Clover as a desired ground cover?
 

I've read positive comments about clover, regarding its nitrogen-fixing etc,
and so instead of classing it as a weed, I have left what I think is white
clover, just a few inches high, to grow in recently-made herbaceous/shrub
borders where it is spreading around gradually. I'm wondering- it can't be
this simple, surely. Is there any reason why I should not allow it to live
there along with the shrubs, geraniums, (minor) periwinkles and other ground
cover plants?

--
Vacutone

Clover as a desired ground cover?
 

"Vacutone" wrote in message
s.com...
I've read positive comments about clover, regarding its
nitrogen-fixing etc,
and so instead of classing it as a weed, I have left what I think is
white
clover, just a few inches high, to grow in recently-made
herbaceous/shrub
borders where it is spreading around gradually. I'm wondering- it
can't be
this simple, surely. Is there any reason why I should not allow it to
live
there along with the shrubs, geraniums, (minor) periwinkles and other
ground
cover plants?

--
Vacutone

It just depends on whether you want your border to look tidy, where
individual plants grow together in the traditional way or you allow the
clover to weave its way throughout and become one mess, because that is
what will eventually happen if you allow a free-for-all. My advice is
to treat the clover as a weed.

Regards,
Emrys Davies.

Clover as a desired ground cover?
 

Emrys Davies writes

"Vacutone" wrote in message
ws.com...
I've read positive comments about clover, regarding its
nitrogen-fixing etc,
and so instead of classing it as a weed, I have left what I think is
white
clover, just a few inches high, to grow in recently-made
herbaceous/shrub
borders where it is spreading around gradually. I'm wondering- it
can't be
this simple, surely. Is there any reason why I should not allow it to
live
there along with the shrubs, geraniums, (minor) periwinkles and other
ground
cover plants?

It just depends on whether you want your border to look tidy, where
individual plants grow together in the traditional way or you allow the
clover to weave its way throughout and become one mess, because that is
what will eventually happen if you allow a free-for-all. My advice is
to treat the clover as a weed.

White clover will spread well, especially in low nutrient conditions
where its nitrogen fixing gives an advantage. Its disadvantage is that
it clings rather tenaciously to the ground, so that if it does start
over-running other plants, it can be difficult to root out. It tends to
break up quite easily, so you grab bits out, but other bits stay there
to continue growing.

You could try a red clover instead - they're easier to uproot but also
taller. Or any other pea family plant - I think they all share the
nitrogen fixing habit.
--
Kay