Traditional Lawns
There's more than one way for your lawn to be healthy. Reducing or eliminating pesticides is a healthy option for your family, pets, and neighbours. A healthy lawn is created by feeding the soil rather than the grass. If you nourish the soil, most weeds will be crowded out over time.
Alternative Lawns
There are many attractive and ecologically important options. White Dutch clover is one of the most popular choices due to its many benefits or consider a Xeriscape alternative.
Clover - Friend or Foe?
There are pure clover lawns and mixed-grass clover lawns. For play areas and other higher traffic locations, mixed lawns are best. For low to moderate traffic areas, clover only may do fine. Pure clover lawns may take more effort to establish. Clover and grass are complementary and support one another.
Advantages of clover include:
- stays green all summer using less water than grass
- requires little mowing
- grows well in poor soil conditions
- immune to dog spots
- attracts beneficial insects that feed on aphids, scales, whiteflies, and other garden pests
- aerates the soil on its own
- never needs nitrogren application, it creates its own fertilizer
- out competes most weeds
- is inexpensive
Visit your local garden centre to inquire about clover availablity. Learn more about the advantages, disadvantages and tips for starting a clover lawn here.
Xeriscaping
Xeriscaping is water conservation through creative landscaping. The principles of xeriscaping can be applied to any landscape style and can be as plain or elaborate as you desire. Learn more about xeriscaping.