Introduction
Tired of fighting weeds, bald spots, and endless fertilizer bills? There’s a simple, eco-friendly way to build a greener, healthier yard: learning how to use clover to improve your lawn. Once viewed as an unwanted weed, clover is making a huge comeback — and for good reason. Clover naturally feeds your soil, fills in bare patches, and stays green even when grass struggles. This complete step-by-step guide shows you exactly how to add clover to your lawn for a beautiful, low-maintenance yard.
Why Clover Is Good for Your Lawn
For decades, homeowners have spent time and money trying to get rid of clover — but it’s actually one of the best allies for a healthy lawn. Here’s why:
✅ Natural nitrogen fixer: Clover pulls nitrogen from the air and adds it back into the soil, feeding your grass naturally.
✅ Stays green in drought: Clover tolerates dry conditions better than many grass species.
✅ Chokes out weeds: It fills bare spots and crowds out common weeds.
✅ Soft, lush feel: Clover is soft underfoot and stays green from spring through fall.
✅ Supports pollinators: White clover flowers attract bees and other beneficial insects.
Clover helps you use less fertilizer, less water, and fewer chemicals — all while improving soil health.
Step-by-Step Guide to Using Clover in Your Lawn
1. Pick the Right Clover Variety
The best clover for lawns is white clover (Trifolium repens), specifically dwarf varieties like Dutch white clover. It grows low (2–8 inches tall), spreads well, and blends nicely with most turfgrasses.
✅ Microclover is another great option — it has smaller leaves, fewer flowers (good for kids/pets), and mixes beautifully with grass.
2. Decide How You Want to Use Clover
There are three main ways to use clover in your yard:
1️⃣ Mixed Lawn: Overseed clover into your existing grass for a blended, natural look.
2️⃣ Clover Patches: Fill in bare or problem spots with clover to crowd out weeds.
3️⃣ Full Clover Lawn: Replace all or part of your lawn with pure clover for a lush, low-maintenance groundcover.
3. Time It Right
The best time to plant clover is spring (mid-April to mid-June) or early fall (late August to early September) when temperatures are mild and rainfall helps seeds germinate.
4. Prep the Lawn
Good soil contact is key for clover to thrive.
✅ Mow your lawn shorter than usual (about 1.5–2 inches) to expose the soil.
✅ Rake up debris and thatch.
✅ If you have compacted soil, aerate the area to help seeds settle in and grow.
5. Seed Your Clover
✅ How much to use: A general rule is about 1–2 ounces of clover seed per 1,000 square feet if overseeding into grass.
✅ Mix seeds with sand or sawdust to help spread them evenly.
✅ Broadcast seeds by hand or use a spreader, depending on the area.
✅ Lightly rake the soil or use your foot to press seeds down — clover seeds need good soil contact but shouldn’t be buried too deep.
6. Water Consistently
Keep the area moist for the first 2–3 weeks to help seeds sprout and establish roots.
✅ Water lightly once or twice daily if there’s no rain.
✅ Once clover is established, it needs less water than traditional grass.
7. Mow High and Infrequently
Once your clover starts growing, mow it with your regular grass to encourage it to spread and blend in.
✅ Keep your mower at about 3 inches to balance clover and grass growth.
✅ Don’t mow too short — taller clover shades out weeds and holds soil moisture.
8. Skip the Fertilizer (Mostly)
One of the best things about clover is its natural nitrogen-fixing ability. It feeds your lawn for free!
✅ Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers — they can give grass an unfair advantage and outcompete the clover.
✅ A light topdressing of compost each year is enough to keep soil healthy.
9. Limit Herbicide Use
Broadleaf weed killers will kill clover too. If you need to treat weeds, pull them by hand or spot-treat carefully. A healthy clover-grass mix will naturally crowd out most weeds over time.
10. Reseed Bare Spots If Needed
Clover spreads well but isn’t bulletproof. Heavy foot traffic, extreme drought, or harsh winters can thin patches.
✅ Overseed any thin spots each spring or fall to keep your clover lawn thick and healthy.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Planting Clover Too Deep
Solution: Clover seeds need light — press them into the soil but don’t bury them more than ¼ inch.
Mistake 2: Using Weed-and-Feed Products
Solution: Skip broadleaf herbicides or they’ll kill your clover along with the weeds.
Mistake 3: Over-Fertilizing with Nitrogen
Solution: Clover makes its own nitrogen! Heavy fertilizing just encourages grass to take over.
Mistake 4: Overwatering or Letting Soil Dry Out Too Soon
Solution: Keep soil consistently moist until seedlings are well established.
Mistake 5: Expecting a Perfect Lawn Overnight
Solution: Clover takes a season or two to fully blend and fill in — but the payoff is worth it.
Extra Lawn Care Tips & Hacks
✅ Try Clover With Native Grasses: Clover mixes beautifully with drought-tolerant fescues or ryegrass for a hardy, resilient lawn.
✅ Add Wildflowers: Combine clover with a few low-growing wildflowers to create a mini meadow that supports pollinators.
✅ Don’t Panic About Bees: Clover attracts bees, which is great for your garden — but mow just before flowering to limit blooms if bee allergies are a concern.
💡 Related read: Check out our guide on [how to overseed your lawn] to keep your lawn thick and healthy every season.
Conclusion
Adding clover to your lawn is one of the easiest ways to boost soil health, crowd out weeds, and reduce the need for water and fertilizers. Whether you mix it in with existing turf, patch bare spots, or create a lush clover lawn, you’ll save time and money while helping the environment.
Bookmark this guide and try a patch of clover this season — your lawn (and the bees) will thank you!