How To Kill Clover

One of the most frequently asked question about lawn care, specifically weed control, is how to kill clover weeds?

What is Clover?
Clover is a fast spreading broad leaved annual weed that has several different varieties. White clover is the one that gives most homeowners the biggest problems.

Due to clover’s fast spreading nature, it can quickly form thick patches and choke out your lawn.

Clover is able to spread so fast because it spreads via a below ground root system as well as from ground seeding.

How To Prevent Clover

After ridding your lawn of clover you should follow these preventative measures.

1. A product made by Agralawn is an organic, nontoxic post-emergent weed control that kills clover.
2. In early spring use a post emergent selective herbicide, preceded by a follow up spraying several times a year.
3. The most effective method of controlling clover is to keep a healthy thick lawn. The thick grass will naturally prevent the clover from growing.
4. a natural or organic way to prevent initial clover growth is to apply cornmeal, using 10 pounds for every 1,000 to 1,200 square feet.
5. Raising your mowing height to allow for slightly taller grass, combined with frequent mowings will promote a thicker lawn, choking out clover and other weeds.

Final Thoughts
Remember once you kill the clover you will need to replace the nitrogen that was normally provided by the clover. This can be tackled by using a slow release/gradually dissolving nitrogen product.

Clover in small quantities does provide several benefits to your lawn.  Clover takes nitrogen out of the air and provides it to the surrounding grass, essentially acting like a free fertilizer for your lawn.  Realize by killing the clover you will have to replace this fertilizer with mulching your grass clippings and regular fertilizer treatments.  Finally clover is very drought tolerant so it is helpful in dry areas.

Clover can be killed by applying a selective broad leaf herbicide in the late spring or very early summer.  Remember to read the herbicide’s directions fully and follow all safety precautions.  A common ingredient in the herbicide is dicamba or MCPP.

Generally speaking no fertilizer does not kill clover, by its very nature fertilizer is applied to provide growth and strengthening to plants, it will also do the same for weeds including clover. By applying fertilizer to your yard it will improve your grass but also have the same effect on clover.

We recommend before applying a fertilizer you kill or remove and weeds from within your yard.