Creating a lawn is a painstaking job that requires patience and tireless care. In this field, many are faced with such a problem as the “invasion” of clover, which is the most common wild flower on the European continent. This creeping plant multiplies very quickly, filling with itself everything around. In order to choose the best way to deal with it, you should first familiarize yourself with the causes of its appearance, as well as know the main methods of prevention.

Causes of clover

As the main reasons that lead to the appearance of clover on the lawn, note:

1. Uneven sowing grass mixture for lawn - if the lawn grass has been planted tightly, weed seeds have practically no chance of breaking through to the surface. Otherwise, they will germinate immediately after they enter the soil.
2. Too much lawn - a short grass cover does not hold weed grass seeds on its leaves, which means that they have the ability to immediately get into the ground and give sprouts.
3. Lack of selection of weed rhizomes when planting a lawn - clover roots should be removed from the soil already at the stage of sowing decorative grass, otherwise it is practically impossible to deal with them afterwards.
4. Lack of adequate lighting - Clover does not tolerate direct sunlight, and therefore the peak of its distribution falls on shaded areas.

Also, there is an option that the seeds of weed grass could initially be present in the seed mixture for the lawn, or they were brought in by birds or animals.

How to get rid of clover on the lawn

Despite the apparent harmlessness, the growth of clover can lead to significant negative consequences for the lawn. With its large numbers, ornamental grass ceases to receive the necessary amount of sunlight, and its roots begin to suffer from a lack of nutrients. The results can be the formation of many gaps that are practically unreachable.

Did you know? There is a belief that those who find a four-leaf clover will be lucky. For this, the plant needs to be dried and always carried with it.

That is why it is recommended to start the fight against shamrocks immediately after its appearance, not starting up the situation and preventing its flowering. At the same time, possessing all the properties of weed grass, it will not work to get rid of clover by simply pulling it out of the ground. This is due to its highly branched root system. So, you need to act by other, more serious methods.

Video: the fight against clover on the lawn

Fertilizers

Due to the fact that the greatest activity of the trefoil can be observed especially in those areas that do not receive nitrogen fertilizing, the most optimal way to combat them is to apply this fertilizer to the soil. However, caution should be exercised here.

Did you know? The three-plate leaf of white clover is a symbol of Ireland and its image can often be found on the emblems of sports teams, postage stamps and even military insignia of this country.

Such an approach is permissible only if the nitrogen content in the soil really has a low level, otherwise the lawn may die. You can verify this with the help of special tests, which can be purchased at specialized garden stores.

Chemicals

Today, there are many drugs that can fight weed grass. This group of chemicals is called herbicides and, due to its high efficiency and the absence of negative consequences for decorative crops, is widely popular among gardeners.

However, in order for the processing procedure to be successful, it is recommended to follow its basic rules:

• prepare a chemical agent, according to the instructions on the package;
• spray the lawn grass;
• after two days, spill the lawn using running water;
• after the weed dies off, its tops must be removed from the site, and the land in which it grew must be carefully leveled.

The period of exposure to herbicides is 14 days during which time all weeds in the treated area will die.

Manual deletions

Without certain knowledge, it is almost impossible to destroy clover on the lawn using mechanical removal (manually).

However, having familiarized yourself with the basic rules of weeding, you can not only get rid of weeds, but also avoid damage to the decorative coating:

1. The first step is to check the root of the weed. Usually, it consists of one powerful process and several secondary.
2. Next, a small watering of the lawn is made to give the soil the necessary softness and suppleness. After moistening the ground, the tops are completely wrapped around the base and slowly pulled (without jerking).
3. Additionally, you can help yourself with a garden shovel by digging it under the clover root.
4. The place on which the weed grew is leveled, then sprinkled with fertilizer and gently rammed with a hand or a shovel.

Preventive measures against reappearance

Careful removal of its newly appeared sprouts will help to avoid the reappearance of clover on the lawn. At the same time, the tops must be removed from the site and, best of all, destroyed. You need to get rid of it because even clover uprooted from the ground can spread seeds throughout the garden. Also, one should not forget about the timely introduction of nitrogen-containing fertilizing in the soil of the lawn. However, fertilizing soil is allowed only in accordance with all the requirements of the instructions.

Important! In addition to the presented methods of weed control, folk remedies are often used. For example, a solution based on vinegar and salt, or a mixture of vinegar with citric acid.

Despite the apparent complexity of the situation, the extermination of clover does not carry a lot of difficulties. The main thing is to strictly follow the rules of the chosen manipulation to remove weed grass and in the future to prevent its strong growth on the lawn.