Let the clover come over.
I have few bald spots in my yard. I’m sure the early summer drought and intense heat is largely responsible and now, fall, is the time to replant the grass. Except, I didn’t sow grass seed, I spread clover seeds on the bald spots.
Many consider clover to be an intrusion, but I see it as vital in drawing pollinators, particularly honey bees. Since Nancy and I are leaning heavily towards putting a couple of honey bee hives in our back yard nest spring, clover will only help.
Honeybees, I understand, have short, straw-like tongues. Because of this, they cannot easily reach the nectar inside long, deep flower tubes, but clover is ideal. I went with
White Dutch Clover, a top choice for honey bees. The short flower tubes of the white clover exactly match the length of a honey bee’s tongue. White Dutch Clover produces beautiful white blooms, forms a dense green carpet, and is commonly used in eco-friendly landscapes and mixed lawns.
We once had a lot of clover in our yard, but the Zoysia grass in the front yard has taken over. The old stands of clover in the back yard have mostly died out so that’s where I scattered the clover seed.
Here’s hoping that come next spring, large patches of white clover will be ready when the bees are.
