Cooperative Living May 2024 - 21

GREEN THUMB
A Different
Shade
of Green
Miniclover is a trending
grass alternative
story courtesy of Family Features
I
f you're looking to renovate
your yard, there's a sustainable,
drought-tolerant alternative to
high-maintenance, water-guzzling
grass that, as a bonus, also reduces
your environmental footprint.
'Miniclover' (Trifolium repens)
is about one-third to one-half the
size of white Dutch clover, only grows
4-6 inches and produces a thick,
carpet-like look that blends well
with turf, " says Troy Hake, president
and owner of Outsidepride.com.
" It's less expensive than grass seed and
a natural solution for self-sustaining,
low-maintenance lawns that look
beautiful and help eliminate the need
for fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides
and weekly mowing.
We sold out of it
for the past two
years, even with a
two-fold increase
in production. You
can't go wrong
with it. "
Wondering
why grass gets a bad
rap? The truth is
that higher summer temperatures have
altered the natural pattern of droughts,
making them more frequent, longer
and more severe. Grass lawns, however,
are not sustainable; they're the most
maintenance-intense part of yards,
requiring regular fertilization, mowing
and heavy irrigation to look good.
Nationwide, landscape irrigation
is estimated at almost one-third of all
co-opliving.com
residential water use, totaling nearly
9 billion gallons per day. Plus, gaspowered
lawn and gardening equipment
release more than 30 million tons of
carbon emissions, according to the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's
National Emissions Inventory.
In some regions, there are
continuous, strict regulations on
watering lawns or bans on the use of
drinking water for irrigating grass.
As concerns about
water scarcity
intensify, some
homeowners
are looking for
landscaping
solutions that
minimize water
use and reduce
environmental
impact. A standout
clover
Miniclover
in this regard, Miniclover requires
significantly less water than traditional
grass to thrive. It's drought-tolerant
and has longer, deeper roots than
grass, reaching into the soil for needed
moisture, requiring minimal watering,
staying greener longer, and showing
more resiliency during periods of
drought or water restrictions.
It takes nitrogen from the air,
" fixing " it in the soil and eliminating
the need for fertilizer or nitrogen
plant food because it does the work for
you, keeping grass green and growing
while adding natural nitrogen to
surrounding soil.
Grubs won't eat it and bugs won't
lay eggs in it. It stands up to compacted
soil, plus it's immune to " dog patches. "
It fills in bare spots fast and tolerates
wet conditions. Mow as little as you
like - the more it's cut, the smaller
the leaf size - or simply let it grow
close to the ground, like grass. It
blooms only once in summer with
small, delicate flowers, which provide
bees with nectar or, if preferred,
mowing prevents blooming. It
withstands foot traffic, making it ideal
for pathways and play areas, and its
tolerance for shade makes it suitable
for areas with limited sunlight.
For homeowners looking to reclaim
weekends and minimize time and effort
spent on lawn care, Miniclover seems
like a dream. It lives up to its hype,
offering the winning combination
of environmental sustainability, very
low maintenance, drought tolerance,
aesthetic appeal and cost efficiency
that benefits not only homeowners'
properties, but planet Earth as well.
*
May 2024 * Cooperative Living * 19
PHOTOS COURTESY OUTSIDEPRIDE.COM
http://www.Outsidepride.com http://www.OUTSIDEPRIDE.COM http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living May 2024

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