Raymond WhitneyThe clover is one of the toughest weeds that you might encounter around your property. It can be found anywhere that it is in the right conditions which include low nitrogen soil with the proper amount of sun.
This weed is referred to as Trefoil which is able to take over any gardening space quickly. Even the most knowledgeable gardener can find it to be a difficult weed to eradicate quickly.
If it’s growing in your lawn and is looking for what you can do to rid your lawn of the clover read on.
This article will show you how to reduce the amount of clover that is growing without damaging your lawn, and also ways to stop it from returning.
Let’s get started.
What Is A Clover?
Clover is a perennial plant that is a weed that thrives in yards and lawns. It is most well-known across the world. It isn’t tall and forms a permanent ground cover. However, it appears similar to other common plants.
So how do you tell when you’re dealing in the grass in the yard?
Like other weeds, identifying clover is easy. It is a beautiful and lush green plant. It is characterized by three tiny petal-shaped leaves that have a white crescent on each leaf’s half-inch length.
The three leaves of the clover are so common that finding a clover with four leaves is considered lucky and is a defining symbol of St. Patrick’s Day.
It is estimated that you will only have one chance in 10,000 chances of finding a four-leave clover, however.
Why Do You Have So Much Clover In Your Lawn?
The Clover plant is a perennial flower that grows vigorously. It flourishes wherever it is in an ideal environment. Contrary to popular belief that clover is beneficial to your garden.
For instance, white clover (Trifolium Repens) has a broadleaf, and it grows in conjunction with the common grass.
It is able to grow in more robust environments like soil that is not well-drained or areas with too much shade in which other vegetation might have difficulty growing.
The other type of clover is red which is taller than white clover and produces small, purple flowers. Clover is an organic fertilizer since it is a source of bacteria that transform nitrogen into fertilizer.
The capacity of the plant to remove nitrogen through the air permits clover to thrive in nitrogen-deficient soil.
While other plants struggle to thrive because of low nitrogen levels in the soil, clover has space and less competition in harsh environments.
The rapid growth of clover in your lawn could indicate that your soil is deficient in nitrogen. This could be caused by poor soil condition, the application of too much fertilizer as well as over-irrigation. It could also be due to low temperatures.
It is possible to find clover in lawns that aren’t being maintained or poorly nourished.
Enhancing the soil’s quality and nutrient levels for your lawn’s care stimulates other plants to develop and decreases the capacity of clover to spread without being controlled.
What’s Causing Clover in My Lawn?
There are many reasons that you might see clover sprouting on your lawn, the majority of them are connected with the soil.
- The wrong pH of the soil:The ideal soil pH–how acidic or alkaline the soil is lies between 6.0 to 7.0. If the soil in your lawn is acidic it will be more difficult for grass to develop and it will be more difficult for clover to. It is good to know that you can make use of soil amendments such as lime to help balance the pH.
- Low Nitrogen Levels Clover thrives in soils that have low levels of nitrogen. The grass needs nitrogen to be present in your soil to flourish and clover is able to get the nitrogen it requires through the air, effectively creating it its own fertiliser. Your soil might be deficient in nitrogen due to the fact that you’ve applied excessive fertilizers that are fast-acting. While they encourage rapid lawn growth, they could reduce the soil’s quality. Switching to organic fertilizers such as Manure, or even corn meal may aid in avoiding this.
- Compressed soil Compacted soil blocks your grass from receiving the nutrients, including nitrogen, air and the water it requires. Fortunately, you can remove compaction using an aerator with a spike or core.
Why You May Want to Keep Clover in Your Lawn
You might not be a fan of the appearance of clover however, it could actually be beneficial to your lawn.
- Organic Fertilizer Clover’s symbiotic association with beneficial bacteria permits it to take nitrogen from the air. In the end, it will help your lawn grow greener and more lush. However, this can ensure that it continues to grow and outdo your lawn.
- The weed Prevention Mowing your lawn will stop weeds from growing and spreading, which includes clover. However, if you prefer the neat, short grass with less than 3 incheslong, let the clover thrive is a good alternative. Clover’s leaves shade your soil and make it difficult for other weeds to establish and expand and challenge your grass.
When Should I Kill Clover In My Lawn?
If you’ve got a clover plant on your lawn, and it is left unchecked the plant can grow to approximately 5 to 8 inches in length and begin to bloom in either a pink or white flower.
If you live on barren land and you don’t have a supportive environment, then an herbaceous clover will improve your soil’s condition and help prevent soil erosion in the rainy season.
The clover can be useful to control erosion and is a natural food source for both rabbits and bees. It is also a fantastic green lawn cover.
If you don’t plan to plant a flower or vegetable garden it is best to leave the clover on the lawn since it helps maintain the soil to allow for plantation in the future.
But it is an invasive plant and its seeds can last for years and stay dormant in the soil for many years. It is best to remove the clover once you’re in the process of planting flowers or vegetables in your garden.
Be aware that it could take a while to remove the clover completely from your lawn. Get rid of clover at least four to six weeks before you intend to begin planting other flowers and plants on your lawn.
This will allow you to have enough time to amend the soil in order for the optimal development of other plants.
What Will Kill Clover But Not Grass?
The presence of grass containing clover signifies that there is a very low or any nitrogen is present in the soil.
The most effective way to eliminate the clover and save lawn is by creating a space that discourages the growth of clover while also benefiting the grass.
There are many methods to accomplish this. The first step to getting out of the clover plant is to keep it from generating seeds.
It is not advisable to let the clover bloom or bear seeds because these seeds will fall into the lawn, which then germinates further.
You can take a selective approach to removing the weed by pulling it up by hand or employing a tool for removing weeds.
If you’re pulling manually the clover, you should first water the soil and let it sit for about an hour or so to soften the soil.
You can then use the twisting motion to gradually move the clover upwards by its roots. Make sure you remove the plant prior to the seed’s drop-off.
This method of pulling clover manually can be used to take the plant from your yard without causing damage to the grass. However, this method may not be feasible if have a large yard with clover as a mulch in your lawn.
Another method to remove the grass without damaging it is by reducing the growth environment favorable to clover. The appearance of clover suggests the absence of nitrogen within the soil. It is possible to use it to your advantage and add more nitrogen to your soil.
It is possible to apply nitrogen to the soil by means of fertilizer or spreading organic compost over the lawn. Corn gluten or another pre-emergent weed might not be effective with the clover.
If your aim is to keep the grass healthy while eliminating clover, avoid using excessive nitrogen fertilizers select a fertilizer with a nitrogen level that is lower than 9.
How To Get Rid Of Clover In A Lawn Without Chemicals?
Eliminating the clover plant without using any chemicals is an ideal method to keep your yard in good condition.
It decreases the chance of polluting our environment by using harmful chemicals and also ensures the health of the soil.
Seven ways you can get rid of the clover without any effort.
1. Mulch Your Lawn
Mulching is a way to stop the growth of clover. Clover, just like every other plant, needs space in order to expand.
It thrives in places in which it can locate its roots, which can take up ground and also get some sunlight.
Mulching your lawn will make the soil beneath it damp and cold while denying the clover of the necessary sunlight needed to grow.
Organic mulch, like homemade compost, is the best method to limit the development of clover.
2. Grow Native Plants
The most dominant native plants, like native grasses and flowers, thrive over the clover and smother the clover.
Broadleaf grass can be planted like St. Augustine, which is a strong and sturdy cultivator, along with buffalo grass and tobosa grass to take over the clover for your lawn.
3. Reduce Soil Disturbance
Clover flowers contain thousands of tiny seeds that will eventually grow on lawns. Clover seeds situated on the topsoil in your lawn stand a better likelihood of growing since they have access to light and water.
The disturbance of soil, for example, the digging process or tilling allows the clover seeds in the soil to be exposed to the soil’s top layer which increases the chance that they will develop into a full-grown clover plant.
You might need you till the grass to accommodate various plants. But you should avoid tilling in areas that aren’t needed. It’s also possible to employ a garden tool to remove clover from its root instead of digging it out.
4. Use Landscape Fabrics
It is also a garden material that serves as a physical barrier to stop the weeds like clover from expanding.
It functions similar to mulch but is more efficient. It’s constructed of durable material which doesn’t decay quickly.
You should buy landscape fabric with one tiny hole so that the clover doesn’t go through it. The best quality fabric must be firm and steady and shouldn’t tear or stretch out easily.
5. Burn The Clover
Burning is a reliable and effective method to manage the growth of clover. However, it is restricted to certain areas, such as walkways or driveways, or areas that don’t have any other grasses or plants you would like to keep.
The burning of the clover reduces the possibility of spreading seeds. You don’t have to completely burn the clover.
Use the hot flames to heat the clover until it begins to go through the process of losing all its internal moisture and the clover then will die within a few days.
6. Pull It Out
The removal of the clover with the help of a hand or a weed-removing tool is the best method of removing it, without harming the other plants.
It is best to do this when the soil is damp so that it is easier to pull it out of the soil.
If you’re pulling the clover out be sure to remove it with its roots in order to stop regrowth.
7. Mowing Grass High
Clover is a soil layer plant that is a few inches in length. If there are other grasses that grow along with it, you can limit the mower’s height to or above 3 inches.
This encourages grass growth and also reduces the growth rate of the clover.
Do not cut your lawn too low, because you are at risk of cutting off the grass completely and allowing the clover ample room to grow its roots.
How To Get Rid Of Clover In Flower Beds
The weeds, which include clover, are able to take over a garden in a short time. While weeding is laborious, it’s an essential task.
If you have a clover plant in your flower beds and it is causing problems for the development and growth of the other plant species.
Hand-pulling clover with a fork or hand is the ideal method of removing them from small flower beds, or in tight zones, where you could risk damaging plants in the area.
It also lets you be able to work with plants without causing disturbance to the plants. For the first step, loosen the soil using a fork, allowing it to root the clover’s roots deep. It may be necessary to free plants from the overgrown clover.
Cutting the clover off at the bottom with a harrow is the best method to maintain it in larger and easily accessible areas.
It is most effective during dry weather since the clover seedlings die and die fast without having the chance of recovering.
You could also remove it manually from the bed, to ensure that you have the roots.
How To Make A Homemade Clover Killer
The easiest method of killing the clover is to make your own herbicide. It’s simple and easy to make and, most probably, you’ll have the ingredients at home.
The soap and vinegar mixture is the most efficient homemade clover killer. For this, place one tablespoon of vinegar in a bowl, and mix it with 1 teaspoon of dishwashing soap, and tap water to make 3/4 cups.
Mix all the ingredients inside a spray bottle, and shake it for two to three minutes for a homogeneous mix from the mixture. Then spray it directly onto the clover.
Start with one spray of vinegar, either within the center of the plant or on the flower to stop it from forming seeds.
You can also spray it on that clover root. The vinegar is able to be absorbed by the soil. is absorbed by the roots. It stops the clover from regrowing.
Be cautious when spraying the vinegar mix and be careful not to spray it on nearby grass or plants as it may cause damage to the plants or grass.
How To Get Rid Of Yellow Clover?
Following dandelion and yellow clover, it is the most popular type of weed that can be found in your yard.
It spreads very quickly and hinders the development of grass and other vegetation in the garden. If it is not dealt with in time it begins flowering and seeds are produced which keep it growing.
It’s also essential to know whether you’re dealing with yellow woodsorrel or yellow clover. One method to determine the difference is to look at the leaf and leaves that the plants have. Yellow Clover has more dark leaves and is less hefty than the yellow woodsorrel.
Yellow Clover has interconnected roots with multiple plants that grow from the same source. To begin, employ a weed-removing tool to pull it out of its roots. When you are pulling, ensure you dig further into the soil and avoid cutting off the roots.
It is feasible to physically remove the yellow clover along with its roots if you have only a small lawn, but for large areas, it is not always feasible.
In this situation, you could make use of a herbicide like Bonide Ready clover, as well as other herbicides which kill yellow clover and do not harm any other vegetation or grass.
You can also add high nitrogen to the soil in the autumn and spring. Because yellow clover-like plants grow in an environment with low nitrogen The high nitrogen content in the soil can hinder the development of yellow clover.
How To Get Rid Of White Clover Without Destroying The Lawn
In order to remove the white clover that is growing on your lawn, you can follow the same method you did to get rid of the yellow clover.
The best method to remove white clover is to use the herbicide. There are a variety of herbicides that are available on the market. However, if you plan to eliminate the white clover, pick an herbicide that contains Triclopyr as an active ingredient.
It is possible to use this Southern AG Crossbow Specialty herbicide to rid your lawn of white clover. It is designed for spot application on white clover. It is useful since it won’t harm other plants or grasses on your lawn.
It is a concentrated herbicide that you must mix it with water prior to spraying it over the white clover plant. It may be necessary to spray it several times on any overgrown or robust white clover on your lawn.
A.D.I.O.S Clover Killer Is It Any Good?
A.D.I.O.S is a specific weed killer which can be used to eliminate all types of clover in your lawn. It’s non-toxic and smells less control of weeds which can be utilized on flower beds, trees, and other areas.
It’s an organic weed-control product that has ingredients like Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Alumino Sulfosilicate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Potassium Chloride as well as Sodium Acetate.
In order to make it the most effective to get rid of clover, soak the leaves in the solution. It is possible to apply the solution several times in order to achieve the greatest results.
Many people have tried it, and they have had mixed outcomes. You will generally see a quick and visible result applying other traditional herbicide pesticides other than A.D.I.O.S.
If you’re tempted to apply an organic weedkiller ensure that you properly follow the instructions for application to ensure success in getting rid of the clover.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can kill clover, but not grass?
A.D.I.O.S. selective organic control of weeds kills weeds, but it does not hurt lawn grasses like is corn gluten meal.
Should I get rid of clover in my lawn?
There are a variety of reasons why you might want to plant the clover on your lawn. Because of its symbiotic association with bacteria, clover functions as an organic fertilizer.
Clover takes nitrogen through the atmosphere and then releases its nitrogen into the soil. Another benefit?
Clover is more competitive than other plants. Therefore, instead of something unwelcome and ugly, you could have clover.
How do you control clover?
You can manage fertilizer through proper fertilization, trimming high and placing cornmeal in vinegar solution, then hand-pulling it away, denying it sunlight and oxygen, and then applying an organic herbicide that is pre-emergent, or using a conventional herbicide.
Why is clover taking over my lawn?
Clover is able to take over your lawn if you have the proper conditions. Low grass, incorrect pH of the soil, poorly compacted soil and low nitrogen levels can be excellent growth situations for clover.
