How To Get Rid Of Clover
Do you have clover in your yard? To some, clover can be an attractive addition to the landscape, but it can quickly become a nuisance. It’s important to understand how to identify and inspect clover, as well as know how to get rid of it using selective herbicides and preventing it from returning. Here is our guide on how to get rid of clover weeds in your yard.
Key Takeaways
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White clover is the most common species of clover that you'll spot on your home's lawn, but there are others, such as red clover and sweet clover.
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Clover is a tenacious weed that can very quickly invade residential lawns
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Three petal-shaped leaves give clover its distinctive and easily recognizable appearance.
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Thick and dense grass create a healthy environment that helps to prevent the spread of clover in your lawn. We recommend you apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer.
Clover Identification And Inspection
Characteristics Of Clover
White clover is a member of the bean family, and boasts an intricate root system which makes it hard to eradicate. Within lawns and gardens, white clover grows in patches of green with white blossoms dotting the grass. It loosens the soil, which helps prevent other weeds (that prefer compacted soil) from taking hold.
It features three petal-shaped leaflets on each stem, and these green leaflets feature a white crescent shape. The flowers of clover look like a white sphere made up of tiny petals. Clover can crowd out slow-growing turf grasses, so it's important to tackle this weed quickly.
Clover Inspection
If you want to inspect for clover in your lawn, look for surrounding grass that has a darker shade of green compared to the surrounding turf. Generally, clover grows in thin turf and thrives in soils with low fertility levels. Furthermore, clover spreads easily through stem branches that extend two inches below the soil surface.
When conducting an inspection for white clovers, look out for small white flowers along with three-petaled (sometimes four) leaves in patches throughout the lawn. The presence of such patches signals a clover problem and suggests the need for remedial action. Therefore, it is important to carefully assess your lawn to identify any potential issues with clover and take appropriate steps to eliminate them.
Control Clover
How To Get Rid Of Clover
Taking control of a white clover weed infestation can be a daunting task, but with the right weed killer and weed control regimen it is possible to bring your lawn back from the brink. To begin, it is essential to ensure that proper personal protective equipment is worn before beginning treatment.
The most effective weed control occurs when the weedkiller is applied when the clover has completed blooming, preferably in early spring. With a spray bottle, or professional spray tank, apply an even coating of weed killer with a fine mist and consider repeating applications every 6 weeks or so for optimal results. When you choose the right product for your grass, you won’t harm it.
View our safe products for your specific variety of grass:
Clover Selective Herbicide Recommendations
Blindside Herbicide: Blindside Herbicide is proven to effectively eradicate weeds like Dollarweed, Ground Ivy, Doveweed, Buttonweed, and Clover that can compromise the health of your St. Augustine grass and other warm-season turf areas. This powerful post-emergent solution comes as a convenient WDG (Water Dispersible Granule) containing 0.66 lb active ingredient per pound of product for quick results against tough clover problems.
Weed Beater Complete Granules: Prozone Weed Beater Complete is an effective and versatile herbicide for controlling a wide range of weeds - from cool to warm climates. It works as both pre-emergent and post-emergent, effectively tackling sedges, clover, and broadleaf varieties with ease.
Prime Source Triclopyr 4E Select: Prime Source Triclopyr 4E Select is a powerful oil-soluble liquid herbicide designed to take down unwanted woody plants, perennials, and annual broadleaf weeds. It absorbs quickly through both the roots and foliage of over 30 troublesome species - including ground ivy, clover, plantain, thistles, wild violets (and more) – providing fast results.
Non-Selective Herbicide Recommendations
When it comes to managing weeds, many homeowners turn to herbicides for a quick fix. However, using non-selective herbicides can be extremely dangerous and hazardous to any nearby vegetation not intended to be eradicated. These products are indiscriminate and may lead to costly mistakes if handled incorrectly.
We highly recommend that anyone wishing to use herbicides exercise maximum caution and strictly follow the instructions included in their product packaging. The right choice of herbicide can make a major difference in the overall success of your weed management strategy.
Eraser 41% Weed Killer Herbicide: Eraser Weed Killer is a powerful, non-selective herbicide designed to effectively tackle all types of weeds, from annuals and perennials to woody brush and trees. This post-emergent weed killer allows for quick results with no residual soil activity – making it the perfect choice for any outdoor environment.
Clover Prevention
To prevent clover from growing, you’ll want to release fertilizer onto the area. Particularly, select one that is rich in nitrogen. This will help discourage the white clover from growing and won't have any negative effect on other plants in the lawn or garden.
You should also set your mower to cut grass blades at 2 inches or longer, as this will make it difficult for clover seedlings to find enough sunlight and moisture to grow. It is important to remember that mowing too close will just help the clover compete with other grasses. When mowing, be sure to collect the clippings in a garbage bag, so any remnants can’t re-establish themselves in your yard. Follow these simple steps to help keep your lawn weed-free!
Recommended Clover Prevention Products
Dithiopyr 40 WSB: Dithiopyr 40 WSB is an ideal herbicide solution for pre-emptive control of typical grasses like crabgrass, kikuyugrass, and goosegrass. In addition to those commonly seen weeds, it also offers protection against the less common annual bluegrass, barnyard grass, oxalis ryegrass, and spurge. Ensure you are following label instructions carefully to ensure the safety of your turfgrass.
Do-It-Yourself Pest Control Can Help You Eliminate Clover
Do-It-Yourself Pest Control is a great way to tackle your clover weed infestation without spending lots of money. You can purchase the right products for your specific variety of grass and use them according to the instructions provided in their product packaging. Doing so will ensure that you get rid of white clover quickly and effectively, leaving you with a beautiful lawn free from these pesky perennial weeds!
If you have any questions regarding clover control or lawn care in general, please don't hesitate to contact us at Do-It-Yourself Pest Control. We'd be more than happy to provide you with the answers you're looking for and help you get rid of your clover problem quickly and effectively! If you follow our recommendations, we're confident that your lawn will be weed free and lush in no time!