Eliminating Clover: From Spot Treatment to Prevention

Clover Types and Treatment Strategy

Long Island lawn = solid white clover (Trifolium repens). Broadleaf perennial, spreads by stolons and seed.

Dense Patches: Glyphosate + Reseed

• Spray clover patches with glyphosate (Roundup).
• Wait for kill; rake; reseed or sod with desired grass.
• Warm-season grasses (Bermuda, Zoysia) will also fill in naturally.

Dispersed Clover: Selective Broadleaf Herbicide

• Three-way mix: 2,4-D + MCPP (mecoprop) + Dicamba.
• Brands: Weed-B-Gon, Trimec, Speed Zone.
• Granular (spreader) or liquid (hose-end or tank sprayer).
• Liquid works faster on young weeds.
• Apply March–May (cool, moist) or fall.

Application Tips

• Calm day; no rain 24 hrs.
• Don't mow 2 days before/after.
• Spot-spray stray plants all season.
• Keep pets off until dry (24 hrs).

Prevention: Pre-Emergent Herbicides

• Apply mid-winter to early spring.
• Brands: Dimension, Gallery, Pendulum, Surflan, others.
• Stop seeds from germinating—eventually weed-free.
• Suspend when overseeding.

Organic Note

Clover fixes nitrogen; some keep it for low-input lawns. If removing, commit to fertility program to replace N.

Bottom Line

Kill existing clover: glyphosate for patches, 3-way broadleaf for scattered. Prevent return: annual pre-emergent. Persistence wins—clover seed lasts years.