White clover is one of the most common broadleaf weeds found in lawns across North America. Though it was once intentionally added to turfgrass mixes for its beneficial properties, modern homeowners and lawn care professionals often view it as an unwanted invader. Its creeping growth habit, ability to thrive in poor soil, and persistence can make it a frustrating challenge for anyone seeking a thick, uniform lawn.
Join the team here at Merrill as we go over the best ways to identify white clover in your lawn and control this weed ASAP!
White clover (Trifolium repens) is a low-growing, perennial plant that is easy to recognize once you know what to look for. It has a characteristic trifoliate leaf structure, meaning each leaf is divided into three rounded leaflets, each typically marked with a faint white or light green crescent or “watermark” across the center. The edges of the leaflets are smooth, and the entire plant tends to form dense mats close to the ground.
This common lawn weed blooms from spring through early fall, producing small white flower heads made up of many individual florets. These flower heads are about the size of a dime and often show hints of pink as they age. Clover tends to grow in patches, spreading outward in a circular fashion, and can survive mowing due to its low profile.
Key Characteristics:
White clover is particularly opportunistic, often showing up when lawn conditions are less than ideal. It tends to move in when grass is struggling, particularly in areas where the soil lacks key nutrients or the turf is thin and patchy. White clover is most aggressive during the cooler months of spring and fall but can survive mild winters and hot summers, making it a year-round concern in many regions.
White clover has a few tricks up its sleeve when it comes to expansion. It can reproduce in two main ways: by seed and by vegetative growth through stolons (horizontal stems that creep across the ground). Each clover plant sends out these runners, which touch down at nodes and root into the soil, forming new plants. This process allows a single clump to turn into a sprawling patch within a short amount of time. Even if you cut or mow the top portion of the plant, the runners can continue growing and spreading across the lawn.
Though the flowers produce seeds that contribute to its spread over time, especially when allowed to mature, the real danger lies in how quickly stolons can cover ground. That’s why early intervention is so important; once white clover has rooted across a large area, it becomes far harder to remove.
Despite its delicate look, white clover can be quite destructive to the overall health and appearance of your yard. It tends to take over areas where the grass is weak or nutrient-deficient, creating uneven, patchy turf. While white clover doesn’t have deep taproots like dandelions, its thick, fibrous root system is still tough to remove and leaves behind organic matter that can suppress grass growth if not fully extracted.
Once white clover has taken root in your lawn, controlling it requires a combination of strategies to reduce its spread and restore healthy turf. Spot-treating with selective broadleaf herbicides can be effective, particularly products containing ingredients like dicamba or clopyralid, which target clover without harming your grass. For smaller patches, hand-pulling is a practical option, but it’s important to remove the entire root system and stolons to prevent regrowth.
A neglected lawn gives clover the upper hand, so addressing nitrogen deficiencies is key. Applying a nitrogen-rich fertilizer will help your grass grow more vigorously and outcompete the clover. Pair this with regular mowing at the proper height, proper watering, and aeration, and you’ll begin to crowd out existing patches over time.
Preventing White Clover:
