A New England homeowner found an affordable, eco-friendly solution to their lawn woes, and their success story took a Reddit community by storm.
The Reddit user shared their lawn transformation journey with the r/NoLawns community, detailing how an expensive hydroseeding attempt left them with a "mud pit" before discovering the magic of microclover.
"Spent a bunch of money 2 years ago on hydroseeding. It died. Spent relatively little money on clover last year. Lesson learned!" they wrote alongside a photo of a green clover lawn that would make any neighbor jealous, leading to hundreds of upvotes and dozens of comments.
Traditional grass lawns come with hefty maintenance costs, from constant mowing and watering to expensive treatments and reseeding. But alternatives like microclover offer a budget-friendly path to a beautiful yard.
These earth-friendly options slash water bills and eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers, all while creating welcoming spaces for insects that keep our food system running.
Converting even part of a traditional grass lawn to native plants, microclover, buffalo grass, or xeriscaping can make a big difference. These options require minimal upkeep and naturally adapt to local rainfall patterns. Native plant lawns support local pollinators, which play a key role in producing the fruits and vegetables we eat.
The Reddit poster shared that the microclover lawn was a compromise, noting they dream of an edible food forest.
"If it were up to me the lawn would be an edible forest/food forest," they wrote in a follow-up comment. "This is the compromise and it's worked out really well."
Other Reddit users chimed in with enthusiasm for lawn alternatives.
🗣️ If you were to switch from a grass lawn to a more natural option, which of these factors would be your primary motivation?
🔘 Making it look better 🌱
🔘 Saving money on water and maintenance 💰
🔘 Helping pollinators 🐝
🔘 No way I ever get rid of my lawn 🚫
🗳️ Click your choice to see results and speak your mind
"What I find odd is how much time, money and poison people use to make their lawn look like astroturf because their neighbors are doing it," one commenter wrote. "I live in Vermont, surrounded by forest and to me a perfectly pure and manicured lawn would look unnatural in such a setting."
Another pointed out the irony of America's lawn obsession: "The most commonly irrigated crop in America is grass, and it's not even edible! All you can do with it is walk on it (maybe) and spend your weekends mowing it."
A third commenter kept it simple: "The bees say thanks!"
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