A healthy, green lawn can definitely improve a Fishers rental property’s curb appeal. But for single-family rental property owners, traditional lawn maintenance can often be a problem. Most tenants cannot be relied on to maintain the lawn to the standard that you like. Many tenants have no background in lawn care or don’t want to put in the time and effort required.
Doing it yourself or hiring professional landscapers will cost you both 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. Clover is one of those 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.
Clover is also drought-resistant and, if watered regularly, tends to stay greener longer than most grasses do. Clover is also a natural weed and pest deterrent, so it will lessen your frequency for bug spraying as well as save you time from pulling weeds out of the lawn. Finally, clover is very low maintenance. You won’t have to do much mowing since it only grows to a few inches in height.
These benefits come with a few disadvantages as well. Clover is more easily trampled than most grasses and can stain clothing. If your yard gets a lot of use, this could be an issue. Clover also doesn’t do very well in very dry climates, like those found in desert regions as they prefer soil that is kept somewhat moist. 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 quickly grows and will then cover the desired area with a vibrant green carpet of low-maintenance beauty.
Clover Types
Choose the variety of clover that is the best fit for our climate, as well as the soil in your rental property’s yard. The most common one used in lawns is Dutch white clover, which grows to about 4 – 6 inches. This clover also has pretty white flowers that appear from time to time. Popular because it is drought resistant, this variety does not grow very tall, although the flowers can bother some people and must be mowed every few weeks.
A variety that’s even easier to maintain is the micro-clover. Micro-clovers are smaller than other clovers, with leaves half the size. It doesn’t bloom often and won’t grow above 4 inches high with occasional mowing. Micro-clovers are rapidly 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 Fishers property management experts at 317-420-8500.
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