In the world of gardening, white clover is considered both a boon and a disgrace. For example, if bees buzzing around you are a problem or you are allergic to them, it is best to remove any white clover plants you have in your garden. Eradicating the seedling from the ground is just the first in a series of steps you will need to follow to make sure the plant doesn't keep growing back. Its seeds are very strong and can survive for many years, in low temperatures as well as in drought. Don't despair, though - the steps below will help you stop the entire cycle of the white clover plant.
Steps
Step 1. Learn about the growth cycle of white clover so that you can remove it properly
To understand how to remove white clover, you first need to know why the plant is in that place. The clover is a herbaceous plant native to the European and North American continent, today very widespread in the green areas of North America and New Zealand.
- It is an edible plant, left to grow freely to provide forage to pastures.
- It has spread all over the place and is not always a desired herb in gardens.
- White clover does not survive in lush lawns and does not like nutrient-rich soil. If another plant species is already growing in the ground, it is rare for white clover to take over and supplant it.
- The white clover preferably creeps into the parts of the lawn where nothing grows due to drought or poor maintenance.
- The plant reproduces through small seeds, which begin to sprout only after taking root in the soil. Good ground cover prevents this plant from germinating.
Step 2. Avoid mowing your lawn to stop the spread of white clover
Never cut the grass before you have uprooted the clover.
The lawnmower will disperse the seeds and spread the plant throughout the garden
Step 3. Remove all of the plant from the soil to prevent its regrowth
To make sure the clover does not grow back, remove the seedling, uprooting it from the ground.
- The herbicide or herbicide will only work if you intend to kill all the plant species in your lawn.
- The only herbicide effective against white clover is Roundup, which will also kill everything it will be applied to, including any plants you want to keep in your garden.
Step 4. Apply nitrogen fertilizer instead
After you have uprooted all the clover seedlings, spread nitrogen fertilizer on the lawn.
- The fertilizer will slow the regrowth of the clover and make the garden grass grow faster.
- Repeat the operation, following the instructions on the product.
Step 5. Look for new clover seedlings
You need to remove them before seeds form and the breeding cycle begins again.
- Uproot any new white clover plants as soon as you see them to prevent the seeds from spreading across the lawn.
- Clover also spreads through its stolons, so you need to remove it consistently.
- Suspending work for a month or two will give the plant a chance to spread all over the lawn again.
Step 6. Cover the areas where you removed the clover with a layer of soil to speed up the removal process
- Clover does not grow well in areas where there is good ground cover.
- If clover is growing in your flower beds, remove the plant and apply a thick layer of mulch or a weed barrier. This will ensure that the seeds do not fall into the ground and do not sprout.
