Clover in my grass

[Simon5262]

Can anybody help I have invasive clover in my grass and borders and everytime I think I have got rid of it it reappears and us now climbing around my roses.

 

[DirtMechanic]

What kind of grass? Fescue?

 

[Simon5262]

All I know is when the houses were built they laid turf over the rubble in the back garden but the clover seems to be coming from under the fence from next door neighbour who has put patio slabs down.
How do I get rid off it,don't want to try a weedkiller incase it kills the grass.

 

[DirtMechanic]

All I know is when the houses were built they laid turf over the rubble in the back garden but the clover seems to be coming from under the fence from next door neighbour who has put patio slabs down.
How do I get rid off it,don't want to try a weedkiller incase it kills the grass.

I would not know because the chemicals have to be slower to effect grass than the target weed and the grass type is therefore a huge deal because different chemicals are taken in by different plants at different speeds. This is how they work. This is uptake arbitrage basically, taking advantage of differences in the plant growth speeds. In a strong part that is also why temperature during application also matters very much as the chemistry is toxic like chemotherapy and if the grass is too active with heat it will eat too much and die. Better to pull by hand until you know what plants you are dealing with

 

[Oliver Buckle]

I would not be sure it is clover from your description, there are a number of trefoils with similar leaves which are more likely to climb and spread as you describe. The best way of getting it out of the grass that I know is probably a wire rake. The clover produces long shoots parallel to the ground that the rake catches, whilst the grass slides through. It is quite hard work, and I bought myself an electric powered rake that was on offer for £60 at B&Q, al ot for me, but it has been a good investment, too much raking does my back in.

 

[Simon5262]

Thank you for the information will try and see if raking will get rid of it..

 

[Oliver Buckle]

It probably won't get rid of it, weeds have adapted to gardeners and are tough to get rid of, but it may well control it.

 

[cpp gardener]

If you can get 2,4-D or MCPP-P they work on broadleaf weeds (clovers, thistles, dandelions) without hurting grasses. Unless you have St Augustine or Bermuda grass you're good.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

Unless you have St Augustine or Bermuda grass you're good.

I doubt it in Lincolnshire, you guys have grasses I have never heard of. I have seen specific lawn weed killers, but never gone that route, they tend to be pretty expensive and I worry about hedges and leaching off into flower beds, our gardens tend to be smaller than yours.

 

[DirtMechanic]

I doubt it in Lincolnshire, you guys have grasses I have never heard of. I have seen specific lawn weed killers, but never gone that route, they tend to be pretty expensive and I worry about hedges and leaching off into flower beds, our gardens tend to be smaller than yours.

My major hestitancy with harsh chemistry is that we have so many trees there is just no way to avoid roots. Well sure in the middle of the lawn but that is like vacuuming the center of a rug and not the edges.

 

[mac1911]

Clover can be nocked back with Corn Gluten and also higher nitrogen in your lawn. Depending on your lawn type. Cutting your lawn at a Higher cut can help also.
Basically figure out what tou really have and then find out what it likes….then change that.
Sometimes you just have to live with what you got.

 

[Esther Knapicius]

I love clover in my grass. and drifts of moss and collections of wild violets. Boring lawn grass everywhere is just that boring.

 

[mac1911]

I love clover in my grass. and drifts of moss and collections of wild violets. Boring lawn grass everywhere is just that boring.

Yup clover is nice but it does not hold up well in my yard against the kids , moss is great also and I let it take over those areas where it grows as its usually not a good environment for “lawn” grass. Im also not going out of my way to try and make areas “better” that will be constant work.

 

[Esther Knapicius]

Yup clover is nice but it does not hold up well in my yard against the kids , moss is great also and I let it take over those areas where it grows as its usually not a good environment for “lawn” grass

I have a huge shaded garden. guess its all in the perspective of size.

 

[mac1911]

I have a huge shaded garden. guess its all in the perspective of size.

I have learned to just find plants that like my existing environment.
Its just to much work fighting what my area wants to do naturally .
I kept up with my small garden last few years and the large full sun area of my lawn.

 

[Esther Knapicius]

I have learned to just find plants that like my existing environment.
Its just to much work fighting what my area wants to do naturally .
I kept up with my small garden last few years and the large full sun area of my lawn.

Yes, of course. My garden is about 36 years old. All plants are for it zone which is 6 or 5 or 4. So even with 28 inches of snow piled on top I never worry. I also have over 400 Thousand bubs. I have a thread on here totally dedicated to all pictures over the seasons of my garden.

 

[mac1911]

Yes, of course. My garden is about 36 years old. All plants are for it zone which is 6 or 5 or 4. So even with 28 inches of snow piled on top I never worry. I also have over 400 Thousand bubs. I have a thread on here totally dedicated to all pictures over the seasons of my garden.

Nice on the bulbs, wife and I planted a few thousand when we moved in 20 years ago , was nice for about 4 years then something started eating them , moles or something

 

[Esther Knapicius]

Nice on the bulbs, wife and I planted a few thousand when we moved in 20 years ago , was nice for about 4 years then something started eating them , moles or something

No one eats our bulbs, but guess with 400Thousand who knows. We still see expanding in areas that are suppose to . Our issue now is the need to lift and separate and re-plant. don't like that chore at all. We use lots of daffs, seems no one wants them. Tulips in general really don't last long, except the early shorter one--but still not as long as a daff.

 

[mac1911]

No one eats our bulbs, but guess with 400Thousand who knows. We still see expanding in areas that are suppose to . Our issue now is the need to lift and separate and re-plant. don't like that chore at all. We use lots of daffs, seems no one wants them. Tulips in general really don't last long, except the early shorter one--but still not as long as a daff.

We have rodents that seem to like them. I put steel mesh around some tulip bulbs a few years ago and they are still around.
Even the deer have different eating habbits these days. Eating plants in my yard that 10 years ago they would not touch.