Paul Giverin wrote:
In message , Andrew
Newton
writes
We've moved house recently and I'm now attacking the lawn. I've
got
quite a bit of trefoil which is now in flower. As I don't want to
use chemicals can I remove this by raking the patches before I mow
(as I've successfully done previously with clover) each time. Also
any idea what cause this to grow so I can take some preventitive
measures.

Its resistant to chemical treatments anyway IME so mechanical
removal
is recommended. Although it spreads out over the surface of the
lawn,
it has a single root so its not too difficult to pull out by hand.
I
think that using a rake would remove the top growth while leafing
the
roots in place to sprout again.

It seems to favour poor quality soil. Where I live its quite sandy
and
all the goodness washes out. My own lawn is free from it because I
hate the stuff and religiously oik it out as soon as I see any but
the
neighbours are not so conscientious and I get the "benefit" of
their
seeds.

Not an answer -- that's been done already -- so much as a response:
Where a lawn is more for green appearance than for hard wear, there's
a fair case to be made for small-leafed clover: it needs little
feeding, and seems more drought-resistant than grass in problem
areas. Worth thinking about for some people when water-metering comes
in, and if one doesn't want to do so much mowing.

--
Mike.