Why We Selected A Clover Garden As a substitute Of Grass (This Time)

I really feel like I’m about to step into an opinion minefield at present. Deciding to do a clover garden in a single space of the property has been oddly polarizing. I’m not an knowledgeable, so don’t use me as your sole level of analysis, however we did go for a clover garden as a substitute of conventional turf this time, and at present I’ll speak about why (and the way I really feel about it). I’ve wished clover eternally, however I used to be alone up to now. So many specialists (each in individual and on-line) assume it’s a implausible new various to lawns, and different specialists within the discipline (LOL) say it is going to break your landscaping that you simply’ve simply invested in. My typical strategy (on something) is to do a ton of analysis after which notice that, like every part, it’s nuanced, is dependent upon numerous issues, and lands someplace within the center. I additionally usually attempt to take heed to individuals with probably the most real-world expertise in something, and but generally old-school people don’t need to danger one thing new as a result of they’ve been educated to hate it. With clover, apparently, farmers used to adore it, then “huge herbicide” demonized clover as a weed, and the remainder is historical past. 4 years in the past, throughout section 1, I proposed a clover garden after being closely influenced by commenters throughout our synthetic turf dialog in Arrowhead (which I don’t remorse for one second, btw – it completely made sense for the no-irrigation-allowed dry landscaping). Up right here in Oregon, I used to be met by “Clover as a substitute of grass? Are you nuts?” However I used to be uneducated (exterior of web looking out) and outnumbered, so I didn’t struggle for my clover garden. Grass it was. And hear, grass lawns thrive in Oregon, we’ve numerous rain, 8-9 months of the 12 months, and many individuals don’t irrigate in any respect. I like our grass lawns, combined a bit naturally with clover, and completely imperfect. Final weekend we had six households over for a full day BBQ that went till 11 pm, the place 16 youngsters performed ghosts within the graveyard, gymnastics, soccer, frisbee, and soccer for HOURS. Grass is finest for this. Does it take numerous water in the summertime? Yep. However we invested in recommissioning our nicely, which is what we irrigate with. Might we’ve completed a clover garden as a substitute? Perhaps! However we not too long ago seeded clover by the paddock, and at present we’re discussing all of it. Maintain studying to test it out.

What’s The Beef With Actual Grass Lawns???

There’s a new motion that’s definitely in opposition to the normal garden. Like so many issues proper now, the loudest voices appear to be passionately in opposition to what most of us have deemed kinda regular, inflicting us to critically rethink all of it. From what I’ve researched and discovered, listed below are the factors that appear to make sense to me:

1. Grass lawns are excessive upkeep (each day watering and weekly mowing).
2. They create a monoculture (one species, not making a biodiverse atmosphere for bees and butterflies, and different native crops to thrive).
3. They deplete assets (water).
4. They’re usually handled with chemical substances (fertilizers and herbicides – glyphosate from Roundup are seen to be universally generally known as AWFUL and probably one of many worst demons to the environment and our our bodies).

Oh, however then there’s the “no-lawn” motion, which is a mixture of pea gravel, DG, and low-drought shrubs, which may look nice in a entrance yard, however doesn’t make sense for lots of households. Clover garden versus a grass garden felt like an actual various. I’m certain in lots of areas, all of the above factors are very true (I’ve by no means been a “good inexperienced garden” individual, I’m from rural Oregon). However, the vibe of most of the articles can usually be pretentious, as if these of us who desire a garden are only for “suburban present” – it’s not. For us, not less than, a lot life occurs on lawns with younger youngsters, and in Oregon, it thrives with out further water nearly year-round. It’s largely set it and overlook it. Or possibly we’re simply primary 🙂

Let’s Go Clover Lawns!

The hype in direction of having a clover garden is that this:

1. Low upkeep as a result of it requires far much less water and mowing than grass.
2. Eco-friendly, utilizing nitrogen that acts as a pure fertilizer within the soil.
3. Attracts and feeds pollinators like bees and different helpful bugs.
4. It’s gentle, cool, and fairly! I like the look of clover. Actually, I like the look of clover combined with grass (so sue me). And in scorching summers it’s method cooler on toes 🙂
5. It’s evergreen or semi-evergreen. Yr-round with out irrigation for probably the most half – it would go dormant in August, however in any other case requires little or no as soon as established.
6. Tremendous low cost – as soon as the soil is prepped, it’s simply seeds, which will be underneath $50.

The Cons Of Clover:

This appears to be extra anecdotal, however each a historically educated former landscaper of ours and our trusted upkeep man, Domingo (who has been taking good care of Oregon yards for 30 years), each painted a possible horror image of deliberately utilizing clover. They claimed clover lawns will take over every part – lawns, backyard beds, and would choke out fairly shrubs and annuals. And when you’ve two specialists with a long time of various kinds of expertise warning you to not do one thing, you hear, proper? However what in the event that they care about lawns in a method that I don’t? We like a extra pure, rustic vibe. I don’t thoughts clover combined in with our turf – the truth is, I LIKE IT. We like overgrown and wild. We do NOT like manicured (I even hate once they edge the garden, TBH). On the similar time, we planted these beautiful beds stuffed with perennials that have to thrive!

P.S. That is our new space that I actually don’t need to get ruined, and you may see the clover within the again simply beginning to develop.

Stage 2 Landscaping – We Went With A Clover Garden (However Not At First)

As you realize for stage 2 of our landscaping, we employed Dennis’ 7 Dees to revamp the realm underneath the previous sport courtroom and to make the realm by the barn and paddock merely higher (and really couldn’t have been happier). Eric despatched via the design plan beneath:

We beloved the unique plan – a mixture of flagstone, bushes, shrubs, and perennials. However the $$$ numbers had been greater than we wished, and Brian and I panicked. We shortly prioritized our finances and deprioritized the realm on the high, alongside the cut up rail fence by the barn. It simply wasn’t that essential to us. Certain, we didn’t need it to appear like rubbish, however that space in and of itself was going to price $40k – demo, irrigation, a ton of stonework, planting, bushes, shrubs, lighting, and many others. Right here’s what that space seemed like earlier than:

Each winter it was inexperienced, wild, and stuffed with weeds (which we didn’t thoughts, TBH), and each summer season it was so dry and ugly (which we did thoughts). However this space is extra utility – it’s the place Brian wheelbarrows the meals to the animals, and youngsters stand on the fence to feed the animals. It didn’t have to be fairly, simply higher than it was.

Might this be the clover alternative I’ve been ready for?? So this time I relied closely on Dennis’ 7 Dees to assist us make our clover determination. They confirmed the entire above and gave us much more perception.

1. Clover adjustments all year long—lush and blooming in spring, thinner in summer season, then rebounding in fall. (Nice by me!)
2. They confirmed it wants reseeding each 2–3 years to remain dense (Straightforward! Particularly since they’re additionally our upkeep group, so that they’ll keep on high of this) – P.S. Extra if there’s harsh climate.
3. Much less excellent for heavy play zones with out occasional mowing (true, which is why we additionally love having a standard turf garden for teenagers to play).
4. Upkeep in Oregon is low:
   • Watering: Wants solely occasional water in dry spells after it’s established.
   • Mowing: Optionally available—some mow each few weeks to handle blooms, others let it develop freely with minimal mowing (that’s us!).

DONE. We had been into it. Let’s avoid wasting dough, make our yard look extra pure, and feed these bees and soil on the similar time.

The Course of And What We Selected:

Eric and Dennis’ 7 Dees got here again with this particular suggestion (as a result of they’re execs): “PT 755 Fleur de Garden, a premium eco-lawn seed mix that features micro-clover and a mixture of flowering, low-growing species. It’s designed to be drought-tolerant, pollinator-friendly, and gentle underfoot—good for areas the place a standard garden won’t make sense”. Sounded GREAT to me. This complete space price $3k, whereas the unique plan was clearly a lot rather more.

Since we had been hiring out for this, they did it professionally – demoing out the garden, bringing in new/higher soil, leveling all of it for draining, soil, then ready for spring to unfold the seed. No irrigation. Our job could be to mist it each day for 10 minutes when it didn’t rain to ascertain the seeds (which was laborious to recollect, TBH). Right here’s what it appears to be like like 3 months in:

I LOVE IT. It makes me so completely happy. That is most likely as a result of I’m from rural Oregon and it simply jogs my memory of my childhood. Right here are some things to bear in mind from the specialists:

Upkeep in Oregon:

• Watering: Wants solely occasional irrigation in dry spells after it’s established.
• Mowing: Optionally available—some mow each few weeks to handle blooms, others let it develop freely with minimal mowing
• Reseeding: Anticipate to overseed each couple of years, particularly after excessive foot visitors or harsh climate.

Seasonal Care Rhythm:

• Spring: Let it bloom and thrive with seasonal rains, mow down and permit grassier look to develop.
• Summer season: drought tolerant clover will take over to compensate for garden dieback. Irrigated as desired.
• Fall: With rain, it fills again in like a gentle inexperienced carpet garden look.
• Winter: It might skinny or get mucky, however bounces again in spring.

Why Dennis’ 7 Dees Recommends It In Sure Tasks:

“Clover and eco lawns aren’t a one-size-fits-all resolution, however they’re an incredible possibility for giant, low-traffic areas the place sustainability and ease matter. We’re all the time searching for methods to scale back inputs (water, fertilizer, labor) and help pollinators—this selection checks all these packing containers whereas nonetheless feeling stunning and considerate. It’s a ‘Design with nature, not in opposition to it’ strategy.”

If you happen to aren’t completed speaking about clover but, right here is extra from our present account supervisor, Emily Smiley (how nice is her identify??):

“The nice clover debate is actual. Garden purists say it’s weedy and wild; environmentalists say lawns are outdated, interval. I say: know your targets and select what serves your area finest. Typically that’s a manicured garden. Typically it’s a pollinator meadow. And generally, it’s a patch of clover that prices a fraction of conventional landscaping and makes your yard really feel intentional. Clover isn’t good, however neither is turf. As a panorama designer and gardener, I imagine in designing with nature; not in opposition to it. This particular selection softens the area, helps Pure Pollinators(!!) and reduces our environmental footprint with out giving up on aesthetic magnificence.”

“This isn’t a turf alternative—it’s a real eco-lawn that works with the seasons, not in opposition to them.”

So How Do We Really feel About It?

I couldn’t be happier. BIG FAN. In some locations, it’s taller? Different locations it’s extra like floor cowl. I like the way it appears to be like gentle and pure, vivid inexperienced, and simple. Imperfect, wild, however not uncontrolled, and simply so applicable for our area. It’s taking on the boxwood a bit, which we will’t inform if we care about (we put in these shrubs after the clover as a ball barrier), so we would carve out a moat round these crops with mulch. Straightforward repair. All in all, we adore it. Now, if we might simply plant it in that brown paddock, with out the alpacas and pigs consuming it earlier than it might develop (which might by no means occur – such pigs!).

*Pictures by Kaitlin Inexperienced