White clover is a strong contender for turfgrass. This tenacious perennial clings to the ground, effectively avoiding the mower deck. Harvesting nitrogen from the atmosphere and converting it into a form that can be used in plants, white clover grows well and even thrives in poor soils where traditional turfgrass lacks nitrogen and cannot gain traction. White clover is also remarkably hardy, and harsh winters rarely regress it. With our five essential tips for eliminating clovers from your lawn, you can avoid its spread.
1. Start with a Healthy Lawn
Shamrock doesn’t want you to know a secret: it can’t compete with lush lawns. A healthy lawn will promptly eradicate all types of weeds, including white clover. When grown in good soil and plenty of water, turfgrass grows more vigorously than white clover. Lawns essentially eliminate white clovers by growing into clover communities, growing new stems, and reducing the clover’s ability to capture sunlight. Soon the clover disappeared because it could not survive without sunlight.
A healthy lawn starts with good soil. Nutrient-rich, well-drained loam is the foundation of a lush lawn. Adequate hydration is another component. Turfgrass thrives when it absorbs about 1 inch of water per week from rainfall or irrigation.
Finally, the height of the mowing affects the health of the lawn. Turfgrass is best kept around 3 inches tall. Maintaining the lawn at a higher or lower mowing height results in a thinner coverage that can open up soil for weed seeds to take root. Warm-season grasses, such as centipede grass and knotweed, are an exception to this guideline. They grow well at a mowing height of 2 inches.
2. Strengthen the Lawn with Nitrogen
Fertilizing your lawn is an effective way to limit clover growth, and in many cases even eliminate clover altogether. In general, lawns infested with white clover grow in soils with low nitrogen content. White clover can get nitrogen from the atmosphere to meet its needs for growth, but turfgrass can’t do that. Provide nitrogen fertilizer to give turfgrass the upper hand.
For quick results, apply synthetic nitrogen fertilizer specially formulated for your lawn. Synthetic nitrogen fertilizer granules are quickly absorbed by plants and are easy to apply, which can be harmful to the environment if not applied properly. Applying too much fertilizer or sprinkling it near waterways can cause runoff, which can damage local habitats. Follow the package instructions carefully when applying fertilizer. When the lawn begins to grow in the spring and early fall, synthetic lawn fertilizer can be applied.
The natural way to promote soil health and available nitrogen is to sprinkle a thin layer of compost on your lawn in early spring and fall. Fully decomposed compost will provide the soil with a variety of nutrients in addition to nitrogen and promote a thriving soil microbial community. Don’t expect compost-based lawn fertilizers to stimulate rapid turf growth. Natural fertilizers act more slowly than synthetic fertilizers, but the long-term soil improvement they provide is valuable.
3. If Using Herbicides, Wait for Fall
Applying a broadleaf herbicide at the right time can eliminate white clover. While you may be tempted to use a herbicide in the spring or summer when the clover is lush and growing vigorously, wait a few months for the best results. University studies have found that autumn is the most effective time to apply a broadleaf herbicide specially formulated for white clover. When no rain is expected for at least 24 hours after application, control white clover is maximized by treating the turf. Do not mow the grass before or immediately after application. Strictly follow the product label instructions.
4. Consider the Cost
Eradicating white clover by treating lawns has economic and environmental costs. Take both into account when determining the action plan. Depending on whether you apply fertilizer or herbicide yourself or hire a lawn care company to take care of it for you, the financial cost varies widely. If using a service, get some quotes from a reputable provider.
The environmental costs of eradicating clover are also noteworthy. White clover is a food source for a variety of pollinators. Clover control measures – synthetic fertilizers and hardwood herbicides – have the potential to negatively impact the environment through destructive runoff and excessive spraying of harmful herbicides.
5. Rethink Your Turf
Is a dense, uniform lawn an important element of the landscape? If the answer is yes, white clover control is the best way forward. Honey bee lawns fall into this category and consist of turfgrasses such as fine fescue and Kentucky grass, as well as flowering plants such as white clover, which can grow at low mowing heights. Mixed crop lawns are diverse and not as neat as pure turf lawns, but they offer many environmental benefits while providing an inviting, lush gathering space.