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How To Kill Lawn Clover

When Should Clover Be Killed

How To Kill Clover In Your Lawn The Cheap Way

The best time to kill the clover infestation you have in the yard is in the Spring when you notice them first beginning to sprout.

If you feel like your lawn could use the extra nitrogen that clovers bring and do not mind how it looks on your lawn, they dont necessarily need to be killed. They can prove to be beneficial.

How To Get Rid Of Clover With Nitrogen

The better fertilized your yard is, the fewer problems you will have with weeds. The same holds with white clover. To combat clover, check your lawns nitrogen levels, as the proper levels give you an advantage over the weeds.

Low nitrogen levels are required for clover to thrive, so look for a weed-and-feed product containing higher levels of nitrogen than other fertilizers. For lawns overtaken by clover, do not use a slow-release formula, as those only work on smaller patches.


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.

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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.


Is Tenacity Safer Than Roundup

How To Kill Clover In Lawn Naturally

The BEST Method is Prevention Hands down, the best way to kill weeds without Roundup is to preemptively spray pre-emergent herbicides which are found to be much safer than Glyphosate. … Tenacity is a systemic pre-emergence and post-emergence herbicide for the selective contact and residual control of weeds in…

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What Does Clover Look Like In Your Yard

If you see small, round, white or pink flowers in your yard with bees buzzing around them, chances are you have clover. Most lawns do. There are many varieties of this lowgrowing perennial weed, and all have the characteristic leaf structure of three round leaflets sitting on the end of a long stalk.

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.

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Does Clover Spread Fast

Perennial clover varieties create a fast-growing, dense web of roots and plant material over disturbed soil, keeping it in place. Planting clover in the garden will also help attract bees and other pollinators. Clover can, however, be highly invasive in some areas, as it spreads rapidly by seed and from the roots.


How Do I Identify Clovers In My Yard

How to KILL CLOVER in your LAWN

Clover is a legume that made its way to North America in the latter part of the 17th century and its origins can be traced back to Europe. Eden brings the three most common types of clover and their distinguishing characteristics to help you identify them.

  • White clover : White clover is the most common clover species found in lawns. It is a perennial, low growing and hardy clover species that spreads really quickly through stolons.
  • Red clover : Red clover can thrive in both dry or moist conditions. This type is bushier and taller than white clover and you can identify rec clover by the florets whose color ranges from red to magenta.
  • Strawberry clover : The growing patterns of strawberry clover are similar to white clover, the difference being that strawberry clover can thrive in coastal areas or near river estuaries as it has a higher salinity tolerance. You can identify strawberry clover by its pink and white florets that are smaller than those of white clover.

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What Will Kill Clover But Not The Lawn

Lawn weedkillers can kill clover but not the lawn although more than one application can be needed. As clover self-seeds, the process is most likely to need repeating in spring.

You will see homemade weedkillers that contain vinegar recommended online, but vinegar can kill lawn grass along with the clover so we dont advise using this method.

If the patches of clover arent extensive, simply removing them by hand will avoid harm to the lawn.


Lsa All Purpose Weed Control

This is an all-purpose weed-killer that can keep control of most common weedsnot just your pesky clover! Its a ready-to-use herbicide agent specifically developed for use on home lawns. It even has a handy clip-on hose attachment, so its very easy to use.

If you have more questions about clover or the health of your lawn, our team at Coolabah Turf are more than happy to help. You can get in touch with us here.

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Deprive Clover Of Sunlight

If youve been wondering how to get rid of clover, weve got you covered. If youre dealing with a large clover patch and youre willing to sacrifice your grass, place plastic sheeting, or a large garbage bag, over the clover. Be sure to secure the perimeter so the plastic doesnt fly off. Keep the clover covered for a few weeks. Depriving it of sunlight and oxygen should do the trick will kill it .

Clover Control: How To Get Rid Of Clover

How To Kill Clover In Your Lawn

Clover is one of the most recognizable broadleaf weeds on lawns and turf. Clover is a perennial weed that grows low to the ground and is very persistent where established.


Even though it is a weed, clover is actually a helpful addition to your lawn as it contains certain characteristics that keep your lawn healthy. If you’re keeping a nice uniform lawn, you may hate the sight of it and want it gone.

Clover weed prefers nutrient-rich, moist soils. Dry and shady sites are not ideal conditions for growth. The notable characteristic of clover are its three-leaves which are rounded. There are many different species of clover and they can produce heads or dense spikes of small red, purple, white, or yellow flowers.

If you have Clover on your lawn that you want to get rid of, our DIY guide can help. The guide below has been put together by lawn care experts and will show you what the best clover killers are to use to properly conduct clover treatment so this plant no longer dominates your yard.

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When Should I Apply Tenacity

Use Tenacity during the growing season when unwanted weeds are on the property. Tenacity pre-emergent applications must be done in the fall and early spring. For post-emergent applications, it is best to apply Tenacity herbicide to young, actively growing weeds and may require a second application after 2 to 3 weeks.


Can I Mix Tenacity With Trimec

Answer: Yes, Gordons Trimec Classic Broadleaf Herbicide and Tenacity Herbicide can be mixed. It is always recommended to do a small tank mixture to ensure there is no clumping between the two products, and that you always follow the more restrictive label when using multiple products at the same time.

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What Is Clover And How Do I Control It

If you dream of a picture-perfect lawn, clover may be your nemesis. Known for its 3-part leaves and white flowers, clover was once a welcome addition to lawns.

If you dream of a picture-perfect lawn, clover may be your nemesis. Known for its 3-part leaves and white flowers, clover was once a welcome addition to lawns. Over time, though, many have come to see it as an invasive species that mars the look of a pure green stretch of grass.

Spread Organic Fertilizer To Kill Clover

How to Kill Clover in your Lawn

If there are small patches of clover in your lawn then a good way to get rid of them will be to use nitrogen rich organic fertilizer instead of using chemical fertilizer. These fertilizers are slow release fertilizers and will slowly kill off the clover due to nitrogen overdose.

The benefit of using organic nitrogen rich fertilizers is that they dont harm your landscape in any way and they encourage healthy lawn growth in the long run but the downside is that they act slowly. Therefore they can only be used when the weed coverage is small enough that you can afford to wait for the organic fertilizer to do its job.

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Lawn And Turfgrass Weeds: White Clover

It is very prevalent in under-fertilized lawns and grows best in full sun however, it can also colonize turf areas that receive fertilizer and are partially shaded. White clover produces stolons and can creep into thin turf, forming patches. It grows well in spring, summer, and fall, and is most noticeable when flowering during late spring and early summer. Although some homeowners dont mind having clover in their lawns, others object to its patchy appearance.

Figure 2. Patches of white clover in a home lawn. Photo: Peter Landschoot, Penn State

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Use Corn Gluten On Clover

Another way to get rid of clover is to use corn gluten. Corn meal gluten kills off the clover without harming nearby plants. It works by releasing organic dipeptides into the soil. The dipedtides dry out the clovers seeds and make it hard for them to sprout. This well-reviewed product can be used by mixing three parts water to one part corn gluten. One liter of this mixture will cover about 1,000 square feet. Once applied, be sure to water well and then allow it to dry.

Note: While the dipedtides have worked to get rid of clover for some, corn gluten hasnt worked for all, and is therefore not universally regarded as a solution for dealing with clover.

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Adjust Your Mowing Height

Mowing over clover with a lawnmower is a temporary way to control clover growth. Most people think that lowering their mowers height, so it sits closer to the ground is the most effective way to control clover. The opposite is true.

Clover is a low-growing weed and offers a shallow root system. Allowing your grass to grow taller blocks the sunlight clover needs to grow.

How To Kill Clover

Chickweed, Clover and Oxalis Weed Killer Concentrate

1. Post-emergent, lawn safe herbicides are the most effective way to kill clover. Using a liquid post emergent herbicide will kill the clover without killing your grass. Post emergent herbicides are also useful in killing other lawn weeds.

2. Pre-emergent herbicides are effective in preventing new clover seedlings from developing but it is important to realize it will not kill existing clover.

Pre-emergents prevent new clover seeds from germinating. If you already have clover in your lawn you will need to use a post-emergent herbicide in addition to a pre-emergent.

Pre-emergent herbicides are also the key to preventing other lawn weeds such as crabgrass, and dandelionsfrom taking over.

3. Maintaining a healthy lawn is the best defense against clover, or any lawn weeds. When you have bare spots in your lawn, it is the weeds that will claim the real estate. Stick to a simple lawn care program to keep your existing turf lush.

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How Do I Kill The Clover In My Lawn

The best way we find to kill clover is to look at your nitrogen levels and consider a higher nitrogen fertiliser program to effectively deal with any issues in your lawn. Specifically, a thorough spray treatment will kill off the clover roots and the nitrogen will be replenished back into the soil. Put simply, lawns love nitrogen while clover hates it, so reaching for a good quality fertiliser is a must. Broadleaf weed and clover specific sprays are also highly effective at killing off this not-so-lucky charm.

A very common way people use to try and control clover is by just mowing it down. But while mowing your lawn nice and short can keep clover under control to a certain degree, it wont prevent it from growing back and cutting the grass too short could also damage your lawn. Clover has no issues with being mowed short and will likely continue to thrive, which is not what you want. Try to maintain a turf height of 3 inches when treating your lawn for clover.

If clover is growing because of an overwatered or overfed lawn, then the solution is proper lawn care and only watering the grass when it is dry.

Is Clover The Enemy Of Lawn Maintenance

Clover was a standard component of all lawns until relatively recently. In fact, due to its beneficial properties, clover was deliberately included lawn seed mixes.

Homeowners and green keepers didnt consider clover a problem until the 1950s. So what changed?

After World War II, the same companies that had been developing chemical weapons, turned their attention to pesticides. The formulation of herbicides made it possible to cultivate monocultures.

Suddenly, clover was marketed as the enemy, along with dandelions, bindweed, and other broad-leaved flowering plants.

However, it was precisely the companies that created and sold pesticides and herbicides, that were on the front lines of the new war against clover. The trend for unsustainable monocultures in gardens and agriculture was created through clever marketing by agrochemical corporations.

So, to wrap up that slightly depressing spiel, clover is not an enemy of a healthy lawn. But there are some pros and cons to weigh up when deciding how much of it to include in your yard. Lets look at them in more detail.

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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.

Spray A Vinegar Solution

How To Kill Clover In Your Lawn … Simple & Easy

Create your own non-toxic weed killer with this natural home remedy.

  • Mix one cup of vinegar with a cup of water and one drop of dish soap.
  • Shake it up and spray it onto any patches of clover. The vinegar will dry out the clovers leaves, and the dish soap will make sure it sticks.
  • You may need to spray over a series of weeks to kill off the clover completely. Unfortunately, the vinegar can damage grass, so spray the solution carefully.

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How To Eliminate Clover

Though it is possible to remove clover from your lawn by hand, its far easier to apply a 3-way herbicide to combat clover and keep your lawn healthy. There are plenty of herbicides that can do the trick, including organic weed killer options that will target clover but not jeopardize your overall lawn health. Such broadleaf herbicides are best used for spot treatment purposes.

Its important to enact such clover control measures as soon as you notice it. Doing so helps prevent the spread of clover plants and helps maintain a beautiful lawn.

There are a few other ways to eliminate clover. One is by mixing vinegar with dish soap and spraying any clover patches on the lawn. You can also cover it with plastic sheeting or a garbage bag to deprive it of the oxygen and sunlight it needs to grow.

After clover is eliminated, you may have to fill in any bare spots in the lawn with grass seed.

Reach For Roundup For Lawns

If you just want to get out there and kill the clover, simply use Roundup® for Lawns, which is specially formulated to kill weeds like clover while leaving your lawn unharmed when used as directed. Heres an important thing to note, though: Wiping out clover plants is one thing, but preventing clover seeds from sprouting into new plants is a tougher issue, since they can stay dormant in the soil for years before they sprout. Chances are, youre going to need to re-apply Roundup® for Lawns each year to kill any new clover plants that appear.

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Can Clover Replace Turf

Weve talked about how more people are actively encouraging a mix of clover and grasses in their lawns due to its beneficial properties. In fact, more and more lawn seed mixes are starting to include clover again which is excellent news.

But did you know that there is such thing as an entirely clover lawn?

Interest in clover lawns is increasing due to concerns for pollinator numbers, and as people recognize the unsustainable nature of monocultures like grass lawns.

Grass lawns require constant inputs of water, synthetic chemical fertilizers and herbicides, all of which are expensive and harmful for your pocket, the environment, and human health.

Grass lawns serve little to no purpose other than looking good to some people , and filling the pockets of agrochemical companies.

Grass lawns dont support the local ecosystem or help the pollinator situation in any way, and keeping them green all year round is a huge waste of precious drinking water.

Clover lawns on the other hand, tick all of the environmental and sustainability boxes that grass lawns dont.

They dont require watering, or fertilizing. They dont require any herbicides as clover usually outcompetes other weeds. And, crucially, they provide food for pollinators.

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.


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