Removing a White Creeping Clover
White clover (Trifolium repens) -- also so called creeping clover -- is a perennial weed that produces creeping, jointed stems. New roots and shoots grow from these joints -- or nodes -- allowing the clover to spread quickly. This annoying weed has an invasive nature and can pop up in lawns, vegetable gardens and flowerbeds, and it grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 10. Removing white creeping clover can be a difficult task that takes several attempts before you eliminate the weed.
Implementing appropriate cultural control will help prevent invasive weeds such as white creeping clover from infiltrating your landscape. Proper fertilization and irrigation will help prevent future lawn weeds. Furthermore, ensuring that you mow the lawn at the correct height for that species of turf grass also discourages weed growth. For example, the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service suggests a height of 1 to 2 inches for common Bermuda grass while St. Augustine grass should be kept a little taller at 2 1/2 to 4 inches tall. This will help prevent future weeds from appearing in your lawn.
In flowerbeds, you can control white creeping clover and other unwanted vegetation before the seeds have germinated by placing a 3-inch layer of mulch in flowerbeds. The mulch blocks weed development while protecting the desired plant’s roots from sudden temperature fluctuations.
This method of controlling white creeping clover doesn’t require the use of chemicals, which might drift onto desirable plants such as vegetable gardens or flower beds. Small patches of white creeping clover can be forcefully pulled out of the ground with gloved hands. Larger areas will require the use of a garden hoe to carefully dig the unwanted plant out of the ground. After you have removed the white creeping clover, immediately dispose of in a garbage bag. Another option is to use a de-thatching rake to get rid of white clover growing in turf grass. Remember that mechanical control requires regularly examining the area and removing new white creeping clover growth as soon as it sprouts.
Applying herbicides in the fall helps control white clover sprouting in lawns. However, the type of herbicide chosen must be labeled for use on the specific species of turf grass that the clover is growing in.
Herbicides with glyphosate as the active ingredient can successfully spot control white creeping clover in landscape and flowerbeds. Herbicides can control perennial clovers -- such as the white creeping clover -- when the plant is still small. However, once the plant has becomes established, herbicides won’t provide effective control and the plant must be dug out of the ground.
Various types and brands of herbicides labeled for use on white clover are readily available, and each has detailed instructions and rate applications on the label that you must follow. For example, dilute 2 2/3 ounces of concentrated glyphosate in 1 gallon of water to create a 2 percent herbicide solution. For easier application, pour the diluted herbicide in a pump sprayer and thoroughly coat the leaves of the white clover. Glyphosate is a nonselective herbicide -- which means it will damage or kill any vegetation it comes in contact with -- so caution should be taken when using this chemical. One way you can protect desirable plants is to use a piece of cardboard as a shield to prevent the chemical from drifting onto wanted vegetation.
- Missouri Botanical Garden: Trifolium Repens
- Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service: White Clover
- University of California Integrated Pest Management: Clovers
- University of Nebraska -– Lincoln Extension: White Clover Thriving in Lawns
- Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service: Mowing Lawns
Marylee Gowans has written about gardening for both online and print publications. She attended the University of Akron, graduating with a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing. In 2009, she received master gardener certification from the Master Gardeners of Summit County, Ohio.