A green meadow can have some dried flowers, clovers, and weeds because of poor soil quality.
Clover in your lawn may indicate something about the health of its soil. Thus, it’s best to know how to get rid of clover naturally. One sign of clover infiltration is seeing brownish or yellowish color in your lawn. You may also see slow growth. It is an indication that there is low nitrogen level in the soil.
Grass may have brownish areas due to the growth of clover.
For clover, it does not need nitrogen since it can get this element from the air. Therefore, soil that lacks nitrogen becomes poor. This can result in the soil being susceptible to other weeds, diseases, and pests. Without nitrogen, it cannot defend itself from these noxious infestations on its own.
Continue reading to know how to get rid of clover naturally.
Natural Ways On How To Get Rid Of Clover Naturally
The proper way of pulling out weeds is by wearing protective gloves.
1. Pulling The Clovers Out
This step may seem easy and obvious. Nevertheless, those who have tried pulling out weeds know that it can be difficult. If the clover is near your vegetables or herbs in raised containers or beds, this is the best method. Pulling clover is best done if the soil is still moist from watering. When you pull it, make sure you have your gloves on and pull slowly from the base to be able to pull the root out. Another good method to control the growth of clover population is to pull it out while they are still young in order to prevent the chance of seeding.
One good method on how to get rid of clover naturally is to collect them and add them to your compost. Thus, you can use clover to give additional and better health to your garden.
2. Suffocating Them
Similar to other plants, clovers need enough sunlight in order to survive. Thus, you can kill them by preventing them from growing. You can maintain the moisture level of your plants by using some old newspaper and garden mulch. You can cover the area with layers of large newspapers, and put some mulch on top of the newspaper to cover it. By doing this, you can suffocate the clovers and prevent other weeds from growing. You can use this method in addition to your weed barrier.
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3. Making Some Homemade Herbicide
Herbicides with chemicals are bad for your garden. However, you can easily concoct your own herbicide at home without the use of harmful chemicals. This is is another effective way on how to get rid of clover naturally. You just need to get a spray bottle with good quality and fill it up with 2 cups of white vinegar, ½ cup of salt, and a small amount of dishwashing soap.
You have to mix it well. If not, the salt might not dissolve well and cause your spray bottle to clog up. Moreover, you have to be wary of using this near your garden beds since it can cause damage to your vegetables. In case you have difficulty with salt clogging up your spray bottle, you can try 50% vinegar and 50% water solution instead. It is also advisable to use it with your other weed removers.
Aromatic essential oils can be used in removing clover from your lawn.
4. Using Oil
You might be wondering how to get rid of clover naturally using oil. You cannot just use any oil such as diesel or gasoline since these are toxic to your garden soil. In removing clover, you can use vegetable oil that is inexpensive. Oils like sunflower or canola oil are biodegradable. They can break down the bacteria in your soil. Natural pesticide and herbicide properties can also be found in these oils.
You can use essential oils as well. Not only do essential oils work for clover but also for cinnamon, summer savory, and red thyme. To use it, just drizzle the oil directly onto the weeds in order to smear these weeds.
Corn gluten can be used to prevent clover and other weeds from developing.
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5. Planting Corn Gluten
Corn gluten is a byproduct which is natural and used in processing corn to cornmeal. It can also halt seeds from turning into full-grown clovers. It will not cause harm to your plants. Another advantage it gives is providing a high amount of nitrogen. As a result, it can make your soil healthy. Because it can stop germination, you should scatter it around plants that are already established and matured. You can also spread it after transplants and seedlings are positioned in your soil. In order to avoid having late-season weeds, you can scatter it again after you harvest.
6. Preparing And Solarizing Garden Beds
Another way on how to get rid of clover naturally is by using the empty garden beds you used in summer or late spring. You can prepare these beds for the plants you plan to have in autumn through solarization. Through this, you can eliminate the clovers growing now and lessen them in the coming seasons. As a famous adage says; “An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.” Aside from clover, if you do it properly, you can remove other pests in your garden and sources of soil-borne diseases. You just need to purchase thin and clear plastic from your local garden store.
7. Using High-Quality Standard, Inorganic, And Fast Releasing Fertilizer
You have to make sure to apply this fertilizer by following the manufacturer’s recommendations. Do not attempt to experiment. In addition, your lawn has to be watered well and properly. Water it deeply when it is needed.
8. Saying No To Too Much Fertilizer
Too much of something is always bad. Using fertilizer is no exception to this. If you do so, you can make the soil on your lawn worse. It will also remove most of the fertilizer into the open environment. Putting enough fertilizer can make your lawn nourish itself back to health while the clover begins to perish. Eventually, your lawn can remove the clover on its own. If you feel the need to apply fertilizer, you can do it after 6 to 8 weeks.
A house with a perfectly green lawn is possible through the removal of clovers.
Conclusion
Finally, preventing clover together with other types of weed from growing in your lawn can be a bit overwhelming. Nevertheless, it is possible to have a healthy lawn with the right levels of nitrogen. Following the methods on how to get rid of clover naturally given is easy. It will help keep your soil healthy and prevent clover from taking over.
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