How To Get Rid Of Clover In Lawn In South Africa

Overview

The clover mite, Bryobia praetiosa Koch, is one of the larger plant feeding mites found in the landscape. It often becomes a pest indoors after heavy rain, excessive heat or a change in the season, which stimulate massive numbers to enter buildings. The mites appear as moving dark spots to the naked eye, crawling around walls, windows and doors. Crushing the mites to kill them leaves a large reddish spot. Fortunately, the mites do not reproduce indoors and will die within a few days from dehydration.

How To Get Rid Of Clover In Lawn In South Africa

Pull It Out By Hand

For small patches, you can remove the clover manually. Gently loosen the soil with a spade and tug the clover out, roots and all. If you leave any roots behind, the clover will grow back.

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 doesn’t 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.

Spray a Vinegar Solution

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 clover’s 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.

Spread Organic Fertilizer

Using organic, slow-release, nitrogen-rich fertilizer will make your lawn less hospitable to clover. Some homeowners prefer traditional, fast-release fertilizer because it grows grass quickly and costs less. However, using organic fertilizer will lead to healthier growth in the long run. Common organic fertilizers include cow manure, guano, blood meal, bone meal, earthworm castings, and liquid kelp.

Use Corn Meal Gluten

Corn meal gluten releases organic peptides into your soil, preventing the clover’s growth. This won’t work on existing clover, but will prevent new seeds from sprouting—indiscriminately, so be careful not to use this method if you’ve recently reseeded your lawn.

Luckily, this measure won’t harm existing nearby grass. You can purchase corn gluten meal at your local garden store or online.

Mow Grass High

Clover grows best in grass less than 3 inches tall. This height stresses your grass, making it easier for clover to spread. Mowing your grass high gives it an advantage, making it easier for it to outcompete the clover.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

How do you kill clover without killing grass in South Africa?

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.

What is the best clover killer?

The best two chemicals to kill clover are MCCP (Mecoprop) and Dicamba. Between the two, Dicamba can be harsh on the environment, so MCCP is preferred for lawn care. Most lawn weed control products or weed and feed products contain MCCP and a combination of various other chemical herbicides to target other weed pests.

What fertilizer kills clover?

Apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer.

Clover does not do well in a nitrogen-rich environment, so a nitrogen fertilizer will kill this weed. Look for a fertilizer with a high nitrogen content at your local hardware store or online.

When should clover be killed in South Africa?

Pull Clover by Hand. If you happen to notice clover early, you can remove it from small areas by hand before it forms flowers and starts to spread. Clover spreads by seed and creeping stems that root along the ground, so be sure to pull it sooner than later.

How does clover spread in South Africa?

Though white clover does produce seeds, it also spreads by taking root along its creeping stems at structures called nodes. This helps the clover spread out over a large area. Clover still needs the aid or animals or humans to propagate in new territory.

What will kill clover but not the lawn?

Apply an Organic Herbicide

You can apply A.D.I.O.S. which is a selective, organic herbicide that will kill clover but not harm surrounding grass. Simply spray it on clover, and the weed will weaken and die.

Is clover OK for lawns?

Growing clover does not allow room for typical lawn weeds to thrive, meaning the lawns you mow could be weed-free and beautiful! Those are just a few ways that clover can benefit lawn grass. Not only is the use of clover organic, inexpensive, and easy, it’s also very effective.

Will clover choke out grass?

Clover stays green for a longer season than grass. Clover is very persistent with an aggressive root structure, choking out most weeds.

How do I add nitrogen to my lawn?

Nitrogen as a plant fertilizer is essential to proper plant growth.
Some organic methods of adding nitrogen to the soil include:

Adding composted manure to the soil.
Planting a green manure crop, such as borage.
Planting nitrogen fixing plants like peas or beans.
Adding coffee grounds to the soil.

Do you need to mow clover?

Easy-to-grow clovers do not require mowing, but they help keep the lawn green and create a nourishing playground for bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects.

Is clover better than grass?

But before you squash the shamrock-shaped intruders, consider the benefits of keeping clover as a low-maintenance, eco-friendly grass alternative or companion plant. Clover requires fewer harsh chemicals than regular lawns, tolerates tough growing conditions, and fixes nitrogen in the soil for other plants to thrive

Will clover take over weeds?

The clover will spread to fill the bare spots although it can take a while, and other weeds can take over the spots during this time. We’ve had good luck spreading microclover seed in bare spots.

Why does my lawn have so much clover?

While grass struggles to survive, clover thrives in areas with low nitrogen. In fact, it’s an indicator plant for low-nitrogen soil. The fix: Apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer to your lawn. Nitrogen fertilizer will fuel your grass in the fight against clover.

Does clover come back every year?

Once established, perennial clover comes back reliably, making it more suitable as a ground cover than annual species that usually need reseeding each year. Perennial clover will self-seed too, but it spreads consistently through its creeping root system.

When Should I spray my lawn for clover?

The best time to spray is in the early spring. Spray the weeds to wet but not to the point of runoff. Repeated application may be necessary about 6 weeks later to treat clover since it is a persistent weed.

Does clover attract bees?

Clover attracts bees – Honeybees are a wonderful thing to have in any garden as they pollinate the vegetables and flowers. However, when you have a white clover yard, the bees will be everywhere. If you have children or frequently go barefoot, there will be an increase in bee stings.