Saturday, March 23, 2024
HomePopularHow To Get Rid Of Clover From My Lawn

How To Get Rid Of Clover From My Lawn

- Advertisment -

Should I Get Rid Of Clover In My Lawn

How To Kill Clover In Your Lawn The Cheap Way

There are several reasons you may want to keep clover in your lawn. Due to its symbiotic relationship with bacteria, clover acts as a natural fertilizer. Clover gets its nitrogen from the air and releases it into the soil. Another benefit? Clover outcompetes other weeds. So instead of something unwanted and unsightly, you could have clover.

How Do I Rid My Lawn Of Clover

Just like a moss problem if you have clover growing in your lawn there are a number of reasons why this can happen so there are a number of solutions to get rid of it and keep it gone. To keep rid of it long term you will have to change the condition of the soil to make it ideal for thriving grass.

Here are some solutions to improve your lawn and get rid of clover

  • Use a herbicide you can use a herbicide or weed and feed that is designed to get rid of broadleaf weeds. This will kill the clover but you should also be looking at a long term solution that improves your soil to make it ideal for grass as thats what will keep the clover gone.
  • Use baking soda if you mix baking soda with water and spray it over your lawn this should get rid of moss and clover that is growing on your lawn. This should work but there is a risk it could damage your grass so you may want to test it on a small area first.
  • Change your mowing height clover is known to thrive in short grass. If you change your grass cutting height to 3+ inches this should help combat clover. This length of grass will block out the light clover needs and you should see a dramatic change to your lawn.
  • Fertilize your lawn if clover is growing in your lawn it suggests the condition of your soil is probably not perfect for growing grass. Clover can thrive in soil that is lacking in nutrients whereas grass will struggle. Adding a nitrogen-rich fertilizer will boost your grass and help it fight back against clover.

Spread Mulch Where Clover Has Taken Root

It may be tough to make sure youve got all the roots if the clover has sunk its root tendrils into your flower beds or the space around your trees. If you leave even one living root, you may see your clover return before long.

A simple solution is to lay down a piece of landscape fabric and dump a heavy supply of mulch on it. The mulch will nourish the soil around your flowers or trees, and the fabric will help prevent clover growth.

Also Check: What To Look For In Electric Lawn Mower

Preventing Clover And Wood Sorrel In Your Lawn

Prevention is the best strategy when it comes to tackling clover in lawns. Heres what you should consider if you dont want clover in your lawn:

Fertilise: As mentioned, a good supply of nutrients is the key to controlling and preventing clover in lawns. A fertiliser high in nitrogen and low in phosphate, such as our Plantura Lawn Feed, is extremely effective.

Soil: Before sowing a lawn, it is best to ensure that the soil is loose, not too clayey and well aerated. To improve a heavy soil, work some sand into the top layer. It is also possible to scarify and sand an existing lawn, especially if the soil is quite clay-rich and heavy. Scarifying should only be repeated every few years when done too frequently, scarifying inhibits grass growth.

Watering: Lawn grasses are less drought tolerant than the most clover plants. So, it is important to water the lawn correctly. It is a good idea to find out what type of lawn grasses you have in order to learn how best to water your lawn.

Pruning: Regularly mowing the lawn encourages the grasses to branch out and create a dense surface. This reduces the risk of clover taking root.

Lime: To repel wood sorrel, keep your soil slightly acidic to neutral if the soil is too acidic, wood sorrel will flourish. We recommend doing a pH test on the soil to check the acidity level and find out how much lime you need to apply. If the pH test shows that the soil is too acidic, try applying a fast-acting lime.

Why You Should Consider A Professional Lawn Care Company Like Lawn Doctor

How do I Get Rid of Clover After Weed Killers and Lime Have Failed?

If you want to be sure the clover problem in your yard will be taken care of while preserving the health and beauty of your lawn, the best choice you can make is to call in the professionals. A highly recommended, reputable lawn care company like Lawn Doctor understands the importance of keeping your yard in excellent condition via safe and effective ways. We use nontoxic weed control methods and lawn fertilization techniques to ensure a lush green lawn.

Our team of experts will analyze your yard and then customize a lawn treatment program that will meet the specific needs of your lawn, plants, and soil. A professionally maintained lawn is less likely to develop issues like pest infestations and diseases. Rather than a single visit and treatment, Lawn Doctor provides your lawn with a series of six to eight specialized treatments to fertilize your grass and control the weeds, including pre-emergent varieties.

By hiring a professional lawn care company, you will be saving yourself a lot of work and frustration. Trying to do everything for your lawn by yourself is time-consuming and costly, and theres always the chance that you will make a mistake and damage areas of your lawn that dont contain weeds. Lawn care professionals perform comprehensive treatments safely, quickly, and effectively.

You May Like: How Much To Get My Lawn Mowed

Does Vinegar Kill Clover

While vinegar and dish soap is a popular method for getting rid of clover, vinegar on its own works well too. Im a bit wary about using the types bought from a restaurant supply businesses or farmers stores as the acetic acid content is higher, which makes it unsafe for human contact.

As mentioned with the vinegar and dish soap method, use a spray bottle and get really close to the clover to spray it.

Believe me, you dont want this getting on the grass or your other plants.

Not only will it make your grass ill, but it would even kill it, leaving bald spots on your lawn.

Depending on the type of clover you have, sometimes multiple applications may be needed to rid yourself of the clover. With weeds, it is generally best to wait until they are in their active growth stage. If you dont catch them in their active growth stage, then multiple applications may be needed for the best results.

Why You May Want To Keep Clover In Your Lawn

You may not like the look of clover, but it can actually benefit your lawn.

  • Natural Fertilizer: Clovers symbiotic relationship with beneficial bacteria allows it to absorb nitrogen from the atmosphere. Ultimately, it can make your lawn greener and more lush. However, this will keep it growing and outcompeting your grass.
  • Weed Prevention: Mowing your lawn high will prevent weeds from growing, including clover. But if you like short, neat grass thats under 3 inches, letting clover flourish is a solid option. Clovers leaves cast shade over the soil, making it hard for other weeds to take root and grow and compete with your grass.

You May Like: How To Control Wild Violet In Lawn

What Will Kill Clover But Not Grass

For those with an otherwise neat and tidy lawn, plagued by clover, youll want to find a solution that removes clover without killing grass. You may like to find a herbicide that can chemically remove the clover in your lawn without killing the grass. Alternatively, you could try a more natural method such as spot treating the clover with white vinegar. Either way, there are several ways to get rid of clover in lawns without damaging the lawn itself.

Planting Tips For White Clover

How to Get Rid of Clover (4 Easy Steps)

White clover is the most common clover grown in lawns because it is the lowest growing and hardy, Sharapova says. It has a creeping growth habit, spreading by above-ground runners . It is best to sow clover early in the season . She also suggests early spring months mid-April to mid-May as ideal times, with late summer and September being second-best. Clover plants like cool, fertile soil with adequate soil moisture. Its root system rarely goes more than 2 feet deep,, which makes it good for relatively shallow topsoil.

White-clover seed comes in many varieties and is readily available by mail order or at local gardening stores.

Mow the existing lawn short and rake out any thatch buildup so that the small clover seed has contact with the soil, she says. Mix the tiny clover seed with sand, compost, or soil to aid dispersal. 1-2 ounces of clover seed is needed for every 1,000 square feet of lawn.

The rest is natures work. Lawn owners can sit back and, over the next season or two, see a 5% to 10% clover cover establish in their lawn and experience the return of something natural, helpful, and beautiful that maybe we shouldnt have been so hasty to get rid of in the first place.

Read Also: How To Charge For Lawn Care Services

Can I Get Rid Of Worms In My Strawberries

Q: I have been getting worms in and on my strawberries. What can I do to prevent this or get rid of the current ones? Polk County

A: The worms could be the larvae of a fly. However, it is also possible that the hole was made by a different pest and the larvae were then laid in the fruit. If eggs are actually being deposited on undamaged fruit, pest management will need to focus on preventing adult flies from accessing the fruit.

Laying a summer-weight floating row cover fabric over the ripening fruit may be one strategy however, if the fruit is covered too early, pollination may not be complete, and the fruit will not form properly.

Pick ripe fruits daily and promptly remove any damaged or rotting fruit. These should be buried or sealed in a trash bag since the flies are attracted to the smell of fermenting fruit. Lynne Marie Sullivan, OSU Extension Master Gardener

Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.

How To Get Rid Of Clover In Lawn

While some people might find clover a pretty addition to their lawn, others may wish to get rid of it. There could be several different reasons why you want to get rid of clover in lawn. Some may find it simply gets in the way of the look theyre after, while others might not like the fact that it attracts bees while where kids or pets play.

Whatever the reason, youre likely looking for an answer to the question of how do I get rid of clover in my lawn? Read on to find out some methods for removing clover weeds from your lawn.

Recommended Reading: Is Clover Good For Your Lawn

Keep The Lawn In Good Health To Keep Clover Out

Keeping Clover out of our lawns, as well as most other weeds and diseases, is overwhelmingly a case of keeping the lawn as healthy as possible, including keeping up Nitrogen levels to the lawn soil.

If you havent already, begin implementing a good quality year-round organic lawn fertilising program.

This should be enough to help keep the lawn in good health and keep Nitrogen levels high enough in the soil that Clover will not take over again.

Weed And Feed Schedule

How Do I Get Rid of Clover in My Lawn Organically?

A highly effective tool in any gardeners arsenal is weed and feed. These are products that combine rich fertilizer to the yard grass and other plants while also mixing in herbicides that kill common weeds.

Using weed and feed is a great way to kill two birds with one stone. The fertilizer will help make sure that beneficial plants like your grasses and flowers grow as well as you need them to. At the same time, the herbicide takes care of pesky weeds, with brands containing different active ingredients in order to target specific weeds.

The best way to use weed and feed is to keep a schedule. Regularly feeding your yard is a great way to keep your grass strong and weeds weak. Generally speaking, four times a year should be enough, though this can vary depending on your climate, species of grass, and persistence of weeds.

Don’t Miss: What Does Trugreen Use On Your Lawn

Clover Provides Food For Bees And Butterflies

Clover species have very sweet, nectar-rich flowers that attract pollinators such as honey bees, bumblebees, butterflies, and hoverflies.

In times of great pollinator decline, this is a nice way to contribute to the fight for our planets health. However, it may have a downside .

Side note: if you are afraid of wasps, good news. Clover doesnt attract many yellowjackets or hornets since the shape of its flowers makes it difficult for wasps to access their nectar.

Clover In Lawns: What Is The Cause

A sparse or patchy lawn leaves room for clover to settle in. Clover plants reproduce either by seed or spreading roots and need very little to thrive. Lawn grasses, on the other hand, are quite particular about their growing conditions and, if not given the right care, will display stunted growth and be less competitive against invasive weeds.

Site conditions: These play a key role in preventing clover growth. Grass requires sufficient light alongside a loose and well-aerated soil, such as a sandy loam soil. Clover, however, tends to grow in poor soil. Therefore, good soil preparation before sowing the lawn is the first step in clover prevention.

Cutting the lawn too short: Cutting the lawn too short damages lawn grasses and allows light to reach the creeping shoots of clover, encouraging its growth. Making mistakes when mowing the lawn is easier than you may think.

Not enough fertiliser: Clover has a special relationship with a bacteria called rhizobia that helps it get nitrogen from the air. This gives clover a real advantage over lawns in nutrient-poor soil. Only a well-fertilised lawn can stand up to clover.

Lack of water: Most lawn grasses do not tolerate drought. It is therefore essential to ensure that the lawn is watered properlyto avoid being overrun by the more robust clover.

Once clover has started to grow, removing it is very difficult. Here are some tips on how to prevent and reduce clover in lawns.

Don’t Miss: How Much To Redo Lawn

Keeping Clover Out Of Your Lawn

Once you have got rid of clover in your lawn, you can tweak your lawn care regime so that your lawn becomes a no-go area for this particular invader.

Start with feeding your lawn. Clover prefers low fertility soil so regularly applying the right lawn feed for the time of year will make the area less attractive to this plant species.

Raise the height of the cut. Maintaining your lawn at around 4-8cm long will help the grass to thrive and outcompete unwanted plants.

Hold back on irrigation. Established lawns really dont need too much water. Many plant nutrients dissolve in water and are easily washed away. The more you water your lawn, the more chance there is of reducing soil fertility and creating the conditions that clover loves. Please dont let new lawns dry out though.

Dig out clover plants as soon as you see them, dont let them get a foot hold in your lawn.

Feed Your Lawn Regularly

How to Get Rid of Clover in Your Lawn Without Killing the Grass

The best thing you can do to prevent clover from growing on your lawn is to take good care of it. This way, there will be nowhere for the clover to grow.

Apart from regular mowing, aeration, and scarification, its especially important to feed your lawn on a regular basis.

Assuming there is no clover or other weeds on your lawn, you can mulch your grass clippings back into the soil, to provide your lawn with valuable nutrients.

You can also apply fertiliser in the spring and autumn, to help keep your lawn healthy and clover-resistant.

To learn more about taking good care of your lawn, take a look at our lawn care calendar, and discover what sorts of lawn care activities you can do as the seasons change throughout the year.

Recommended Reading: What’s The Best Self Propelled Lawn Mower

White Clover Weed Control In Minneapolis

Finding soft, velvety, white clover flowers creeping out of your lawn may seem harmless and even enchantingbut it can also indicate that your lawn is lacking nutrition. Known for attracting bees and creating delicious clover honey, white clover is a cool-season perennial and part of the legume family. It develops a deep, fleshy taproot that can grow to 1-1 ½ inch in diameter and 5 to 8 feet deep, making it difficult to remove from your lawn.

Because clover absorbs nitrogen from the air and not the soil, it usually grows in grassy areas with low nitrogen levels. If clover begins to grow on your lawn, it may be an indicator of nitrogen deficiency in your soil. As it grows, it also invades the grass in your yard, depriving it of other essential nutrients. Removing clover from your lawn can help it regain its proper nutrients and keep bees away from your kids and pets. Green Stuff Lawn knows how to remove clover from lawn grass with effective and fast-acting weed control.

How To Get Rid Of Clover In Lawns

Clover is great in lawns, but if its not for you, thats OK too. So, what is the best way to remove it?

My first choice for getting rid of unwanted plants in the lawn is to dig them out. Theres no chemicals, no damage to the environment and, provided there are only a few of them, its quick. Remove the clover and make a quick repair with some topsoil mixed with grass seed. Job done.

If your lawn is heavily infested with clover you might want to try a selective herbicide. Clover however, hasnt become the successful plant that it is, by succumbing to weedkillers. Its quite resistant to some herbicides, so do your homework carefully before buying any sprays or treatments. Im not going to mention any brands simply because product availability changes fast and you might be reading this blog in the future. However, a good place to ask questions is the .

A really good, environmentally friendly way to get rid of any weed from your lawn is to cover the weed with something light-proof and literally, keep it in the dark until it dies. So a piece of black plastic, thick cardboard or wood, weighted down and left for a couple of weeks should sort it. Its not a visually attractive solutions and it will kill any grass that is covered up but its a solution just the same.

A regular lawn feeding regime will help to keep clover at bay

Recommended Reading: How To Cure Lawn Fungus

RELATED ARTICLES
- Advertisment -

Popular Articles

- Advertisment -