[GPI]

Clover (White) - Trifolium repens - Seamair bhán
by GPI

Thrives in
Soils that are moist and low in nitrogen.
Soils with Alkaline (limey) and neutral PH

Flowering season(s)
May, June, July, August, and September.

Appearance
Height approx 20 to 50 cm
Long spreading stems with rooting runners.
Green shamrock-like leaves with 3 oval leaflets; all with a curved white coloured splash at the base.
Leaves have a lightly toothed edge.
The white pom-pom like flowers heads are made up from approx 20 to 40 individual flowers.
The flower heads are carried on long slender stalk.
Occasionally the flowers display a slight pink tint.


White clover leaves and flowers, photo / picture / image.

Trouble?
Can quickly take over a lawn if left to spread.
Spreads not only by seed, but also by runners (see image below) and chopped up plant fragments.

Organic or cultural control.
Ensure your lawn is well fertilised with Nitrogen as this promotes strong grass making it difficult for Clover to become established.
Avoid fertilisers high in phosphorous.
If clover is a problem, do not apply lime to your lawn as you will only encourage it.
Occasionally rake your lawn with a sprung rake/scarifier machine before mowing. This will loosen trailing stems and runners, allowing you to mow them up.
Ensure you have a well sealed grass box on your mower to prevent chopped up Clover fragments dropping and rooting.
If you have just one or two of these pieces of clover in your lawn they can be dug out with the tip of garden trowel or a small spoon.

Other Control.
To check growth apply a Sulphate of iron/lawn sand.
To check growth apply a 3 in 1 lawn feed/weed/mosskiller.
To kill apply selective herbicides containing the active ingredient mecoprop. This is available in the product Hytrol Clover Lawn Weedkiller manufactured by Hygeia and Clovotox manufactured by Bayer.

Notes on selective lawn weedkillers.
Applying a lawn fertilser to your grass approx two weeks before applying selective lawn weedkillers will improve results. Weedkiller application is most effective while the weed is actively growing, between the leafing to flower stage of growth. For best results, apply selective weedkiller to the lawn on a day forecast to be dry. Apply on a calm morning (no drift) once the dew has dried.

With most lawn weedkillers expect to apply two or three applications at 6 week spacings to rid your lawn of the weeds and the regrowths from their seeds. Always read carefully the instructions supplied with the weedkiller, and follow them to the letter especially regarding protective equipment and the care of children and pets.

Nature notes.
Please note that Irishgardeners.com does not advocate the removal of plants, instead, this forum encourages planting and preservation. However, there are occasions where a plant becomes a problem or a weed within the garden for certain people.
Be aware that white clover is beneficial to lots of insects, it is an important source of honey, and it carrys out biological nitrogen fixation. Please at least think about this before you remove the plant from your site.

Any queries or comments on White clover control, please post below.
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