The appearance of clover in your lawn becomes annoying when you want to maintain a neat green grass area. Many homeowners want to get rid of clover in their lawn to reach their full potential.
You have two major methods to eliminate clover from your lawn space. This guide will enable you to achieve a healthier lawn with thicker growth that does not contain any unwanted clover areas.
How to Identify Clover and Differentiate It from Grass
The widespread plant Clover exists in numerous lawns and is identifiable from normal grass. Clover leaves create three leaflets that give this plant its alternative name, trifoliate plant. The discovery of a four-leaf clover happens only occasionally, although it is very rare to find.
The leaflets display a green coloration and frequently carry a white V-shaped watermark referred to as a watermark or chevron. The flowers of Clover plants are tiny enough to serve as an identification marker. Two main clover varieties exist as White Clover (white flowers) and Black Medic (yellow flowers).
How is Clover Different from Grass
- Grass has long (narrow blades) while clover has broad (oval leaflets)
- Grass grows upright, but clover spreads out low and creeps along the ground.
- Clover often appears in patches that look fuller and darker green compared to surrounding grass.
- Clover blooms with small flowers, while regular grass rarely flowers visibly in lawns.
Effective Methods to Get Rid of Clover in Your Lawn
Clover grows rapidly to dominate your lawn when there is no prevention. People have different preferences when it comes to clover in their lawns because some accept it while others desire an uncluttered green space with only grass. Several methods exist to manage clover growth.
Adjust Your Mowing Height
Use your mower blade to cut your grass to a height of 3 inches. The growth of clover becomes quicker when the grass receives very short cuts.
Moreover, the grass height should be increased to block sunlight which creates unfavorable conditions for clover growth. The right fertilizer application to low-nitrogen soil will create healthier grass growth which makes clover survival more difficult.
Large clover areas should receive coverage from garbage bags or plastic sheeting. Sunlight gets blocked by this material while the clover roots use up their nutrients which leads to the clover’s elimination.
Safely Remove Clover Without Harming Grass
Hand removal of clover remains an option for natural lawns. The most effective method for manual removal requires soil conditions to be damp. You should either water the area or let rain occur before beginning the removal process.
Start by using the spade to carefully free the soil surrounding the clover area. After loosening the soil, extract the clover plants while ensuring the complete removal of their root systems.
Clover plants have short roots that make them simpler to pull out than deep-rooted weeds such as dandelions.
Best Herbicides for Clover Control in Lawns
If you prefer chemical methods for clover control in lawns, a “broadleaf herbicide” enables you to eliminate clover weeds without damaging your grass. Select herbicides which contain active ingredients 2,4-D, dicamba, MCPP or triclopyr.
You should always check the label to understand both application amounts and timing. The choice between organic and natural herbicides exists for those who want to avoid chemical solutions.
Corn Gluten to Naturally Prevent Clover Growth
You need to use corn gluten on your lawn during each spring season. The natural herbicide properties of corn gluten prevent seeds from developing roots before germination.
Soil temperature monitoring should begin in late winter or early spring so you can apply it at its optimal time. Water the lawn thoroughly after distributing the corn gluten application.
Organic Alternatives to Clover Weed Killers
Vinegar Solution
- A natural approach for clover weed removal involves directly spraying weeds with vinegar solution. The use of vinegar poses a risk to your grass as well as weed elimination. The most effective solution is horticultural vinegar containing at least 20% acetic acid instead of typical household vinegar.
- Spray the solution during a dry day without expecting any rainfall. Multiple applications of vinegar spray might be needed to completely eliminate clover weeds. Protective measures should be taken when you handle the application process.
Organic Herbicides:
- The application of organic herbicides with fenthion as their active ingredient presents another alternative for clover control. The herbicides destroy clover through iron toxicity without damaging your grass.
- The iron in these herbicides can benefit your grass because it tolerates iron more effectively than clover. The application of this herbicide might require multiple treatments throughout the season to achieve complete clover elimination.
Conclusion
The right methods enable complete removal of clover from your lawn areas. There are multiple solutions for clover removal. Moreover, a well-fertilized healthy lawn combined with proper identification of clover causes will stop its recurrence. A little amount of work will lead you to achieve a weed-free green lawn.
FAQs
An herbicide made for clover treatment will not damage grass while it kills clover. A spray bottle containing white vinegar mixed with dish soap and water can be used as a solution. Apply the spray solution directly to clover leaves while keeping the grass areas free from treatment.
The most effective way to remove clover is to cut it down to the soil and use a weed and feed product, such as Yates 2.4L BuffaloPro Weed ‘n’ Feed Hose on Weed Killer. This will help kill the clover while promoting healthy grass.
Yes, 20% vinegar can kill clover weeds as well as dandelions and creeping charlie. The non-selective nature of vinegar makes it destroy any plant that comes into contact with it. Spray the vinegar while taking care to prevent it from touching your grass.
