Yes, you can plant clover directly over existing grass, a practice commonly known as overseeding. This technique is popular among homeowners seeking a more sustainable and lower-maintenance alternative to traditional turfgrass monocultures. Integrating clover, which was once a standard component in grass seed mixes, creates a mixed lawn that capitalizes on the strengths of both plant types. The resulting turf, often utilizing a dwarf variety called microclover, offers a balanced aesthetic while reducing the need for intensive care.
The Practical Advantages of Integrating Clover
Clover acts as a natural fertilizer for the entire lawn due to its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. As a legume, it forms a symbiotic relationship with Rhizobia bacteria in its root nodules, converting nitrogen gas into a usable form for surrounding plants. This continuous nitrogen input can significantly reduce or eliminate the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, saving money and lessening environmental impact.
The plant’s deep, extensive root system provides an advantage during periods of low rainfall. Clover is highly drought-tolerant and remains green much longer than many common turfgrasses when water is scarce. This resilience ensures the lawn retains a vibrant color throughout the summer without the frequent watering required by a grass-only lawn. The dense, spreading growth habit of clover also naturally shades out and suppresses the germination of broadleaf weeds.
Mixing clover into the lawn reduces overall maintenance requirements. Clover grows more slowly and reaches a shorter height than most turfgrasses, translating to less frequent mowing. When mowing, leaving the clippings allows the clover’s nitrogen-rich material to decompose, further feeding the grass and improving soil health. This combination of drought tolerance, self-fertilization, and slower growth leads to a more robust, low-effort lawn.
Choosing the Right Clover Variety for Your Lawn
Selecting the correct clover species is important since different varieties have growth habits that affect the lawn’s appearance and maintenance. White Dutch Clover (Trifolium repens) is the traditional and most common choice for lawns. It spreads rapidly via stolons and produces numerous small, white flowers attractive to pollinators. This variety typically grows 4 to 8 inches tall, which may be taller than some prefer for a manicured lawn.
A popular modern alternative is Microclover, a dwarf cultivar of white clover with smaller leaves and a more compact growth pattern. Microclover is favored for mixed lawns because it blends more uniformly with turfgrass, grows closer to the ground, and flowers less frequently than the traditional Dutch variety. This lower-growing habit makes it more tolerant of frequent, low mowing and better suited for high-traffic areas.
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) is not recommended for mixing into a standard lawn. It has an upright growth habit, grows significantly taller (often reaching 12 to 18 inches), and tends to form dense clumps that look less uniform when mixed with grass. Red clover is better utilized as a cover crop or in meadow-like settings rather than in a closely mown lawn.
Step-by-Step Guide to Overseeding Clover Into Grass
The most effective time to overseed clover is during the mild temperatures of early spring or late summer or early fall. Planting during these periods ensures the seeds have adequate moisture and avoids the stress of extreme heat during germination. The first step is to prepare the existing turf by mowing it very short, often called “scalping,” to a height of one to two inches.
Immediately after mowing, the soil surface must be exposed to allow for proper seed-to-soil contact, achieved by vigorously raking or dethatching the area. Clover seeds are small and will not sprout if buried too deeply, so the goal is to lightly roughen the top quarter-inch of soil. If the lawn is heavily compacted, core aeration before seeding can improve success rates.
Clover seed should be broadcast over the prepared surface at a rate of one-quarter to one-third pound per 1,000 square feet for an existing lawn. Because the seeds are tiny, they are often mixed with a carrier like fine sand or sawdust to ensure even distribution during application. After spreading, lightly rake the area again to ensure the seeds settle into the soil crevices without being buried more than a quarter-inch deep.
The first two weeks following seeding are important for establishment, requiring consistent and gentle moisture. The seedbed must be kept continuously damp until the seeds germinate, which typically takes one to two weeks. Avoid heavy foot traffic on the newly seeded areas, and postpone the first mowing until the clover plants are well-established to prevent uprooting the seedlings.
Potential Drawbacks and Necessary Management Adjustments
One concern with a clover-grass mix is the attraction of pollinators, particularly bees, when the clover flowers. While the flowers provide a food source for beneficial insects, those with allergies or families with small children may consider this a hazard, especially when walking barefoot. Using microclover, which produces fewer and smaller blooms, can help mitigate this.
Clover leaves contain pigments that can cause temporary green staining on clothing, pet fur, or shoes, particularly when the plants are crushed or wet. A mixed lawn requires changes to traditional lawn care practices, notably concerning fertilization and weed control. Since clover fixes its own nitrogen, applying high-nitrogen fertilizers will primarily benefit the grass, causing it to outcompete and suppress the clover.
Homeowners must be aware that most broadleaf herbicides used to control weeds in traditional turfgrass will also kill the clover. Weed management in a clover-grass lawn must rely on manual removal or selective herbicides that do not harm legumes. While clover is durable, high-impact areas, such as sports fields, can still struggle, and it may require occasional reseeding every few years to maintain an even distribution.