How To Get Rid Of Clover In Your Lawn (2024)

While most people think of the simple three-leafed plant when they think of clover, in truth, there are more than 300 species of this invasive plant. The most common varieties, and the ones you’re most likely to see in your yard, are as follows:

• White clover
• Red clover
• Crimson clover
• Strawberry clover

If you’re like most people, and you have clover in your lawn, there’s a good chance you’ll want to get rid of it, or at least stop its spread. But it’s important to know that there are some important benefits of clover. The main benefit is that clover acts as a natural fertilizer for your yard, adding nutrients like nitrogen to the soil. And since it doesn’t grow very high, you can get away with mowing less often if you have a yard full of clover rather than grass.

Because it has a dense root structure, clover can actually help your yard weather a drought without drying out too badly, which ironically can make your lawn look greener, longer. And finally, beneficial insects like bees are attracted to clover flowers.

Despite this, clover is a weed, and does spread very quickly. If you’re intent on having a beautiful lawn full of lush, green grass, you’ll definitely want to quell clover before it becomes a problem. Below, we’ve listed five methods to try if you’re wondering how to get rid of clover.

If you have clover in your lawn, here are a few things you can do to remove it, or stop the spread.

1. Use Your Hands

Looking for a low-maintenance method for how to get rid of clover? If you’re only dealing with small patches of clover here and there, you may as well just pull it out. Doing this prevents damage or loss of surrounding grass, and it’s an effective way to get rid of clover. Just be sure to pull the roots instead of just the plant.

Use a small garden tool to loosen the soil around the roots of the clover plant, and, using your fingers, pull the plant as low to the ground as possible. Clover has an extensive root system and will grow back quickly if you don’t remove all the roots.

2. Use a Nitrogen-Rich Fertilizer

It may seem counter-intuitive to use a fertilizer to get rid of a plant. But, clover does best in soil that’s low in nitrogen. Applying a nitrogen-rich fertilizer can stunt its growth and choke it out. The good news is that you have several natural, organic products to choose from, like manure, earthworm castings or bone meal. You should be able to find any of these fertilizers at your local garden-supply store. Simply apply the fertilizer directly to the clover for best results.

3. Use a Natural Weed Killer

Perhaps the most popular natural weed killer, vinegar is a great option to try if you’re wondering how to get rid of clover. Mix a solution of one part water, one part vinegar and a couple drops of dish soap, add it to a spray bottle, then douse the clover. It may take a few weeks of frequent applications, but this natural blend won’t harm grass or other plants, and is safe for use around kids and pets, too.

Once the solution has done its job, you’ll want to put grass seed down in any empty spots where there used to be clover in your lawn.

4. Use Your Mower

Clover likes to be cut short, but grass doesn’t. So if you go overboard with the mowing and keep your lawn cut too short, you’re inviting clover in your lawn. To prevent this, set your mower deck to three inches or higher and let your grass grow out a bit. Doing so should slow the growth of any clover that you’re seeing.

5. Utilize a Lack of Sunlight

Like any plant, clover simply can’t survive in the absence of sunlight. For large patches of uncontrolled clover, you could apply landscape fabric or lay down a plastic sheet or cardboard over the problem area, then cover it with topsoil or fill dirt. This extreme method will kill the clover quickly and allow you to reseed the area with grass seed.

However, it’s not recommended for small patches of clover, or if you have more than a few major problem areas. Remember, this method will be unsightly in its own right for some time to come until the grass seed begins to grow.