6 Best Clover Killers for Garden Weed Removal

Why is Clover Harmful?

Clover toxicity is caused by ingestion of alsike clover or red clover, resulting in photosensitivity and liver failure signs. But what is the best clover killer? Here in this article, we will take you through the fundamental prerequisites you need to understand pertaining to clover on your lawn. 

Finding this interesting to you? Read on to the end to get informed. Feel free to pose any questions if you have any.

clover in lawn

How to Get Rid of Clover in Lawn

Is your yard overrun with clover? While there are many advantages to having clover in your yard, it can be inconvenient for homeowners who want a uniform, verdant lawn. Clover can be difficult to eradicate, but you shouldn’t have to ruin your grass to win the battle against it. 

There are seven techniques to get rid of clover without jeopardizing the health of your lush green lawn.

Rip it Out

If you have a few small clover patches in your yard, your best bet may be to hand pull them out of the ground. Grab a spade and loosen the earth with it. After that, pluck out the clover, making sure to get all of the roots. 

If any roots remain, the clover will immediately reappear. This is a simple, natural technique to get rid of clover without harming your grass.

Vinegar Mixture

Make a vinegar-based solution to kill the clover as a natural remedy. Compared to chemical-based sprays or broadleaf weed herbicides, this method may take a few weeks of frequent spraying but is a more environmentally friendly option.

Nitrogen Boost

Clover grows in soils with low nitrogen levels. Applying a nitrogen-rich fertilizer to the clover patches is a simple way to get rid of it. This will stop it from spreading and growing. Using a fast-release fertilizer, which we recommend if you have a lot of clovers to get rid of, is a quick and affordable option.

A.D.I.O.S With a Herbicide

If you don’t want to risk hurting any grass around the clover patches, a herbicide would be an excellent option. A.D.I.O.S. (Advanced Development In Organic Solutions) is an organic herbicide that kills clover and controls weeds without harming the grass growing around it.

Even if you have pets or children who play in the yard, A.D.I.O.S. is non-toxic and safe. It’s also suitable for use near cattle farms and bodies of water. Dandelion, yellow mustard, ground ivy, and other weeds are all killed by this organic weed treatment. 

It may also assist you in combating or perhaps eliminating weeds such as ragweed, poison ivy, buckthorn, and other invasive weeds. A.D.I.O.S. can be ordered online or purchased at a garden center or home improvement store.

Adjust Your Mowing Height

Clover grows best in situations where the grass is less than three inches tall. To prevent clover from growing and spreading, set your mower to three inches or higher and allow your grass to grow. If you mow it higher, your grass will have a better chance of out-competing the clover.

Smoother It

Clovers can’t live without sunlight and air. If you have huge clover patches, you can manually smother them to get rid of them. Place a garbage bag or plastic sheet over the clover patch, ensuring that it covers all clover plants and not too much of the surrounding grass. 

To keep the borders of the covering fastened to the ground, use bricks or huge rocks. After a few weeks, remove the plastic sheeting and reseed the area with grass seeds. Because you risk harming the healthy grass surrounding the clover, we do not recommend this for small or irregular clover patches.

Corn Gluten

You can inhibit clover growth and spread by corn gluten. It releases organic peptides, which prevent clover seeds from growing. If you’ve recently seeded your grass, don’t use this because it will inhibit the grass seeds from sprouting. 

It won’t hurt or inhibit the growth of any living grass. Spread 20 pounds (9.07 kilograms) of corn gluten meal per 1,000 square feet (92.9 square meters) of clover-infested lawn to get rid of clover with corn gluten. Allow to dry after applying water.

What Will Kill Clover But Not Grass?

Clover can be difficult to eradicate, but you shouldn’t have to ruin your grass to win the battle against it. If you don’t want to risk damaging any grass around the clover patches, a herbicide that kills clover and controls weeds without harming nearby grass growth would be a good option.

What Does Clover Look Like?

Clover is a weed with small blooms and petal-shaped leaves that may take over your yard. While clover can be grown for a specific purpose, such as in a deer food plot, many people consider it a nuisance, and any undesirable plant is a weed. 

White clover grows abundantly among cool-season grasses, often known as Dutch clover. It’s a perennial broadleaf weed that thrives in low-maintenance settings, including lawns, fields, and ditches.

How to Identify Clover Easily

Each stem contains three little petal-shaped leaves (or leaflets) about a half-inch (1.27 centimeters) long and features a white “V” or crescent on each leaf. White clover blooms between early spring and late autumn. The flowers are tiny and white or pale pink. 

The little blooms are in a spherical cluster that resembles a miniature white ball. Clover is a low-growing plant with stems that creep along the top surface, though branches can grow up to a foot tall. They have a shallow root system and are not tolerant of drought.

Why to Keep Clover in Your Lawn

Clover has various advantages that may persuade you to put down the best clover killer for lawns. They are as follows:

  • The evergreen nature of the clover is ideal for year-round visual appeal.
  • Clovers do not require the use of nitrogen fertilizer.
  • Clovers require less mowing than other plants.
  • Clovers have an advantage over other weeds.
  • Pollinators are attracted to clover.
  • Clover does not discolor when it comes into contact with the urine of dogs.
  • Clover aids in the drought resistance of lawns.

What is the Best Lawn Clover Killer? An Overview

  1. Ortho Weed B Gon Chickweed, Clover & Oxalis Killer for Lawns, 32 Ounces (907 grams): Best overall
  2. Bonide (BND0613) Ready to Use Chickweed, Clover, and Oxalis Weed Killer, one gal: Best for lawn
  3. Ortho WeedClear Weed Killer for Lawns: with Comfort Wand, Won’t Harm Grass (When Used as Directed), Kills Dandelion & Clover, one gal: Best for weeds that are small and actively growing in the spring or fall.
  4. Roundup Ready-To-Use Weed & Grass Killer III Refill, 1.25 gal (4.73 liters): Best for flower beds
  5. Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed 3; Covers up to 5,000 Sq. Ft (464.5 square meters), Fertilizer, 14.29 lbs (6.48 kilograms): Best value
  6. Ortho WeedClear Lawn Weed Killer Ready to Use1: Trigger Sprayer, For Southern Lawns, one gal: Best for young and actively growing weeds

Our Top Pick for Clover Killers

Our top lawn clover killer pick is Ortho Weed B Gon Chickweed, Clover & Oxalis Killer for Lawns, 32 ounces (907 grams). It kills quite a lot of tough weeds in your lawn. Besides, it comes ready for use and will not give you the burden of trying to do the mixing. 

It has two application methods to pick from, giving you alternatives. It will give results in just a matter of hours. It does not harm your lawn whatsoever as much as it works on tough weeds. In a nutshell, we can say that it is a safe weed killer.

Clover Killer Shopping Guide

Ease of Use

It’s also crucial to find a solution that doesn’t require additional equipment. Pay close attention to the labeling to figure out what you’ll need to apply the product to your lawn. Because many treatments are ready to use, you can save money by avoiding weed killer for lawns that require an auxiliary sprayer or spreader unless you already own one.

Price

While the overall price will be an incentive for many people, it’s also vital to consider the price in relation to the quantity of coverage provided by the product. To find the price per square foot for the product’s application, divide the price by the listed square footage. This will assist you in making the best value decision possible.

Future Growth Prevention

A decent herbicide should help prevent future growth and destroy the weeds that are presently present in the yard. This quality is usually on the box. Another useful indicator is how often they advise you to use a certain product on your lawn.

Grass/Lawn Type

Many products are hazardous to certain turf types. Before buying a herbicide, figure out what kind of grass you have in your yard and compare it to the box instructions to ensure it’ll work. If you ignore this fact, your lawn and weeds may suffer. If you have a clover problem, you will likely have other weeds in your yard. 

Rather than buying various items to deal with different weeds problems, look for a single product that can handle a variety of pests. Application and lawn upkeep will save you a lot of time and effort when it comes to application and lawn upkeep.

Selective vs. Non-Selective

There are also a variety of non-selective products on the market. Make sure you get one that’s appropriate for your needs. If you need something to work on an existing lawn, make sure you get something that won’t damage the grass. 

If you’re working in a pre-planting setting, on the other hand, a non-selective product will kill anything in its path, leaving you with a blank slate for your gardening effort.

Solid vs. Liquid

When it comes to clover killers, there are a variety of solutions to choose from. The first step is determining whether it is a solid or a liquid. Solids require the use of a spreader, which can be inconvenient if you don’t already have one. 

Products in the liquid category can be either a ready-to-use solution or a concentrate. Concentrates require mixing before use, which adds an extra step to the application process. On the other hand, concentration may be the greatest alternative for you if the product is effective.

Application Method

The mode of application is the final major distinction between products. Many of them come in a ready-to-spray bottle that you can hook up to your hose and start using right away. Others will necessitate the use of a different sprayer. Sprayers come in various shapes and sizes, ranging from backpack sprayers to simple garden sprayers with a pump handle.

Your budget and the amount of effort you are willing to put into your grass determine the choice of the weed killer spray. One of the options above includes a battery-operated sprayer with the bottle. While these can be useful, they aren’t as dependable as a hose-attached sprayer or an auxiliary sprayer that you can fill and work with.

Multiple Applications or a Single Application

Some clover killers may be used once and are successful, while others require multiple applications. To save time and effort, consider ones that have a single application.

Green lawn with white clover

Your Clover Killer Guide (Reviews)

Ortho Weed B Gon Chickweed, Clover & Oxalis Killer for Lawns, 32 Ounces (907 Grams): Best Overall

Item form: Ground

Brand: Ortho

Product dimensions: 5 x 11.5 x 2.35 inches (12.7 x 29.12 x 5.8 Centimeters)

About This Product

Are you fed up with bothersome weeds invading your lawn? Ortho Weed B Gon Chickweed, Clover, and Oxalis Killer for Lawns Ready-To-Spray is the ready-to-use best weed killer for your grass. The solution kills all strong lawn weeds, including ground Ivy (Creeping Charlie), Speedwell (Veronica), and Wild Violet. 

Plus, you have a guarantee that your spray won’t hurt your landscape! There is no need to mix or measure anything. Simply spray and walk away! When used according to instructions. When weeds are actively growing, it’s best to apply. Six hours after application, it’s rainproof. To avoid drifting to attractive plants, spray when the temperature is below 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32.2 degrees Celsius) and the air is calm. 

Ready to Spray and Concentrate are the two application options available. The Ready To Spray connects to a garden hose directly, while you may use the concentrate with a tank Sprayer or an Ortho Dial N Spray. Many herbicides can harm grass, making it difficult to eradicate weeds in your lawn. 

Ortho Weed B Gon Weed Killer, which kills more than 250 varieties of weeds without hurting your lawn, is one of your finest options for tackling bothersome weeds like dandelions and clover (when used as directed). 

The herbicide is available in 32-ounce (907 grams) and one-gallon quantities. The concentrated one-gallon formula can cover up to 64,000 square feet (5,945.8 square meters). 

The Ortho Weed B Gon Weed Killer kills dandelions, clover, and other broadleaf weeds from their root, with effects in just a few hours. The mixture is rainproof in just one hour, and you may use it on Northern and Southern lawns. To avoid hurting your grass, follow the product’s instructions.

Pros

  • It kills weeds without harming your lawn.
  • Available in a variety of sizes
  • Quick results and it destroys a lot of weeds.
  • It reacts in less than 24 hours.
  • You will save money.
  • It has a large coverage area.

Cons

  • If used incorrectly, it can destroy your grass.
  • It is not suitable for use in the presence of pets or people.
  • It affects all centipede grass, bermudagrass, and St. Augustine grass.

Bonide (BND0613) Ready to Use Chickweed, Clover, and Oxalis Weed Killer, One Gal: Best for Lawn

Amazon Choice Award in Weed Killers by Bonide

Item form: Spray

Brand: Bonide

Product dimensions: 13 x 7 x 15 inches (33 x 17.8 x 38.1 centimeters)

About This Product

The Bonide weed killer eliminates a wide range of stubborn weeds from the lawn, including clover, dandelions, chickweed, grounding ivy, and oxalis, to name a few. This substance kills weeds by contacting them overnight and flowing down their roots. It starts working a few hours after you’ve sprayed it. 

Two days before and after application, leave the grass unmowed. Bonide comes in a one-gallon bottle that is ready to use. This product should not be put into use on St Augustine or centipede grass lawns. Before applying it to the entire lawn, test it on a small piece and observe the results.

Pros

  • It’s ready to use
  • Quick response time after spraying
  • It isn’t harmful to the majority of grasses.

Cons

  • Harmful to lawns of St Augustine and centipede grass
  • Some locations necessitate several applications or concentrated applications.

Ortho WeedClear Weed Killer for Lawns: With Comfort Wand, Won’t Harm Grass (When Used as Directed), Kills Dandelion & Clover, One Gal: Best for Weeds That are Small and Actively Growing in Spring or Fall.

Item form: Spray

Brand: Ortho

Product dimensions: 4.88 x 8.95 x 12 inches (12.4 x 22.7 x 30.5 centimeters)

About This Product

Ortho WeedClear Weed Killer for Lawns with Comfort Wand kills weeds without hurting your grass. This weed killer kills over 250 common weeds, including dandelions, clover, poison ivy, chickweed, and dollarweed (see product label for complete weed list). 

It’s designed exclusively for residential lawns and has three proven chemicals that target and kill other common lawn weeds while leaving your grass unharmed. This pesticide enters weeds through their leaves and spreads throughout the plant, killing them from the root up. Within hours, you’ll see apparent effects, and within one hour, it’ll be rainproof. 

No pumping is necessary with the Comfort Wand applicator, which delivers a steady stream to target weeds. Apply weed control at any time of year, whenever weeds appear. After the spray has dried, people and pets may enter the treated area. Use in the spring or fall while weeds are little and actively developing for the best results. Remember to use it according to the instructions.

Pros

  • Gets to work right away
  • It does not necessitate the use of several programs.

Cons

  • Requirements for concentration might be exhausting or time-consuming.

Roundup Ready-To-Use Weed & Grass Killer III Refill, 1.25 Gal (4.7 Liters): Best for Flower Beds

Amazon Choice Award in Weed Killers by Roundup

Item form: Ground

Brand: Roundup

Product dimensions: 5.5 x 7.5 x 11.75 inches (13.97 x 19.05 x 29.8 centimeters)

About This Product

Roundup Ready-To-Use Weed & Grass Killer III refill kills the toughest weeds and grasses right down to the root! The mixture is great for cracks in driveways, pathways, patios, and in and around vegetable gardens, flower beds, tree rings, and mulched areas. Our no-mix technique is rainproof in just 10 minutes, and visible results are visible in three hours. 

Pour Roundup Weed & Grass Killer III into any Ready-To-Use Roundup Weed & Grass Killer III applicator to eliminate weeds faster. Keep your flower beds looking beautiful with the Roundup Ready-To-Use Weed & Grass Killer III, which comes in a compact Pump ‘N Go container—no diluting needed. 

This herbicide destroys stubborn weeds and grasses from the root up, and the extendable wand makes it easy to target annoying weeds while avoiding damaging your flowers. This formula comes in 1.33-gallon (5.03-liter) pots. 

You can apply it in and around vegetable gardens, flower beds, tree rings, mulched areas, cracks in driveways, walks, patios, and cracks in driveways, walkways, and patios. It’s rainproof after just 10 minutes, and you’ll notice visible improvements within three hours if you spray it over weeds. 

Roundup provides refills of the herbicide that you can pour into the original container, and the no-mix recipe is excellent for when you want to grab it and go.

Pro:

  • No need to dilute
  • Quick results
  • After 10 minutes, it’s rainproof.
  • It doesn’t harm flowers or other plants.

Cons

  • There are no smaller sizes available.

Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed 3; Covers up to 5,000 Square Feet (464.5 Square Meters), Fertilizer, 14.29 Lbs (6.5 Kilograms): Best Value

Amazon Choice Award in Garden Fertilizers by Scotts

Item form: Ground

Brand: Scotts

Product dimensions: 18.5 x 3.5 x 12.5 inches (46.99 x 8.89 x 31.8 centimeters)

About This Product

Scotts Turf Builder, Weed & Feed 3 with WeedGrip Technology, grips both visible and invisible weeds for up to two times more powerful dandelion and clover management (than prior formulation), all while feeding and thickening your lawn to crowd out weeds.

The most significant benefit of Scott’s is that it acts as a deterrent to future clover growth. However, in terms of eradicating existing plants, it is ineffective. Weedex, like Round-up, comes in two formulae, one for Northern lawns and one for Southern lawns. It’s critical to distinguish between the two because applying the incorrect formula could harm your grass. 

It’s also worth noting that you’ll need a spreader to use it because this is a solid product. This adds an extra step to getting your lawn clover-free if you don’t already have one. It’s also crucial to follow the application directions to the letter, or you won’t obtain the full 4,000 square-foot (371.6 square meters)coverage that the packaging says.

Pros

  • Works to prevent clover development in the future.

Cons

  • Application necessitates the use of a broadcast spreader
  • Less effective at eradicating existing weeds
  • There are two formulas to choose from, which can be confusing.
  • To gain total coverage, the application must be accurate.

Ortho WeedClear Lawn Weed Killer Ready to Use1: Trigger Sprayer, for Southern Lawns, One Gal: Best for Young and Actively Growing Weeds.

Item form: Spray

Brand: Ortho

Product dimensions: 4.88 x 8.95 x 12 inches (12.4 x 22.7 x 30.5 centimeters)

About This Product

This product will kill weeds at the root without hurting your lawn when used as indicated! Lawn Weed Killer Ortho WeedClear Ready-To-Use1 with Trigger Sprayer kills and suppresses over 250 weeds. This includes all main broadleaf weeds (see label for list), dandelion, clover, oxalis, chickweed, and spurge while causing no damage to your lawn (when used as directed). 

The quick-drying solution is rainproof in one hour and produces noticeable effects after only one application. The liquid herbicide enters the plant through the leaves and works its way down to the root, killing and controlling it. Install the Ortho Trigger Sprayer from the side of the bottle to quickly reach and spot-treat weeds with the nozzle setting of your choice. 

It’s best to use when the weeds are still young and growing. Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fescues, common bermudagrass, hybrid bermudagrass, bahiagrass, bentgrass, buffalograss, centipedegrass, zoysiagrass, and St. Augustinegrass are among the lawn kinds recommended for use (except Floratam). 

Apply when the weeds are actively growing and the temperature is below 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32.2 degrees Celsius) during the day. To kill weeds at their roots, use Ortho WeedClear Lawn Weed Killer for lawn. Simply connect the Ortho-Comfort Wand to the batteries to effortlessly reach and spot-treat weeds with a continuous stream – no bending or pumping required.

Pros

  • Easy to use and ready to spray
  • When applied as instructed, it will not harm the lawn.
  • Effective against a variety of weeds
  • Excellent coverage
  • After just one application, it starts working.
  • One hour after application, it’s rainproof.

Cons

  • When wet, it is dangerous to pets and humans.
  • Bahia, Bermuda, Centipede, and St. Augustine lawns are not good for use.
  • Flowers and veggies are not safe.
green clover on the lawn

Key Takeaways on Clover Killers

Thanks to these reviews and the buyer’s guide, you should now be well-equipped to deal with your clover problem. Ortho Weed B Gon Chickweed, Clover & Oxalis Killer for Lawns take first place in terms of ease of use and effectiveness among all the choices available. We can confidently recommend this product because it has a few downsides and more benefits.

Green Gobbler Vinegar Weed and Grass Killer is your best bet if you’re on a tight budget and won’t be applying it directly to your lawn. It will consume everything in its path, leaving you with a clean slate on which to begin your spring planting. We hope you’ve found these reviews helpful in navigating the plethora of clover killers available. Best of luck, and happy gardening!

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