Weeding is important to maintaining a healthy lawn, but is everything that isn’t grass a weed? The answer to that question is often a matter of opinion. One plant whose weed status people often disagree about is clover. If you just want your yard to be a nice green space, clover is a fine alternative or addition to grass. At Cataldo Landscape & Masonry, our team is ready to help you take care of your lawn care in Newton, MA, whether that involves removing clover or leaving it alone.
Should you treat clover like a weed or leave it where it is? We’re here to answer this important question for Newton, MA, lawn care.
Is clover a weed?
Honestly, it depends on who you ask. If you don’t mind letting it grow in your yard, then it doesn’t count as a weed for practical purposes. On the other hand, if you want to get rid of it, it’s decidedly in the weed category. The type of clover growing in your yard can also tip the scale. White clover is the most common, but there are also red, yellow, and purple varieties. In small patches, clover is easy to pull up, but herbicides may be necessary for large patches if you choose to remove it from your yard.
Are there benefits to letting clover grow?
Other than easier lawn care, clover does provide some benefits for your lawn. It stays green without the use of fertilizers, and it will last through a drought. Clover can even resist dog urine, so you don’t have to worry about your furry friends messing up your lawn. Clover also releases nitrogen into the soil, improving the overall health of your lawn. Additionally, it attracts pollinators, and you don’t need to mow it because it grows close to the ground.
Does it have any drawbacks?
Replacing your grass with clover isn’t without its disadvantages. If it were the perfect alternative to grass, everyone would have it! Clover attracts bees, which is great for your flowering plants but can be a problem if you have kids. It can also spread into your garden beds, so you will have to spread mulch or pull it up to keep it out of unwanted areas. Despite being relatively low-maintenance, clover does require biannual reseeding.