There are plenty of reasons to have clover on your lawn. Of course, many lawn owners don’t want them as well. So, they look for ways to get rid of clovers.
For both sides of the people, figuring out the key differentiating points between strawberry clover vs. microclover is important. That way it becomes easier to make decisions.
Strawberry clovers grow well in cold weather but the microclover grows well during the hot summer. Apart from that, I will talk about all other major differences between the two in this article. Say with me!
Differences Between Microclover and Strawberry Clover
The best way to differentiate between the two popular/familiar types of clover is to talk learn about their key features along with discussing advantages and disadvantages.
Let’s have a look.
Microclover: Key Features
As the name indicates, it’s the smallest variety of white clover. With a less invasive clump-forming habit, the microclover tends to have a lower growth rate, fewer flowers, and smaller leaves.
Benefits of Having Microclover
It was first developed in Denmark and Netherland to use on the golf course. Let’s see why it’s helpful to have microclover in your lawn:
- It’s a natural source of nitrogen for your lawn. To ensure the turfgrass growth of your lawn, they can
significantly reduce the nitrogen application. - Microclover attracts helpful insects to your lawn. To be more specific, the flowers of microclover provide food for the bees!
- It naturally goes with your lawn grass (Kentucky bluegrass) without making any visible difference. Most homeowners find its darker green color very much appealing!
- Microclover can stay green during the entire summer and some period of the winter.
- Diseases are very rare.
Drawbacks of Microclover
- It can’t tolerate shade.
- Complete intolerant of high heat and drought. So, it may lead to erosion and bare spots on your lawn.
- The attraction of bees may be problematic for people with sting allergies.
Strawberry Clover: Key Features
Not just as a mare ground cover, it looks great too. Like the microclover, strawberry clovers are smaller than white clovers and are also beneficial in many senses.
It has a great sense of survival instincts that can survive under heavy rainfall even flooding!
Most lawn owners use this low-growing perennial as cover crops. It also adds nitrogen to your lawn and adds beneficial insects like bees.
Pros of Strawberry Clover
- A great nitrogen fixture for your less-fertile soil.
- High resistance against the harsh environment. It can even grow well in alkaline and salty soils. Both cold and drought resistant. On the other hand, microclovers don’t have much survival instinct against cold weather.
- Shade tolerant. So, it will grow well under the shade of vines, trees, and shrubs where other lawn grass won’t grow well.
- Can be used as a great green manure cover crop.
- If you have grazing animals to feed, they will love strawberry clovers. Such clovers are highly palatable and nutritious. It provides food for the bees as well.
- It can choke out unwanted weeds! That’s why many lawn enthusiasts consider it as the companion grass for their lawn grass. It will significantly reduce the need to applying pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.
- Beautiful pink flowers. Many consider the beautiful flowers of strawberry clovers the X-factor of your lawn grass. They can give your lawn a beautiful look.
Cons of Strawberry Clover
- Can’t grow well in the tropical environment. They only grow well in the cool climate.
- Not everybody is a fan of their bees attracting features due to their sting allergies.
But I must say, unlike the microclovers, the advantage of strawberry clovers outweighs its disadvantages.
Closing Remarks
Apparently, there are some clear disguising points among strawberry clover vs. microclover that you should be aware of. And I strongly believe that is all you need to know whatever I talked about them above.
Let me know your thoughts in the comment box.
Happy gardening!
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