Clover in the garden, a wealth for the soil

What many consider an intruder to be eliminated, to be eradicated from gardens as soon as possible, even at the cost of using chemical herbicides, is instead a great resource for us. In fact, clover, within lawns and gardens, represents a great wealth for the soil, thanks to the supply of nutrients and other very useful substances with which it contributes to the life of the soil.

Apart from clover and other small weeds on which we advise against obsession, to keep the birth or eventual dominance of other weeds in the garden under control, we always advise against the use of chemical herbicides. There are many natural methods to take care of the garden and keep weeds away, without the need to use polluting substances.

1. A lush garden without herbicides is possible
2. No to obsession over small weeds
3. The richness of clover in the garden

A lush garden without herbicides is possible

Herbicides may seem like allies for garden management, because they help keep weeds away. However, they are very harmful substances to the soil, which need a lot of time to be broken down and end up causing much more damage than the benefits they bring. In fact, they are substances that cause the very dangerous chemical pollution, and their elimination from our gardens is essential to have a healthy lawn and life. Therefore, we advise against the use of chemical herbicides, which would be superfluous with our alternative lawns: all varieties of our groundcover plants, once the area is closed, manage to have good control over weeds, without the need for artificial tricks.

To keep weeds under control, we recommend mowing two to six times a year, in order to contain them and stimulate the horizontal growth of the alternative lawn. It is also very important to follow precisely the instructions regarding the irrigation to be carried out. Once the initial phase is over and the lawn has completely taken root, a few but abundant emergency irrigations per year will be necessary. In this way, the water supply will be sufficient to support the low-water-requirement plants during periods of heat and drought, and will instead be too meager for the growth of weeds, which will dry out during the driest periods.

No to obsession over small weeds

However, weeds are not necessarily an enemy. Small ones, like clover, contribute to the biodiversity of the garden, making it healthier and more resistant. As we will never tire of reminding, mixing different varieties of plants will guarantee a pleasant lawn in every season. A garden rich in biodiversity will not suffer from diseases, and will not require the intervention of chemical products to eradicate them, because its natural balance will protect it. On the contrary, however, a garden with fewer varieties or a monoculture not only has a higher chance of getting sick, but also impoverishes the soil. A good and healthy biodiversity, on the other hand, can only do good to the garden. And it is not limited to different varieties of lawn, but also includes the presence of small weeds which, not being too invasive, only enrich the garden.

This biodiversity, first of all, feeds the soil, nourishing it with different substances and making it healthier. In addition, the aesthetic aspect also benefits from it, as it helps to obtain diluted and constant blooms all year round. When in our lawns we come across clover or other small weeds, we never eradicate them. They are small plants and, therefore, they do not take light away from the plants nor penalize their growth. Their life is short, because with the arrival of heat these plants disappear and, moreover, they greatly enrich the soil thanks to their characteristics.

The richness of clover in the garden

Clover is a herbaceous plant belonging to the legume family. It is an annual or biennial plant, rarely perennial, that does not exceed 30 centimeters in height. Contrary to what is believed, it is not a harmful weed, but a great resource for other plants. In fact, very often it is believed that it can take away nutrients but, in reality, it only enriches the soil. It is very useful in all situations where classic grasses do not adapt to the soil or climate, since it is a plant particularly resistant to temperature fluctuations, which adapts to almost all types of soil.

Clover can be part of the alternative lawn. Here at BotanicalDryGarden, when it grows, we are very happy. During its life, which will inevitably end at the beginning of summer, it manages to store considerable amounts of nitrogen in the soil, which will go on to feed the lawn plants, making the soil richer and the garden healthier. Furthermore, in winter clover protects the lawn from the cold. In the case of Lippia or Zoysia, which suffer from frosts during this period, it helps to give a touch of green to the lawn. To keep the lawn tidy, we simply recommend mowing it a few more times during the hot periods. And, above all,  to consider this plant no longer a problem, but a resource.