A healthy, green lawn can significantly improve your Bellingham rental property’s curb appeal. But for single-family rental property owners, traditional lawn maintenance can often be a problem. If you are dependent on your tenants for lawn maintenance, you should expect varying results. Many tenants do not have any knowledge of lawn maintenance or may not want to put in the time and effort required.
Your other option is to do it yourself or hire professional landscapers, both of which cost time and money. If you want less struggle with lawn maintenance and still keep a green yard, clover may be the way to go. Let us look at the advantages planting clover offers single-family rental property owners.
Pros & Cons to Growing Clover
Unlike most lawn grasses, clover has many benefits that can help boost your rental’s landscaping and appearance. For one, clovers are plants that fix atmospheric nitrogen, which all plants need to grow. This means that planting clover will not just make your lawn a vivid green, it will also help nearby plants grow healthier.
Drought-resistant clover also tends to stay greener longer than most grasses do with just regular watering. Clover, which is a natural weed and pest deterrent, also significantly reduces the need to spray for bugs or weeding the lawn. Finally, clover is very low maintenance. It only grows a few inches in height, meaning you don’t need to mow much at all.
These benefits come with a few disadvantages as well. Clover is more prone to trampling than most grasses and can stain clothing. If your yard gets a lot of use, this could be an issue. Clover also likes soil that stays moist, and it doesn’t do very well in very dry climates, like desert regions. If you choose to use clover, you would benefit from choosing one native to your area.
How to Plant
Clover is easy to plant and grow in many parts of the country. If you have an existing grass lawn, you can rake the top layer of soil and then seed clover right over the lawn. The clover will grow with the grass, enriching the soil and making the grass healthier. If you prefer to use clover as a groundcover without any grass mixed in, you will need to start with damp, cultivated soil.
Just like how you would prepare for a lawn or wildflower garden, you prepare the ground and then sow the clover seeds. Clover grows quickly and you will soon have a low-maintenance carpet of rich, green beauty.
Clover Types
Before you plant clover in your rental property’s yard, you have to first choose the best variety that fits your soils and climate. The clover most people use in lawns is Dutch white clover. This variety grows to about 4 – 6 inches in height and has white flower blooms from time to time. This variety has gained popularity because of its resistance to drought. It also doesn’t grow too tall, but the flowers bother some people and must be mowed every few weeks.
Another even easier variety to maintain is the micro-clover. Micro-clovers are smaller than other clovers, with leaves half the size. It rarely blooms and, with occasional mowing, doesn’t grow above 4 inches high. Micro-clovers have been around for some time and are quickly gaining popularity because they are low maintenance.
A micro-clover lawn only needs to be mowed once a month or so, compared to weekly with most grasses. If anyone wants less lawn maintenance while still improving a rental’s exterior appearance, this is a good option.
Would you like more ideas on how to reduce the maintenance of your rental property while maximizing curb appeal? Contact the local Bellingham property management experts at 206-861-5525.
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