Boost Your Lawn’s Pollinator Appeal with Miniclover®

Many gardeners are reducing lawn maintenance and boosting its bee appeal by incorporating a microclover, like Miniclover®. White clover used to be common in lawns and was included in grass seed mixes as a nurse crop. It works with a bacterium to fix atmospheric nitrogen, providing this nutrient to the grass plants.  When broadleaf herbicides were introduced in the 1950s, clover suddenly became viewed as a lawn weed that many felt needed to be eliminated.

Clovers are still considered a weed by some, while others are adding it to their lawns to improve grass growth using less fertilizer while supporting pollinators. While white clovers can form clumps and outcompete with traditional lawn grasses, micro clovers, like Outsidepride’s Miniclover® with Nitro-Coat (outsidepride.com), have smaller leaves and are less aggressive. They also help prevent soil compaction, reduce nutrient runoff, and compete with weeds. Plus, the bees will benefit from these nutritious sources of nectar and pollen that their long bloom season provides.

Miniclover bee lawns include traditional lawn grasses combined with other hardy grasses like fine fescues as well as warm-season centipede grass. Kentucky bluegrass and Bermuda grass also combine well with bee-friendly plants but require more ongoing care than fescues and centipede grass. You’ll be creating a more diverse lawn that not only appeals to bees but is more resilient to pests and environmental stressors than traditional lawn grass. Consult your local university extension service for help in selecting the best lawn grasses for your area.

Like any new addition to the landscape or garden, it requires some effort. But once established, you’ll be spending less time with ongoing care, like watering, mowing and fertilization.

Start by evaluating your current lawn situation. If grass is growing well in the area, so will a bee lawn. This is not an all or nothing endeavor, and like any new undertaking, starting small is always a good strategy.

Even though Miniclover tolerates dog and foot traffic, consider converting just lesser-used spaces. This allows bees and butterflies to forage in peace. And even though native bees are docile and typically don’t sting, neither kids nor bees want to share the same space.

Keep your neighbors in mind when selecting a space for your bee lawn. Those neighbors with pristine lawns may be less tolerant of your bee lawn. Selecting areas surrounded by walks and drives will also help keep aggressive plants in bounds.

Consider starting your bee lawn by overseeding Outsidepride’s Miniclover® with Nitro-Coat into your existing lawn. This Miniclover seed is coated with an inoculant for better establishment. Clover is adaptable, tolerating foot traffic and drought, and it blooms for a long period, providing bees with a high-sugar-content nectar and protein-rich pollen. Miniclover® can also be combined with other bee-friendly plants. You can seed these at the same time or add them later as you expand your bee lawn. 

Sow Miniclover® seed in late winter, early spring, or late summer in the south and early spring or late summer in the north. Outsidepride’s Miniclover® with Nitro-Coat is coated with an inoculum that aids in establishment and it can be planted using no-till, minimum-till, and broadcast seeding techniques. Use one to two pounds of seed for every 1,000 square feet. Miniclover® typically sprouts in five to seven days when sown in warm, moist soil. Even though it is not native, research found clover attracts and supports a diverse group of native bees.

Once your bee lawn is established, mow high, at least three inches, so the flowering plants can bloom and support the bees and other visiting pollinators. Leave grass clippings on the lawn. This is a good practice for both traditional and bee lawns. Short clippings break down quickly, adding moisture and nutrients back to the soil. Those that include Miniclover clippings will provide even more nitrogen for the lawn.

You’ll only need to water established Miniclover lawns during extended dry periods and apply little or no fertilizer. Skip the weedkillers that can kill your Miniclover and the pesticides that can harm the pollinators you are trying to attract.

Increase your landscape’s pollinator appeal further by growing more bee- and pollinator-friendly plants in your gardens. Helping these important members of our community is good for the environment and all of us.

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