Do you have clover in your lawn? Something to think about for the pollinators. (bees)

image from familyhandyman.com 

Good morning, and it is a lovely morning.  Temperature at 8:30 Am is at 26 degrees with a high today of 49.  We have wispy clouds or cirrus clouds so will have more sunlight come thru.   Enjoy.  I will work in the office and house this morning, and then go out to the greenhouse this afternoon.  I am sure it will be warm in there to work. 

Do you have clover in your yard?  I need to investigate getting some growing as we have some hives here from Storybook Honey.  Here is what to do to have clover back in your yard. 
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 How and Why to Grow a Clover Lawn
Clover Comeback: Learn All About the Benefits of White Clover by George and Becky Lohmiller
At one time, most yards had at least some white clover growing in them. It was a world before chemicals, and clover was part of seed blends because it improved the soil—and the condition of the lawn. Gardeners are beginning to recognize the benefits of clover in lawn grass mixtures—or even as a replacement for grass.
Move on from the quest for a perfect lawn of just turf grass. It’s not natural and ends up requiring chemicals. Before World War II and the advent of chemicals, clover was used as a great companion with turf grass. It was added to seed blends, along with fescues, ryegrasses, and Kentucky bluegrass, because it helped grass thrive.
Benefits of Clover
Being a legume, the clover plant fixes poor soil! Clover has the ability to convert nitrogen into fertilizer using bacteria in its root system, practically eliminating the need for additional fertilization.
White clover (Trifolium repens) is the most common clover for lawns. Left uncut, white clover grows 4 to 8 inches tall and produces small white flowers that are often tinged with pink. It’s a rapid spreader that crowds out broadleaf weeds while growing harmoniously with grass.
Like white clover, red clover (Trifolium pratense) is native to Europe, but has been naturalized in North America. It produces attractive purple flowers and typically grows taller than white clover (a little too tall compared to lawn grass).
Clover is among the first plants to green up and thrive in the spring.
It’s an extremely drought-resistant plant and will keep its cool-green color even during the hottest and driest parts of summer.
Clover will also thrive in areas that are poorly drained or too shady for a conventional lawn.
The flowers not only create a beautiful visual effect but also bring in bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects that prey on garden pests.
Honeybees rarely sting when they are away from their hive, but if they make you uncomfortable or you are allergic to bee stings, simply have the lawn mowed more often when clover is in bloom. Or, grow clover on surfaces where there is little activity on the lawn, and the desired result is more aesthetic than functional.
Planting Clover
You can plant clover by itself for ground cover, but it stands up better to foot traffic when combined with lawn grass.
Only 5 to 10% of the weight of tiny clover seed must be mixed with the recommended amount of grass seed to create a thick stand.
When adding clover to an existing lawn, first mow it close and remove any thatch to allow the seed to fall to the soil surface.
To sow clover alone, mix it with enough sand to facilitate spreading. About 2 ounces of clover is needed for every 1,000 square feet of lawn.
Since clover has a low growth habit, it can go without mowing all season long if desired. Or, just mow a couple of times a year to maintain its appearance.
Luck of the Clover
Finding a four-leaf clover is considered good luck. Surely, it must be because, on average, there is only one of them for every 10,000 clovers with three leaves. But even if you never find a four-leaf specimen, just having clover growing in your lawn will keep it greener longer with minimum care, which we consider to be extremely good luck.
Taken from https://www.almanac.com/clover-comeback
Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa [email protected]  641-794-3337  cell 641-903-9365