When clovers take over a garden, they tend to do just that. Some might agree that although they are one of the most annoying plants that look the best, they still pose a big problem in many extra wet soils. They spread like a disease, fast. When you’re finally looking to do something about it, there are a few options you can take based on your situation.
Many people ask how to kill the grass itself, without killing the surrounding grass or other plants. What they haven’t been told about the pesky little plant is that its presence in your garden allows nitrogen to return to the soil. Some people recommend simply mowing the lawn and allowing the clover to help the nitrogen content of the soil. It’s also one of those rare breeds of weeds that will stay green even if you live in a place where temperatures and climates can fluctuate. It would be nice to have a green lawn in the summer instead of the rotten yellow of the next door neighbors. Therefore, some would argue that the safest herbicides are none.
There are some things you won’t be able to get rid of when trying to fly the “safe” route with respect to herbicides. Their goal is to kill the weed, not generally maim it. If you want to get a good herbicide, it will contain at least three or four herbicides. The milder ones will contain one or two. The main point to note about these clover herbicides is that they all have at least one active herbicide intended to destroy the weed or the plant itself. There are four main herbicides, including 2, 4-D, Mecoprop (MCPP), and Dicambu.
These are the main herbicides that are mixed and matched within the products, all very effective at killing clovers and any other weeds that commonly grow in your front yard. Usually with clovers. the two most effective assassins of the four are the MCPP and the Dicambu. Dicambu, when used in large quantities, will have a higher chance of ruining other plants in your garden if you are not careful. The chemicals it contains stay in the soil, so if it ends up killing the plants, you may need to redistribute and start over with new soil. When it comes to killing clover weeds, it’s best to use MCCP, or a killer that has MCCP as its main chemical herbicide.
If you have serious concerns about the use of toxins in your garden, you have every right to be. If you want to research a certain agent, a good place to start would be the Internet. This is a good starting point for information on certain clover herbicides compared to others. Use your own judgment and keep in mind that all herbicides are generally not very healthy for your children.
