The Benefits And Why Clover Went Out Of Style
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Clover hasnt always been the bane of every lawn lovers existence.
Sure, ripping it out as soon as it creeps into your perfectly manicured turf might be a good way to fit into your neighborhood nowadays. But this lawn care tidbit could surprise you: Several decades ago, killing clover was not at all in vogue. It was a standard part of grass seed mixes.
With more homeowners today avoiding the use of pesticides, its likely clovers could come back in style again as a wonderful part of your lawn. Shocked and awed? Why would anyone want to reintroduce whats considered a weed back into their lawn?
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Turf Builder Triple Action
For a larger problem of clover and other weeds, you may use the stronger solutions in this specific product. Do not forget to follow what the directions say on the label.
Besides dealing with clover, Turf Building Triple Action will also feed the lawn.
Finally, you will have thick green lawns. Compared to the previous product, there are more than three kinds of weeds that you can get rid of with this.
For the grass, it can handle the Tall Fescue, Fine Fescue, Perennial Ryegrass, Kentucky Bluegrass, Centipedegrass, Bahiagrass, and Bermudagrass.
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Spray Corn Gluten Meal On The Clovers
Corn gluten meal acts as a pre-emergent herbicide. It has organic peptides that dry and prevents clover seeds from germinating and sprouting on the lawn.
For every 1000 square feet of lawn, you will need 20 pounds of corn gluten meal. Cover the yard with corn gluten meal, water in, and let the clover seeds dry.
Dont apply corn gluten meal after overseeding with grass seeds because it will dry them. Corn gluten meal is available in garden or online stores.
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Use A Nitrogen Rich Fertilizer On Your Lawn
Clover preys upon lawns that are deficient in nitrogen and have low soil fertility. Using nitrogen-rich fertilizer or weed n feed products will ensure that your nitrogen levels are sufficient. The healthy and thick grass growth that results will not afford the weeds enough room to begin their hostile takeover.
Its also important to remember that higher phosphorus levels in your lawn promote clover invasion on your lawn. Keep that in mind when you go to fertilize your lawn. Because you will need adequate phosphorus levels to keep your lawn healthy, but a surplus of the nutrient can support the growth of these weeds.
The Benefits Of Clover Dandelions And Lawn Weeds
Kelly Burke is a professional turf manager for a manicured corporate campus in New England. He is accredited in organic land care and is a licensed pesticide applicator. He formerly managed the turfgrass as a golf course superintendent and has held several senior management positions at private country clubs overseeing high maintenance lawns.
The many plants we consider weeds are hated for the simple fact that they grow where we don’t want them to, and they do so with considerable vigor and tenacity. In many ways, the plants we call weeds are genetically superior to the landscape plants we find more desirable since they thrive so readily. But a great many of these so-called “weeds” have other uses that we overlook in our frenzy to eradicate them from our lawns and gardens. Two such plants are clover and dandelions.
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Micro Clover Lawn Pros And Cons
Micro Clover Lawn Pros and Cons? Nowadays Clover loses their reputation but years ago its an essential part of the lawn that maintains the natural beauty of the lawn without any extra efforts like seeding, water, fertilizer, compost, herbicide, and weeding.
There are some beneficial effects of white clover in the lawn , also known as Dutch clover or Dutch white clover.
But now most homeowners are in favor of one type of grass that appealing to them but it rise their maintenance cost for them also. it requires much effort to maintain the greenery of the lawn grass.
If you dont want to put much effort to maintain your lawn green then you can opt for white clover that has little amount of flowers so you can generally use a mower while in the spring and fall season when that get flowers to get rid of them easily. The deep green leaves of clovers are appealing to many homeowners.
Reason : Clover Prevents Weeds
We talk about mowing your lawn high to help prevent weeds. Mowing high helps prevent weeds because the taller the grass, the more it shades the surface of the soil and makes it difficult for weeds to establish. Clover, with its umbrella-like leaves, shades the soil better than blades of grass do, so it, creating a less optimal environment for weeds. If you have Clover in your lawn, you can even mow at a more normal mowing height . So, if you like mowing your lawn short, Clover can help you avoid having a million other weeds. See how the grass in the playing field of Microclover below has far fewer dandelions than the perimeter grass without Clover?
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Five Benefits Of Keeping Clover In Lawns
Before World War II, White Dutch clover was prominent in lawns. In fact, it used to be a standard ingredient in grass seed mixes. But after petrochemical-based weed killers were introduced, these products killed weeds – and clover. Since then, the lawn plant has been looked down on as a weed, when, in fact, it has many benefits for lawns. Here are five reasons why you should think twice before getting rid of clover in your lawnthe benefits of this tiny plant may surprise you.
Everyone knows that a vibrant and lush lawn has some type of fertilizer helping it out, whether it’s granular fertilizer or even compost. However, many people don’t know that clover has the ability to fix nitrogen in yards, giving this yard plant the ability to act as a tiny fertilizer machine.Clover often moves into areas with poor soil because it heals soil that’s nitrogen-deficient clover takes nitrogen from the air, converts it to a plant-friendly form, and releases it into the soil. Voila! Beautiful grass.
There’s nothing worse than driving past a patchy brown yard in the drought of summer. It’s especially disheartening for lawn mowing businesses, because if there’s no grass to mow, there’s also no work. That’s why clover is so helpful. It stays green during even the driest spells due to its deep roots, out-performing many cool-season grasses and giving the visually pleasing aesthetic of a healthy lawn. Plus, it will keep the work coming for lawn maintenance professionals.
Clover May Be Cheap To Grow But Has Several Disadvantages
Some property owners love the idea of clover lawns. Clover is cheap to grow, resistant to droughts, and doesn’t require fertilizer applications to thrive. However, other property owners try to avoid it because of disadvantages such as:
- It stains more easily than other kinds of grass do
- It’s a short-lived perennial that requires reseeding every couple of years
- On its own, it isn’t durable enough for areas that experience heavy traffic
Rather than a functional and aesthetically-pleasing groundcover, most people view clover as an annoying weed that invades their lawn.
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Does Clover Belong In A Home Lawn
This is a frequently debated subject and passions run high on either side of the argument.
Without question, clover has certain benefits. Its green color matches many lawn grasses and it maintains that color even during the hottest days of summer when some grasses struggle and begin to fade. It is able to withstand dog urine, something that will kill virtually all desirable grasses. It can grow nearly anywhere outside of dense shade and requires little maintenance it rarely gets tall enough to mow, it can survive with very little water, and it actually prefers soils that arent fertilized.
However, clover also has certain downsides. It struggles under even moderate amounts of traffic. It will not survive in yards that are frequent playgrounds for kids and pets or home to sports played by adults. When it is played on it tends to stain clothing easily and its stains can be difficult to remove.
Ultimately it is best to go in one direction or the other. Either grow a microclover dominated lawn microclovers being a superior subtype of common white clover or grow one dominated by grass.
Are Clovers Bad For My Garden
Not really, having clovers benefits your garden. They help your lawn by adding nitrogen to the soil, which gives the surrounding flora a good boost. Also, the plant needs little to no maintenance it requires minimum fertiliser, compost, or weeding and is drought tolerant. Clovers can save your garden from other weeds by out-competing them and do well in more shady spots.
On the other hand, clovers give birth to small blossoms which can attract bees. Bees are extremely important for the environment and you should never harm them but try having a lawn covered by the insect. So, for those that are allergic to the striped bug, having a lawn covered in hundreds of tiny flowers isnt the best garden solution out there.
Also, if you are looking for a clean and uniformed green space, clovers wont do you much good in terms of aesthetics. This sort of plant can easily out crowd turf and ornamental grass, giving your lawn a weedy and unmaintained look.
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Will Clover Take Over Grass
If your lawn is in deplorable shape, plus you have poor soil, clover can likely take over. However, if your lawn is in good condition, it is unlikely that clover will become a major issue.
On the other hand, clover will also outcompete less desirable weeds such as crabgrass, which is why it was historically a default part of lawn seed mixes. Using similar combinations today can help you curb the spread of other weeds.
Is Clover The Enemy Of Lawn Maintenance
As the history of lawns teaches us, clover and other subtle weeds that take mowing well used to be a regular part of yards for a long time.
Homeowners and managers didnt consider clover a problem until the 1950s. Due to their useful properties, clovers were a regular part of old-time lawn seed mixes.
However, the invention of herbicides brought the possibility of growing tidy monoculture all-turf lawns. Suddenly, clover was represented as an enemy of lawns, along with dandelions, bindweed, and other broad-leaved flowering plants.
And it was precisely the companies that created and sold the weed killers that were in the front lines of the new war against clover. Coincidence? I dont think so.
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Clovers Many Lawn Care Benefits
As she walks me through the list of everything clover is capable of for lawn health, the benefits are staggering. Clovers are a beneficial addition to turfgrass because they fix atmospheric nitrogen into soil fertilizer, with the aid of root nodules colonies of symbiotic bacteria, says Sharapova.
Clover also draws up and accumulates trace minerals. When clover decomposes, it makes the minerals available to the lawn grass and soil life. The grass becomes more disease resistant because of the health benefits of clover.
In effect, making friends not enemies with clover means reducing the use of fertilizers, herbicides, and any chemicals one might use to keep disease at bay. This could save people a pretty penny, and it also makes clover way better for the environment than grass-only lawns.
Sharapova adds, Including clover in a lawn can eliminate the need for synthetic fertilizer, which then reduces nutrient runoff into local streams and aquatic habitat can reduce erosion.
Clover As A Lawn Grass
Clover is usually considered a weed and is fought with herbicides and other remedies by homeowners and landscape professionals in their quest for a perfect lawn containing nothing but turf grasses. A little reflection and botanical knowledge though can show you that white clover can be an ideal component within a blend of turf grasses. The fact that clover is a legume means that it actually makes its own nitrogen and fixes it in the soil. Not only does clover not require any nitrogen fertilizer, but it also supplies nitrogen for other nearby plants. Add this to the fact that clover is drought-tolerant, and we soon begin to wonder why we don’t want clover in our lawns.
In fact, clover actually was an intentional part of the typical American lawn prior to World War II. At that time, clover was a part of widely available seed blends, along with fescues, ryegrasses and Kentucky bluegrass. Because of its ability to thrive in poor soil, fix its own nitrogen and survive in drought conditions, clover was deliberately added to grass mixes in order to aid in the growth of the surrounding grasses.
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How To Get Rid Of Clover In Your Lawn Naturally
If you dont want clover taking over your lawn, there are several natural and organic ways to get rid of itno harsh chemicals needed.
Some homeowners like clover in their lawn, but many dont. If white clover is springing up and creeping out in patches in your yard, there are several ways you can get rid of it. If youre interested in going green, theres good newsyou dont have to use harsh chemicals. There are a number of simple ways to get rid of clover in your lawn naturally.
This Old House has rounded up the best methods for getting rid of clover in your lawn naturally, some of which wont even harm your grass. Once youve eradicated your clover problem, The This Old House Reviews Team recommends hiring a professional lawn care company to keep your lawn healthy, hardy, and robustmuch less likely to attract clover. We recommend TruGreen, an industry leader that offers five annual programs and a la carte services.
And Thats How To Get Rid Of Clover
Now that you know how to get rid of clover, you can enjoy a blemish-free lawn that doesnt attract bees.
However, youve probably also learned that there are benefits to keeping clover around. It increases soil nitrogen, stays green through dry spells, supports environmentally important insects, and can smother weeds. Unfortunately, it can choke out grass. Your approach to clover is up to you.
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Tips To Kill Clover In Your Lawn Naturally
May 15, 2020
Organics
Clover is far from the worst weed to run into, as its relatively easy to kill using chemical herbicides. But what if you have children and pets who frequently play in your yard? The last thing you want to do is risk harming them by applying chemicals in their play area.
This is where natural clover herbicides can step in and handle weed control, sans chemicals. Below are four tips to kill clover in your lawn naturally without resorting to strong chemicals. Plus, you may already have some of these items sitting around the house.
Advantage #: Low Mower Deck
Another advantage clover has over your grass is that it doesnt mind being mown short. Mowing stresses your lawn, keeping your grass mown short gives clover a head start over and over. Many times on our blog we have recommended that homeowners keep their grass a little longer in order to help the grass stay healthy. Raising the deck on your mower and keeping your grass a little longer evens the playing field, so to speak, and helps your grass get ahead.
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Can Clover Replace Turf
Throughout the article, I have introduced you to the clover properties and numerous ways to get rid of it. But, heres something completely different.
Did you know that you can actually create a clover lawn?
Inquiries on clover lawns are growing in popularity primarily because of the pollinator crisis. Both wild and domesticated bees are experiencing massive losses globally, partially due to the lack of food.
In that context, our turf lawns lack any flowers they can collect nectar from. To insect pollinators, our lush turf is just one big green desert.
Last but not least, we depend on pollinators for our survival they pollinate the crops we turn into food.
Because of that, some people have changed their lawn maintenance practices and turned to more natural, old-school lawn mixes that include low-growing flowering species.
Pollinators are not the sole reason, though. Some people have studied the properties of clover and decided that the fact that it doesnt require fertilization, doesnt need a lot of mowing and that it easily outcompetes other weeds will save them a lot of money and time.
Clover lawns consist of low-growing species of clover such as the White clover or Micro Clover . Micro clover doesnt flower much, so its a way to surpass bees if they present a hazard for you.
A clover lawn has some disadvantages too we have covered those in the Is it bad to have clover in your lawn section.
How Do I Get Rid Of Clover
The best way to rid your lawn of this pesky weed is by using herbicides, but there are other options if you dont want to use chemicals.
- The first thing you should do is take a closer look at why your lawn has so much clover and address the issue accordingly. If overwatering or fertilizing the area is causing the problem, then stop doing these things!
- If you need to use chemicals, apply them in the fall when clover is growing more slowly and avoid using too much nitrogen as this will only feed it.
- You can also mow your lawn at a higher level so that grass blades dont touch the ground often enough for clover to take hold.
Even if youre not interested in taking these steps, just keeping your lawn trimmed and watered properly will help keep clover at bay.
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