White Clover identification in Kansas City, St. Louis and Omaha, Nebraska
Trifolium repens L.
| Synonyms | Dutch Clover, Purple Dutch Clover, Shamrock |
|---|---|
| Life cycle: Perennial Growth Habit: Prostrate Propagation: Seed and stolons Small teeth present Leaf Hairs: None Leaf Structure: Trifoliate; elliptic to egg-shaped Leaf Arrangement: Alternate Root Type: Fibrous with above-ground stolons with rooting at the nodes Flower Color: White and sometimes pinkish |
Clover is a weed that can take over your yard with small flowers and petal shaped leaves. While clover can be grown purposefully, in a deer food plot for example, many people consider clover a nuisance, and any unwanted plant is considered a weed. White clover, sometimes called Dutch clover, is very common especially in cool season grasses.
It’s a perennial broadleaf weed and is often found in lawns, fields, ditches, and other low-maintenance areas.
Clover is easy to identify:
– Each stem has three small leaves (or leaflets) that are petal shaped and have a white “v” or crescent on each
leaf, and are about a half inch long.
– White clover will usually bloom between early spring and late fall. The flowers are very small and are white or
light pink. The small blooms form a spherical cluster that looks like a small ball of white petals.
– Clover is a low growing plant and the stems creep along the top surface, although the stems that branch off can
reach up to a foot tall.
– They have a shallow root system and don’t tolerate drought conditions well.
How to Kill White 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. Spray the fertilizer directly on the clover, following the instructions on the label.
- Spot treat the clover with a herbicide. Look for herbicide that contains 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and Dicamba, as they will stop the clover from growing and kill them. Apply the herbicide directly to the clover. Make sure the herbicide does not get on any other plants.
- Put the herbicide on the clover once a month, or until it dies.
- You can buy herbicide at your local hardware store or online.
- Spray the clover with a vinegar and soap mixture. Put 1 tablespoon (15 ml) white vinegar in a spray bottle with 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of dish soap and 3⁄4 cup (180 ml) of water. Spray the clover with the mixture as a spot treatment to kill it.
- Avoid spraying the mixture on any surrounding plants or grass, as it can damage them.
Proturf lawn services kills and prevents White Clover during their normal service calls and guarantees the work by returning for unlimited service calls to kill any new growth and retreat any stubborn areas previously sprayed. This means you are free to pay attention to the more important things in life like family and hobbies.