Defeat The Weed

[ubonrthai]

This weed (clover?) covers my small yard choking the grass. I leave for a couple weeks and it grows like crazy. It's tough to pull out with so many roots and low to the ground. Any other solutions aside from meticulous pulling?

[xen]

Been meaning to answer this for a couple of days . You do know that clover is a nitrogen fixer in the soil and until the early fifties when the first broadleaf weed killers were developed from leftover world war two chemicals (so the story goes) that clover was regarded as a lawn in itself.

However there are a couple of ways of eliminating clover that are less harmful to the envirionment than using the traditional MCPA and bromyixcal sprays. There are some new chemicals on the markets for greenkeeping industry bur are still not available to the domestic markets unless you want to buy large drums of it. Spearhead is one of them . It is still a chemical with similar safety precautions that must be observed .

The easiest way of getting rid of clover is to wet the lawn or use early morning dew and then either sprinkle sulphate of amoniumand and sulphate of iron on to the weeds , or make up a mix and spread on with a watering can of the same mix and ratio . The ratio is about 3 to 1 sulphate of amonium to sulphate of iron . Then let the sun burn the broadleaf weeds including the clover and then water in a few hours later . It will also give the turf a big nitrogen boost and you will have a green flush for several weeks. This would also be a good time to raise the mower / or line trimmer and let the grass grow at a higher level to keep a healthier lawn. Can never understand why people feel the need to shave turf and then have to pour water and fertilizer (and money) on to maintain a turf when just mowing at a higher notch or two will give a healthier lawn and far less weed problems . Having a healthier lawn will also help your problem with clover.

I would not use the sulphates on any broadleaf turf like malaysia grass though .

[cooked]

I have been regarded as a miracle worker just by advising people to mow higher, many problems just disappear. Generally, depending on the grass chosen, the hotter and drier it gets, the higher you should mow.

There was a fad for mixed clover/grass lawns in Europe a few years ago, it was claimed that the clover was a dwarf variety that wouldn't choke the grass plants, and no fertiliser would be needed. I never tried it or saw any.

[T_Dog]

We have some clover and agree that it looks nice and does not grow high at all. On our sod however, we have tall shoots of wild grass coming up. Not to hijack the thread, but any suggestions on how to get rid of them? The nuan noi sod itself is doing great.

[overherebc]

We have some clover and agree that it looks nice and does not grow high at all. On our sod however, we have tall shoots of wild grass coming up. Not to hijack the thread, but any suggestions on how to get rid of them? The nuan noi sod itself is doing great.

Check where I posted the label of a weedkiller on the Power of Bamboo, Pub and entertainment section. One or two drops into the centre of the grass will kill it and get rid of the roots. Don't do it on a rainy day or the rain will spread it. It will kill just about anything that grows.