier. Obviously you need to keep it watered while it sprouts. It came in thick and the soil will thank me for doing this in a few years as the nitrogen gets the microbes to flourish. Soil food web it key
Finally someone posts the truth about clover lawns! Thank you!
Oh my word I never even thought about winter and the possibility for more weeds to jump in. Glad I saw this!!!
You need to mix it with regular lawn, they mutually help each other. Clover has longer roots it’s more droughts resistant and bring water to the surface for regular lawn who has shorter roots
Plant creeping or Wooley thyme. The leaves die back in winter but the remaining stems (where the new leaves will re-sprount in spring) forms a soft mat that is a groundcover in itself under foot (for the mud concerns) during winter and dense enough once established to crowd out most weeds. In spring the groundcover blooms in a gorgeous low carpet of tiny purple/maroon flowers while leaving a carpet of dark green leaves until frost. There is no mowing or maintenance and only a little watering during the hottest part of summer. I grow it as a living mulch in my perennial garden to keep the weeds down and assist moisture retention in unplanted areas. To add plants to the area just cut a hole in the "carpet", dig your planting hole, add your plant, fill in and water. The ground cover spreads fast enough to cover the area you need in a season (depending on how densely its planted) but is easily controlled (non-invasive) by just running an edge trimmer where you want to tidy the boundaries. I use my grass shears. No mulch bark needed, no landscape fabric.
I think ppl replacing full grass lawns with full clover lawns are kinda missing the fordst for the trees.
Biggest thing with Clovers, is to mix several species into thd yard.
Years ago, we had a brand new lawn/SAND yard.
And we planted 4 species of Clovers. Poof, 2 years later, it was blended into wonderful native grasses, which moved in on their own.
Clover is great for bees and re-flowers within three days after mowing, especially if mowed high. Only drawback I have is mowing slower so the bees and other insects have time to get out of the way. With a self-propelled on low speed (and earplugs) it makes for an easy and enjoyable stroll.
Don't go for monoculture. My lawn is a mix of Yarrow, Clover and various grass types to fill in the gap. By diversifying, you can assure that if something has an off-season, the others can fill in the gap until the other can grow strong again without weeds taking over. I personally, found the grass mix and clover combo to be my winning team. They compement each other so well. ❤
This is the answer I needed to know! Thank you!
My clover lawn stayed green through the winter and is fabulous. Tighty, soft to walk on and easy to mow. Sorry yours didn't work, but I love mine.
A lot of it comes down to zone. If yours stays green through winter then you don’t get freezing temps like a lot of the country :) glad it works for you!
Correction: There are many types of clover and you should be paying attention to what clover is native. There's tons of clover native to my state but there's some that isn't. There are 255 clover species, you definitely have a native clover you can use.
There are also plant species that are non native but are classified as safe to plant because they don't do any harm to the ecosystem and rather help the local ecosystem. Dandelions are one. They aren't native to the US but are not harmful and are actually pretty helpful because they bloom so early so pollinators benefit from them right out the gate when other flowers haven't bloomed yet.
So keep this in mind when looking to plant native species because a handfull of non native species are completely safe to plant because they don't do any damage.
Important to note::NOONE is using native clovers in a lawn sense. Show me one person using native Dalea purpurea as a lawn replacement, for example. The cheap and easily available seeds in bulk are white clover and native clover.
@@Blossomandbranch this was not directed directly at you so sorry if it seemed that way. This was directed to the people who claim "all clover is invasive" when the US does have native clover.
People are running around saying it's all invasive when in actuality it depends on the species and area because they see a few seconds of someone saying it's invasive in their area without any further specifications. My bad.
@@whoahanant don't apologize. She's a dick to anyone who makes comments that aren't in full agreement with her.
@@Blossomandbranch
Actually, many of us ARE using native clovers. Just because you didn't doesn't mean others aren't. Some of us had it growing in patches locally already and collected the seeds. Then cultivated it in our yards.
Cool thing about native plants... if you're smart about it, they don't cost a penny. Just time.
That is a beautiful red brick wall in the background. So nice to see something besides grey.
Yarrow may say it's drought proof but it's definitely a dramatic plant. I have a large patch in my turtle enclosure outside that if I don't water every so often it falls and looks gross.
I wish I had seen this before I planted clover. It has led to lots of weeds. I will be covering it & putting mulch & cloth other it. Creating a new flowerbed taking up my whole lawn.
I'm so glad I saw this video...I keep wanting to use clover and I'm not in love with the yarrow....but flowers I could do
There are many kinds of clover 🍀 and her area is probably different from yours. She didnt say what kind hers is or where she lives. Comes off sounding like we all live in the same kind of area and theres only 1 kind of clover. Your better off not taking a youtubers advice. Research your area for the plants that grow best.
If you're in a wet place (like me in Scotland) moss lawns are the way to go! Keep the leaves off in winter and water if it gets too dry (when settling in)! The right moss, the right place!
So my clover lawn is mixed with some other native grasses that are know to be very hardy with low mowing needs and I think it works the best for my red clay dirt. The clover gets established first and breaks up the clay and the grasses are now filling in the gaps. You can also pick a specific mowing height and the clover will adapt and bloom.
I LOVE YOUR IDEAS
I did clover and grass mix in northern Ontario Canada. It's been over 5 years now and I like the lawn is always green even when the grass turns brown during dry times. The bees like the clover and I mow less often. Trying to maintain a grass lawn is boring, expensive and not enviromentally friendly.
I'm allergic to grass so I love this idea. I'll slowly replacing my back yard with mint. There was already a lot when I moved so I'll put different types
That must smell nice when walking on it!
@@Blossomandbranch I little but it really smells good when I cut it
Be cautious with that, some mints put out runner roots and can be super invasive.
In Minnesota I have white clover in a turf lawn, which works just fine.
If your in New England. Try violets
They are great grounds cover and don't really grow over 7 inches in high. And the flowers can be white, blue, purple and the leaves are dark green and heart shaped.
I live on a farm and my honeybees LOVE clover. I usually only mow every two to three weeks and it takes a few days after a rain for new flowers to bloom and make them happy again. I’ve planted Dutch white clover but I have the yellow clover and other wild ‘weeds’. I live in a climate where I don’t have to worry too much about drought so I think if you have bees you should definitely check if your area is right for white Dutch clover.
I planted a combo of yarrow a few types of clover and native Irish wildflowers and its filled in really good !
You are definitely right about Clover laws. The mud in the winter is a huge negative. White Dutch clover is non-native, but is considered naturalized in most of the United States. It has an overall net positive effect to the local ecology And is definitely not worth excluding out of fear of its non-native origin. Yarrow and phacelia are not really a lawn Alternative. You’re basically just Growing a garden or meadow at that point. If you want a lawn, Then a combo of clover, self heal, lyre leaves sage, violets and cool season fescues or a no mow seed mix are the way to go. Sometimes it’s best to not be a purist over native status To achieve the goal you’re going for. And this is coming from a horticulturist Who specializes in native plants of the southern Appalachians
Love my clover lawn in north Georgia
Yarrow is a fun one. I have a little corner of my hard that's starting to be primarily yarrow.
Some clover (non-native to NA) and wood sorrels (native to NA) look similar and provide fun bursts of green color.
Little clumps of violets everywhere.
A lot of dead grass, too.
I planted clover and love it! But I raised my property due to flooding with wood chips that was free but is a carbon sink...planting clover helped trap nitrogen in the woodchips to prepare for my permaculture garden.
Clover does a lot for bee's, if the pollinate mostly clover their honey will automatically cream/crystallize. And there's other medicinal benefits for clover. And beneficial to the yard too.
It depends on the SPECIES and the PLACE . In my area in Wi we have some clover species that are on and close to being on the state’s endangered species list . There are many different types of “clover” . Check with your local DNR and or university for help identify the right species and they may be able to help you acquire that exact one.
Yes I love this, my end goal is to shift our yucky crabgrass lawn to native grasses, I like a short lawn so I’ll have to make sure I get what can handle drought and being cut short.
I’ve never done anything with our lawn. I have Buttercups and Violas that have grow in. The monkey grass that I planted around my little garden in front is starting to become our grass but very slowly. It gets mowed weekly. I always have something blooming out front. Sometimes it is a weed but once it’s cut, you can’t tell. I always keep flowers all year round. So the pollinators are always happy
Thats really weird. A channel I follow has had great success with their clover lawn and they post some really great tips for taking care of it. I'm thinking you planted a non-native clover to your area without researching beforehand. Easy mistake but one that can be solved by following your own tips. It's always best to research what it is you are planting in your lawn/garden beforehand.
We used oregano over a 12' section. Beautiful, no maintenance, year round growth.
You are suppose to mix grass seed and clover together, never plant just clover.
Try creeping thyme, my grandparents have a thyme lawn and it’s amazing
Miss you research which clover to plant? Different clovers grow better in some growing zones than others. I’m from Texas and Dutch white clover does great here.
One of my professors claimed that fescue is the reason that we have the amount of soil density that we have in our area. While not idea it is effective.
I was typing my comment out for you to plant buffalo grass but it appears you've already done that. If you get it from sod it produces flowers! Really good choice for living in an area that doesn't get a lot of rain
We had a mild winter here in Michigan last year but our clover stayed green! Not entirely sure what to expect longterm. But even cutting our clover short, it still has flowers. Curious about yarrow as a ground cover!