With energy and water costs on the rise, many people are looking for ways to cut down on their monthly expenses. One way to do this is by planting a drought-tolerant lawn. Clover is a great option for a drought-tolerant lawn because it is a hardy plant that can survive in low-water conditions. Let’s look at how to plant clover in the fall.
What you need to know about clover:
Clover (Trifolium spp.) is a legume that belongs to the pea family. It is a low-growing plant that has small, round leaves and clusters of small flowers that can be white, yellow, pink, or red. Clover is a fast-growing plant, and it is often used as a cover crop or ground cover.
Clover is also a nitrogen-fixing plant, which means that it helps to improve the quality of the soil. As a result of being beneficial to the plants that surround it, clover is often referred to as “green manure”.
Can you plant clover in the fall?
Yes, you can plant clover in the fall, but there will be some factors that you have to take into consideration. More about that in a few.
If you’re trying to determine the best time to plant clover, that should be when the frost has cleared and the nighttime temperature is about 40ºF or warmer.
As such, the best time to plant your clover plants should be in the spring. To be more precise, you will want to plant from mid-April to mid-May. That way, it will be easier to take advantage of the spring rains.
If, however, irrigation is not a problem, you can seed clover late in the summer up to early autumn. When planting this period, you want to be as early as six weeks prior to the first heavy frost.
Keep in mind that you can plant through the winter if freezing temperatures are not common in your region.
Which USDA hardiness zone is appropriate?
The two main varieties of clover that you would want to choose from when planting are the white and red clover types.
For the Dutch white clover (Trifolium repens), it’s recommended that you plant within hardiness zones 3-10. Red clover will, on the other hand, do best in hardiness zones 3-9.
Other clover planting basics
Now that you know more about when to plant, let’s move on to some of the other basics.
Pollination
Clover is a very easy plant to take care of. White clover is self-fertile, so you don’t have to worry about pollination, and it is also resistant to most pests and diseases.
Even for the varieties that are self-sterile, you don’t really have to worry about pollination. That’s in consideration that these plants easily attract bees, which help with pollination.
Light requirements
As for the sun, clover does best in partial sunlight. It is, however, tolerant of full sunlight, as long as the soil is moist.
Soil
When it comes to soil, clover prefers well-drained soils that are high in organic matter. The ideal soil pH for clover is between 6.0 and 7.0.
Watering
Clover is a drought-tolerant plant, so it doesn’t require a lot of water. It is, however, important to keep the soil moist when the plant is young. Once the plant is established, it can withstand periods of drought. Keep in mind that your plant will have a slowed rate of spreading as it grows in dry conditions, so you don’t have to worry about that.
Fertilization
Clover is a nitrogen-fixing plant, so it doesn’t need to be fertilized. In fact, too much nitrogen can actually be harmful to the plant. The fact that you won’t have to fertilize this plant means that you’re going to save a lot of time, money, and effort.
Those are resources that you can redirect to other areas of your lawn or yard. So, if you’re trying to landscape on a budget, you might want to give clover some thought.
So, Is clover a good plant for fall?
As you can see, clover is a very versatile plant. It’s perfect for those who want to landscape on a budget and don’t have a lot of time to spare. It’s also easy to take care of, which makes it a great plant for beginners.
So, if you’re looking for a plant that you can put on your fall lawn, clover is a great option. Just make sure to take into consideration the factors that we’ve discussed in this article, and you’ll be well on your way to having a beautiful lawn.
Happy planting!