(By Jared Hoyle, KSU Turfgrass Research and Extension)
School is starting back and college football is right around the corner. This tells me it is the best time of the year to start renovating, overseeding or establishing new cool-season turfgrass areas. But before you do that, you might have some unwanted weeds to get rid of. White clover is one of the most common weeds found in cool-season turfgrass. It can grow in a wide range of environmental conditions and can tolerate many of our cultural practices. It can also spread by seeds and by stolons.
White clover is a perennial broadleaf weed that has trifoliate leaves that may or may not have a wedged-shaped mark. Although it is called white clover the flowers are white but may turn pink as they age.
Because white clover can fix its own nitrogen some see it as an important species to add beneficial soil nitrogen. There had been some work done to explore using both clover and turfgrass in a mixture in their lawns. Others may consider it as a weed.
If you consider it a weed, fall is a great time to try and control it. But did you know 2,4-D, glyphosate and sulfentrazone do not control white clover? For best control herbicides that contain clopyralid, dicamba, fluroxypyr, florasulam, metsulfruon, and/or quinclorac (also controls crabgrass) provide the best control when applied in the fall.
Always remember a healthy turfgrass stand through proper maintenance is the best weed control and can help minimize clover in you turfgrass.
Information from this post if from “Turfgrass Weed Control for Professionals” To get your copy today click here – https://www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/Item.aspx?catId=545&pubId=20239
Always remember to READ THE LABEL for the correct rate, turfgrass tolerance, and specific instructions before application!!!
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