Microclover lawns. A drought-resistant green oasis for gardens

A well-maintained lawn is a wonderful decoration for a plot or a home garden. However, it's difficult to preserve it when increasingly severe heatwaves and droughts arrive. It might be worth considering a different solution that is more resistant to weather conditions. Bare patches will disappear.

An ideal lawn requires a lot of effort – regular mowing and watering during the increasingly frequent drought periods. Drying grass turns yellow, and over time, characteristic dry patches form on the lawn, completely ruining the gardener's effort. Is there any way to remedy this? It turns out there is, because there is an inconspicuous plant capable of saving the green carpet.

Microclover is one of the varieties of white clover with a miniature habit. It has low requirements, so it will quickly establish itself in all soil types. It is small (reaching a height of about 2.5 to 7.5 cm), proliferates, and is resistant to drought and various damages: trampling, crushing, and destruction by violent down, ours, or hail.

A lawn with micro clover is an excellent alternative to traditional grass. Combine the seeds of these two plants and sow as usual, or buy a specially prepared mixture at a gardening store. Thanks to such an addition, the lawn will grow dense, compact, and healthy and not need fertilizing. The small leaves and flowers of the clover will add a unique charm to it.

The area designated for sowing is thoroughly dug over and cleared of weeds or other contaminants we happen to come across. Finally, level it out and sow the seed mixture (at least 10 percent microclover in the mix). The lawn with micro clover is best sown in early spring when the frosts are over and the temperature is above 10 degrees Celsius. Water it regularly for the first few weeks; afterward, you don't need to do so as often.

Microclover can also be sown as a correction if a previously established lawn struggles with heat waves and begins to yellow and dry out. In this case, we enrich it with clover seeds and wait for the results. In a short time, it should strengthen.

Thanks to clover, even a lawn already severely damaged by drought will quickly become denser, and yellow or dried-out patches will disappear. Such a green carpet no longer needs additional fertilizing, as the clover binds nitrogen from the air, providing nourishment. It also aerates the soil and serves as an excellent cover crop—a green, ecological fertilizer perfect for enriching the soil.

A lawn with microclover essentially has no drawbacks, though some might not find it aesthetically pleasing. Such a lawn will never be perfectly uniform. However, it fits much better with a natural garden, which is in line with the latest trends supporting biodiversity (it is friendly to bees and other beneficial insects).