Tips for sowing a clover lawn

Our clover is the world’s first ‘super clover’, created by combining the white and caucasian clover species. This benefits our clover seedings by enabling them to grow a tap root system that forms deep inside the soil. It then breaks down and creates new stems that travel through the soil, spread out and make new plants along the way! So, whether you’re sowing a clover lawn for the first time, or want some advice when overseeing, we share some tips for sowing a clover lawn to ensure it grows as well as it can.

Unlike traditional clovers that can be at risk during drought and cold conditions, our unique double rooting system enables our clovers’ roots to grow under the new plants’ surface. This means by using our clover when sowing a clover lawn, it will grow in a wider range of climates and thrive even when water is limited.

Sowing clover lawn seed

Sowing a clover lawn is easy; the process is very similar to sowing grass seed, and it can be done by simply scattering the seeds across your lawn. We recommend sowing the clover seed at a rate of 50g of seed per metre-squared. Clover also needs a temperature of 8 degrees celsius (and above) to germinate. But remember, if you’re sowing clover at the same time as grass seed (like ECO: Clover Lawn, you will need a minimum temperature of 10 degrees for the grass to germinate.

When to sow a clover lawn

Clover can be sown in the spring or autumn
Clover seed needs a soil temperature over 8 degrees Celsius to germinate
This is usually reached in mid-March in the UK
Spring-sown clover usually establishes well and can also be mixed with grass seed

How to sow a clover lawn

Dig the soil over to a depth of 20-25cm
Remove weeds by hand or use a weed killer
Add topsoil if you believe the soil to be poor quality
Rake the area to get a level seedbed
Sow the seed at our recommended rate of 50g per m2
Rake the seed in after sowing so that the seed is in amongst the soil
Firm down by foot or by using a roller to improve seed-to-soil contact

Whether you’re sowing a new clover lawn, sow between 5mm and 10mm beneath the surface. A good rule to follow is to have the seed covered in the soil with the thickness of three £1 coins stacked together.

Clover lawn seeding aftercare

Clover is a hardy but beautiful plant that requires virtually no maintenance once established. So, aside from the essential care, any other love you show your new clover lawn is down to personal preference.

Essential lawn care

Watering your clover lawn

Your new clover lawn requires watering for the first 4 weeks until you have a fully established lawn. This is because keeping clover seeds moist speeds up their germination rate. And thanks to its clever rooting system, you don’t need to water it as often as regular grass seed. This also means it is ideal for those wanting to cut back on their water usage!

Optional lawn care

Mowing your clover lawn

Clover lawns are low-growing. This means you don’t need to mow it as frequently as a regular grass lawn. However, if you trim your clover lawn, you should set your mower to the ideal height for cutting the grass.

It is also worth mentioning that you need to cut only the grass; you can set your mowing to a medium/high setting without impacting the clover.

Avoid using fertiliser on your clover lawn

Clover is a hardy plant that will outgrow most typical UK garden weeds. For the most part, clover can look after itself and doesn’t require much upkeep! But for those pesky weeds that remain, take the time to remove them by hand and don’t be tempted to use a weed-killer product, as this will target the clover! And with its nitrogen-fixing ability, a clover lawn will produce more than enough nitrogen to keep your garden green and healthy without needing to add additional fertiliser!