How To Prevent Clover
Clover weed is very tough to remove from your lawn once it has established itself. So preventing clover weed in the first place is very crucial to have a healthy and beautiful lawn.
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There are some things that you can do to take proper care of your lawn and prevent clover from developing in your lawn. Lets talk about them in detail:
- Test your soil the first thing to prevent clover weed in your lawn is to test it to see what essential nutrients it already has and what it needs to be healthy and support grass growth. Another thing to see is the pH level of the soil as clover weed tends to grow on an acidic lawn so see if your lawn is acidic or not. Maintain a pH level between 6.5 to 7.5 as this is an ideal condition for grasses to grow.
- Overseeding By overseeding your lawn you make the lawn thick and healthy and there will be no space for the clover weed to grow as it grows very low to the ground.
- Aerating aerating your lawn is very necessary to prevent clover weed as all the essential nutrients cannot get to the roots of the grass and make your lawn thin. On the other side, clover weed thrives in compacted soil as it has very small root systems which tend to be on the very top of the soil, so it can take water and nutrients from the soil very easily.
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Clover In Lawns: It Was On Purpose
Prior to the 1950s, a standard practice was to add clover seed to lawn-seed blends. Clover effectively competed with other weeds and provided a fairly low-maintenance lawn by providing nitrogen to the grass. Some grass seed blends today continue to include clover seeds.
The suburban, middle class, along with single-family homes with carpets of lawn, grew significantly after World War II. Some of the chemicals developed during the war were now becoming available commercially to homeowners. The first residential herbicides were available in 1945 and was used to kill broadleaf weeds, which includes clover. This made it more convenient to eliminate clover from lawns than promote it.
Although were seeing a trend to again introduce clover to lawns, most homeowners continue to prefer the clover-free, weed-free lawns that have been in vogue for the past seven or eight decades. These folks want to kill clover in their lawn.
How To Remove Clover From The Lawn Non
Clover is a difficult weed to remove from lawns. This is due to its low growing form, making it difficult for it to be removed by mowing. Its also difficult as its roots knit tightly into the soil at multiple points on the soil.
Once the clover has died or been removed, it is likely that bare patches will develop on the lawn. Reseed these patches in the early autumn.
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How To Get Rid Of Clover: A How
Whether your lawn is currently losing a siege to clover or you want a grass-only yard without clover mixed in, the main question is how to get rid of white clovers without destroying the lawn. There are several ways to remove clover from your yard without damaging or killing grass in the process, and some tactics that are even beneficial to grass growth.
How To Control White Clover
White Clover has shallow roots which can be dug up using a gardening tool or fork, preferably before flowering. Collect all the pieces of stem and root so they dont propagate new plants.
If youre determined to rid your lawn of White Clover, be prepared to tackle it every year because it produces seeds capable of surviving high heat and low temperatures that can lie dormant in the soil for several years.
Where the size of the affected area makes it impractical to dig out the weeds, there are several treatments that will kill White Clover in lawns without damaging the grass.
Try an organic weed killer, pour liberal quantities of white vinegar onto the plants, or choose a Broadleaf Weed or Clover-specific selective herbicide.
Depending on the maturity of the plants and how large an area is affected, it may be necessary for you to treat the White Clover more than once.
Selective herbicides are less dangerous to your lawn than glyphosate.
Look for products containing these active ingredients:
- Halosulfuron-methyl
- Mecoprop and dicamba
- Dimethenamid-P and pendimethalin
- DSMA and MCPA
- Bentazone, MCPA and dicamba
- Bromoxynil and MCPA .
Products containing more than one active ingredient will usually act as both a contact and a systemic herbicide. This means they kill on contact as well as being absorbed by the White Clover plant. The plants must be actively growing and not under any stress for them to work.
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S To Getting Rid Of Clover Manually
If you want to manually remove clover from your yard permanently, it will be necessary for you to remove the entire root system of the weed as well as the weed itself. You can do this with a spade or with your hands. Carefully loosen the soil all around the plant, and then pull the plant, along with its roots, out of the ground. You will want to make sure you get all the roots otherwise, the plant will just grow back. While this root removal can be a tedious and time-consuming task, when done correctly, it is a surefire way to reduce clover once and for all.
Another way to manually remove clover is to kill it by cutting off its access to sunlight and air. This could be done by covering the clover patch with a dark-colored trash bag or another type of plastic sheeting. Secure its edges to keep it in place. Make sure you havent covered any of your grass in the process, or it will be damaged or killed as well. In a few weeks, your clover problem will be solved.
You can also use a DIY mixture to spot treat the clumps of clover in your yard. Combine vinegar with a little dish soap and pour the concoction into a spray bottle. Spray directly onto the clover. Again, you will want to take care not to involve nearby grass or other plants in this treatment, or they will be destroyed along with the clover.
Mow On A High Setting
Letting your grass grow a little longer can help to eradicate this weed.
Keep the mower on a setting of around 1in1.4in to help the turf gain strength and block out light for the clover, recommends David.
If the weed is widespread, rake the turf first to lift stems before mowing, adds the RHS . Remember to always use a grass box on the mower to minimize spreading seeds around and worsening the problem.
Need to update your tool for the job? Our buying guide to the best lawn mower is a good place to start your search.
Allow your grass to grow at a slightly taller height so that it blocks the light from reaching clover
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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.
Mow Your Lawn Higher Than 3 Inches
Clover is a low-growing plant with a shallow root system. Consequently, it does not grow as tall as the surrounding grass. If you set your mowers deck to three inches or higher, it will keep your grass higher than your clover, thus depriving the weed of sunlight.
While you might like the look of a close-cropped lawn, such a deep cut can harm your plants health. As a rule, cut no more than one-third off your grass during a single mowing session. Set your mowing height and your calendar accordingly.
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Minnesota Lawn Care You Can Depend On All Season Long
When treating your lawn, you want to avoid harsh chemicals and fast-release fertilizers that dont promote healthier growth in the long run. By adding more nutrients to your soil and increasing the nitrogen levels, you can avoid the spread of white clover in your yard.
Green Stuff Lawn uses effective weed control services in the Minneapolis area to promote lush, thick lawns all year round and prevent dangerous chemicals from seeping into groundwater systems or exposing irritants to your kids and pets. Our lawn maintenance services adapt to residential and commercial sites of all kinds, contact a Green Stuff Lawn technician to get started today.
How To Identify Clover In Your Yard
There are three types of clover that are most commonly found in lawns: white clover, red clover, and microclover. White and red clover are easily identified by their sphere-shaped clusters of tiny blooms and trio of petal-shaped leaves, each leaf bearing a white crescent or a V shape and measuring approximately one-half inch in size. The clover plant normally grows to no more than four to six inches in height although it can reach as much as 12 inches in height.
White clover can be found blooming from early spring until late fall. Red clover begins to bloom in late March and continues into April and can continue to bloom into early summer. Microclover is identified by leaves that are approximately half the size of white and red clover leaves. Once microclover has been mowed it may grow back at only one-third its original size. Microclover has significantly fewer flowers than red or white clover and its growth is denser and more far-reaching than the red or white varieties.
Microclover looks more uniform than other varieties of clover found in lawns, especially after its flowers have been removed by mowing. It grows lower to the ground than its counterparts. The fact that all varieties of this plant tend to grow close together makes it easy to spot clover patches in your yard.
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Deprive It Of Oxygen And Sunlight
You can kill clover by blocking it from all oxygen and sunlight. Take plastic sheeting or a garbage bag and place it over the patch, securing the corners with rocks to make sure it doesnt fly up. This should get rid of the clover in a few weeks. Be mindful that this approach will also kill any grass that gets under the plastic.
Dish Soap Is What Kills Clover But Not Grass
If you are looking for a natural weed killer to kill off your clover problem, you can create a home made weed killer. Many gardeners have reported excellent results when used as a spot treatment.
- Spray bottle
To make this simple DIY weed killer spray, fill the spray bottle just shy of full with vinegar and add a few drops of dish soap. Shake the bottle to mix the ingredients.
Spray generously on clover as a spot treatment for clumps or use it as a spray for dandelions or other ugly weeds that sprout where you dont want them to. When spraying, do so with caution, as this weed killer may kill surrounding plants.
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Leave Your Soil Alone
Unless youre disturbing the soil to dig up white clover around your lawn, ensure your soil is healthy and leave it be.
Clover seeds number in the thousands per plant. You must avoid bringing these seeds onto the topsoil because this increases the likelihood that the seeds will become a mature plant and a nuisance in your lawn. The seeds are typically brought to the surface by tilling and digging. So give your ground a break, and keep the seeds where they dont receive enough nourishment to mature.
How Do I Put Nitrogen In My Lawn
Fast-Acting NitrogenIncorporate ammonium phosphate sulfate into soil before planting grass. Apply ammonium nitrate or calcium nitrate during the winter on an established lawn for immediate availability. Ammonium sulfate provides rapid results but can burn turf if over-applied and has an acidifying effect on soil.
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How To Identify White Clover
White Clover is low growing, with stems that function as stolons and put out roots where the nodes touch the ground. The smooth green oval-shaped leaves often have pale or dark markings.
A common weed in Australia, White Clover can germinate in winter when many grasses are dormant.
The 15 to 20mm pom pom-like flower heads are white, with a brownish green centre and may develop a tinge of pink or cream as they age.
White Clover is hardy, tolerates close mowing and prefers clay soils, although it can grow on many different soil types and pH levels.
White Clover typically gains a foothold in lawns that are sparse and underfed, providing little competition against weeds.
Is Clover A Weed Or Grass
Clover is not closely related to the grass in your yard. It is actually part of the legume family, which means its closest relatives are peas and alfalfa. This is good news because certain chemical control methods that target clover will leave grass unharmed.
Clover is classified as a broadleaf weed, a category that includes other common weeds such as dandelions, poison ivy, and brambles. This is important because herbicides and methods for broadleaf weed control are effective ways to kill clover.
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Which Type Is Best
Dwarf white clover attracts bees and other wildlife. If desired, you can control blooming by mowing.
The two varieties most commonly used in lawns are Dutch white clover and more recently, micro-clover . Heres what you need to know about these options:
Dutch white clover:
- Usually needs reseeding after 2-3 years.
- Stays green all year round .
- Blooms when mature, providing food for bees.
- Does best with 4-6 hours of sun daily.
- Seeds at a rate of about 1lb per 1000 square feet.
Micro-clover:
- Is fairly shade tolerant, though does best in areas with sun.
- Can be mowed shorter than white clover.
- Is tolerant to more foot traffic.
- Produces about 90% fewer blooms than Dutch white clover.
- Turns brown in winter due to dormancy period.
- Seeds at a rate of about 1lb to 300-600 square feet.
How To Replace Your Lawn With Clover
Clover should be planted in the spring or summer so that it has time to establish itself before cold weather comes.
First, remove all of the grass on your current lawn to eliminate the competition. If you would like, you can leave the current lawn, and seed over top of the grass, but it will take longer for the clover to dominate the yard.
Second, regardless of whether you remove the grass or not, rake or scratch the surface of your yard wherever youd like to grow the clover as a grass substitute.
Third, spread the seed at about 6 to 8 ounces per 1,000 feet . The seeds are very small and may be hard to spread evenly. Do the best you can. The clover will eventually fill in any spots you miss.
Fourth, water deeply after seeding. For the next several weeks, water regularly until your white clover yard has established itself.
Fifth, do not fertilize your white clover lawn. This will kill it.
After this, simply enjoy your low maintenance, white clover lawn.
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How Do You Control White Clover
Management and controlThis weed is best controlled by herbicides containing dicamba, clopyralid, fluroxypyr, and quinclorac. Products containing combinations of these active ingredients usually provide very good control of white clover. Regrowth of foliage sometimes occurs following spring herbicide applications.
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Good Things About Clover In Lawns
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Treat The Whole Lawn With A Selective Weedkiller Concentrate
If Clover is running amock in your lawn along with other weeds like Dandelions and Daisies, then spot treatment isnt the best idea.
Instead, youll need to treat the whole lawn with a selective weedkiller concentrate like Scotts Weedol Lawn Weedkiller Concentrate. Again, this is your best option for killing Clover, as well as other weeds.
Its is designed to be mixed with water and applied using a watering can or knapsack sprayer.
When using weedkiller concentrates, however, you need to read the instructions carefully and dilute it accurately. Make it too strong and you risk killing the grass but diluting it too much could result in the weeds not dying.
