RealEstate Ke > Home improvement > Will Overseeding Get Rid of Clover? Not Quite, Here’s Why

Will Overseeding Get Rid of Clover? Not Quite, Here’s Why

Leaving clover on your lawn is not necessarily a bad thing. Clover plants help bring nitrogen into your soil where grass plants, such as fescue, can then take it up.

However, too much clover can lead to a lawn that is weak and susceptible to weeds, diseases, pests, and erosion.

If you’re tired of clover in your lawn, you can overseed with grass seed a couple of times a year to help populate the area with more desirable grasses.

Overseeding may not be a great alternative to digging out or spraying clover plants on your lawn. It can help reduce the amount of clover while introducing a variety of grasses that will help create a more suitable, weed-resistant lawn.

I know this isn’t the only option for getting rid of clover.

This blog post is for homeowners, landscapers, and gardeners who want to know how overseeding can get rid of clover varieties.

A clover lawn is not a good idea

Perennial clover varieties can be tough to get rid of because they are strong, stubborn plants that have a set of root systems.

This makes them difficult to kill.

While they’re not necessarily considered a weed, clover can take over your lawn.

In some cases, clover can even prevent more desirable grasses from thriving.

Lawn weeds won’t stand the invasive presence of clover, such as Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)!

I’m going to let you in on a bit of a secret – clover isn’t actually the worst lawn plant.

Although it might not be exactly what you’re looking for, a clover lawn will give weeds a hard time to sprout.

This weed-resistant, slightly shaggy lawn is what you need to get rid of weeds easily.

Clover can provide a low-maintenance, weed-free lawn but you will need to reseed your lawn to give it a chance to flourish.

Clover may not be a weed, but it can get out of hand if not kept in check – that is why you need to control its growth.

Will overseeding get rid of clover?

Successful overseeding requires good soil preparation and the right grass seed mixture.

My overseeding efforts start by spending a lot of time loosening up the soil with a spade.

Loose soil allows the grass to get a good foothold.

I make sure to remove any hard rocks, roots or clumps of grass.

This makes way for the grass seed to come in contact with soil, so it can germinate and grow.

The general rule is that weed seeds will germinate faster than desirable grass seeds.

A clover lawn is no exception to this rule.

This means that if you overseed your lawn without eliminating the clover, you will have a tough time killing it – and even growing your new grass.

In a study published in 2019 to establish how turfgrass species influence growth, clover was found to thrive within the Kentucky bluegrass competition.

Now, a well-prepared and well-planted lawn is tough to beat, and it’s even harder when you’ve got a low-maintenance clover in the mix.

But let’s face it: most of us don’t have the time or desire to head out with a spreader every spring and summer.

However, it is a good start to overseed your lawn and eliminate the clover. Then, maintain healthy grass by fertilizing and watering it regularly.

Your neighbors will be green with envy (and probably wonder what your secret is).

How to destroy clover but not grass

Clover is insidious and I hate it.

Lawn care professionals agree that clover is one tough weed to kill.

Harrowing is a method that can be used to break up the soil or heavy thatch and get rid of clover.

This also allows more sunlight to get past the plant cover.

Although you’ll be getting rid of clover, this technique does also have a tendency to damage the grass too.

Remember that you need to overseed your lawn with the appropriate grass seed for the best results.

What once was a lawn is now a clover desert? Don’t be disheartened – you can overseed and turn it into a weed-resistant lawn again!

Some effective herbicides can be used to kill off clover and prevent it from regrowing.

A.D.I.O.S., for example, can do a great job at killing clover while not harming the surrounding grass.

It’s one of the organic products available on the market and will make sure you won’t have to do any manual labor.

Eliminate weeds with overseeding

Eliminating weeds after they appear can be a difficult task – especially if you don’t want to use any chemicals.

I’m afraid overseeding won’t get rid of weeds – but it can help you prevent them from growing.

A good way to keep weeds at bay is to make sure your lawn doesn’t have any bare patches.

If you don’t want to deal with clover, consider overseeding it again because the grass will grow back stronger.

Remember that there are many types of grasses available – pick one suitable for your location and climate conditions.

Be proactive and deal with weeds before they become a problem.

Overseeding your lawn will ensure that the grass isn’t going to die out at a later stage.

Weeds won’t stand a chance against a healthy, strong lawn!

Zebedee Nambaleo
Zebedee Nambaleo

Zebedee is the founder of RealEstate Ke. He creates content by carefully examining and analyzing the real estate market, home improvement resources, and government data. His analysis is based on the principle of supplying high-quality, relevant, and in-depth information to his audience. By evaluating the current conditions and predicting future trends, he provides his audience with invaluable insights that allow them to make better decisions.