In article ,
"Dan L." wrote:

In article ,
"David E. Ross" wrote:

On 5/20/10 3:57 PM, Frank McElrath wrote:
I have a bad clover problem here in the DC area. As much as I hate to
use
chemicals, I may have to. We are planning to take a 3 week vacation
starting at the beginning of August.

Would I do damage to my grass if I sprayed a weedkiller on right before
we
left, so as to minimize our exposure to it?



Phew! A lot of people are defending clover. But in the present
situation it's a plant growing where is is not wanted. And the present
question is how to be rid of it. Instead of defending clover, advise
McElrath how to remove it without resorting to WMD.

I have two daylilies growing where I don't want them. I don't like the
color of these two. I don't like the fact that they bloom only 2-3
times a year instead of almost constantly like some of my other
daylilies. And I don't like the fact that they are crowded some other
plants that I want to grow in my garden. When I remove AND TRASH these
daylilies, I certainly don't want a herd of daylily defenders trying to
lynch me.

And when McElrath gets rid of his unwanted clover, don't lynch him either.

I gave up on the perfect lawn years ago. The cost, the toxins, the labor.
Fighting nature is a lost cause. Nature will always win in the end. Work
with nature don't fight it. Repeat this over and over, it will save you
"I love clover, clover is beautiful, clover is good". You will feel much
better. If you follow your current path of weed and feed, it will lead
only to despair and misery year after year.

Daylilies!!!! May God have mercy on your soul

The easy way to get rid of clover is an 18 inch mouldboard plow. roll
the clover under and then lightly disk the surface before planting. The
clover will become humus and help with long-term plant growth.

The hard way is anything less than this. Chemicals work, but can do
damage to other plants in the area. Clover seed is fertile for up to 7
years after it drops on the ground. Most weed killers will not kill the
seed. Roots can go as deep as a foot, depending on the kind of clover,
so a simple roto-tiller will not get rid of the roots of some species.

removing it to 3 or 4 inches and replacing the area with tightly grown
sod can work to stop most clover species. Covering the area with a black
tarp for a period of several months if it is in the sun can help kill
both the clover and the seed, but is not fool proof. The tarp should be
water proof and not allow sunlight through. Remember to cover all the
clover (or grass) and an area at least a foot larger in each direction
if possible. This is best done in the summer. It should kill about
everything under it.

Like grass, clover is a ground cover that has evolved to survive grazing
animals, fires, floods, and various other natural disasters, that having
been said, it is darn hard to get rid of. Best of luck.