How I Kill Clover Without Chemicals

Most tutorials on how to kill clover out of a lawn show you how to grab a chemical of some kind and apply it to the weed when temperatures are low in the Spring or the fall usually.
I did it different and it worked out really well.
I used a product that is not a chemical and applied it in the summer during a week where most days were in the 90's and one day got up to 100...even still that clover patch died off and my lawn looks completely untouched.
I'm not sure this is the best way to kill clover but it was a cool experiment and it does showcase a good method for getting the job done in a pinch.
► Product I used can be found here: www.amazon.com...
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[@TurfMechanic]

►►► Want to fix your lawn for the long haul but don't know where to start? I can help! Click here right now and get started today: turfmech.link/dont-know-where-to-start ◄◄◄

[@paddleduck5328]

The liquid iron I used as a foliar spray for my yellow-flowered wood sorrel ☘️ totally worked. Thanks for the tip several months ago, Brian! It wilted out about 65% of the clover-looking sorrel the first day, and took a few applications over several weeks but it amazingly totally knocked it out. It was all over my lawn. I probably applied the iron too heavy, about 2x the recommended rate for applying liquid iron to grass. But I wanted it gone! Lol. I also bought a pump sprayer which was worth the investment after using a spray bottle the first time 😅 if I had used Natria instead of regular lawn iron maybe it would’ve worked faster, I’m not sure if mine was chelated. I didn’t pay any attention to the temps, I wonder if that also had any affect on why it took a few applications. There were always visible results the next day, but just took awhile to get it gone. Take care and hope you and your family are well!

[@justinbailey2806]

I've done a lot of pin point clover control by tracing down the stems to find the root center and pulling it out. Be sure to look for any small vines along the ground you can trace and pull also in older growths of it, usually the vines all trace back to a deeper center root. I like clover and it's flowers attract and sustain pollinators and all, but it doesn't stay in it's lane, it outcompetes the grass and often times takes over.

[@SVW1976]

This right here! If you have a small yard like me its easier to just rip it out. I did this over the course of last summer and this year so far no clover. Not easy if you have a full and thick lawn but mine was suffering and thin when I moved in. I overseeded last summer and again a few years ago to fill all voids.

[@Rose-B612]

Lmao 85 is not hot? You in the Sahara? I’m in Jersey SWEATING at 85

[@alceja3522]

Huge clover problem in ca all of a sudden. I’ve never had much weed issues until now. Thx u for the video!!

[@rgodwin1]

Have a question about the Natria weed control for lawns. Brian or anyone else here have any experience using it on a completely new lawn from seed? I messaged the company and they said it can be safely used on my rye/fescue one week after the seedlings emerged. I'd like to use it to kill the baby clover that is just popping up in between the lawn but I don't want to damage my 2 week old seedlings.

[@davidgonzales-ec8bo]

So i agree, fe hedta is the answer to clover. One of the best videos you've made. Ty

[@garretthoward13]

I had a patch a little bigger then this. I literally picked all of it out with my hands maybe on 3 different occasions and it never came back.

[@HotLawnSummer]

Dunno love your content but please follow up after a few weeks on this. I've had great results with FeHEDTA on other broadleaf weeds but just couldn't knock out clover patches last spring. It looks all dead and good after a few days but everytime after a few weeks it's back in full force especially after a good rain . Multiple applications to the point where the whole area was getting that grayish look. This summer I started pulling some but had about the same results as it's tough to get everything. I try to stay all natural too, but might have to resort to trying tricorpyl this fall. Also might try feeding the area with heavy nitrogen too.

[@TheRastler]

Add some washing up liquid to the mix it will cling to the clover and take longer to dry out. Mulching also spreads live clover spores, better collect till it I’d all gone.

[@unionse7en]

I'm doing an experiment on an area that never gets foot traffic with clover instead of grass.... grass can withstand foot traffic better than clover, but clover could be cheaper and nicer in some ways... we shall see. (I'm in 12" of rainfall area of Colorado) I've done some small areas with clover in a partial shade area , it sprouts very quickly, adds nitrogen to the soil, bees like it , low water req, good at choking weeds out. etc. My other choices are Turf type tall fescue (cheap) . Blue Grama (native on my land) and probably the best for walking areas is Buffalo Grass (pricey though). I want to cover some disturbed soil on a septic field before winter so will ty to cover it with clover and Tall Fescue for . I may report back in a year.

[@rubenharris9241]

I am going to pick up a bottle of the FeHEDTA. I am inspired by the idea of reducing chemicals on my patch. Nice work (again) Brian.

[@JC-zc9cr]

You seem very concerned about clover but it appears you live in an area that has issues with heat and limited water. How much water are you wasting to keep your pretty grass green?

[@laurapalmerTDGE]

Clovers are an excellent indicator of lawn health. They represent certain values, including N. They have benefits and drawbacks, but you already knew that. Clover has the ability to bind nitrogen from the atmosphere via the rhizobium bacterium. Nitrogen is held in nitrogen nodules before being released into the soil and absorbed by grass and clover. This can result in increased dry matter and crude protein yields. An intriguing fact. Clover provides 160 kg of nitrogen per hectare with a yield of 12 tons of grass clover and a clover share of 30%. As a result, you can save this nitrogen for fertilizer, contributing to a higher phosphate efficiency on your farm. Grass clover improves the structure and fertility of the soil. More organic matter is created when soil life becomes more active. Clover attracts not only worms, but also flower-visiting insects such as bees and bumblebees.

[@ddp7058]

I live in Scotland. 85 degrees is boiling!! 🤣🤣

[@davidgonzales-ec8bo]

Wealth of knowledge. No joke, i am having a huge clover problem. Trycloper kills the grass and didnt know how to kill the clover. Your video came at the most perfect time.

[@TofuInc]

Triclopyr doesn't kill grass. I spray it at the highest rate to keep winter creeper under control and my grass doesn't even discolor.

[@alphamale3141]

I’m having a serious clover problem. Tenacity helps but your product seems to be much more effective. As always, your videos help me tremendously. Thank you.

[@TurfMechanic]

It's definitely effective but be prepared for multiple apps...it works much better on younger weeds and if I did this experiment again I'd probably scalp the entire area down first then wait a few days before making my first app since so much of the product gets applied to grass instead of weeds lurking in the grass.

[@joeluna7982]

@@TurfMechanic .[

[@PublickStews]

Iron is a chemical.

[@vashon100]

Yeah, I'm confused how this is not a chemical application. No bottles of this grows anywhere.

[@cornstar1253]

It's an element.

[@toeknee5565]

​@@cornstar1253 It's a chemical element

[@riflebear1711]

Doesn't chemical suggest solvent?

[@eddiecuevas1085]

dihydrogen oxide is also a chemical, but you should definitely use it on your lawn.

[@daxstarwilliams9239]

Sir, I see you drive a Snapper. I drive a Snapper sp60V lawn mower and I cannot for the life of me find a replacement Blade (part #2900519) for my sp60v? I'm in the process of trashing the mower for another. Any insight to getting a replacement Blade? Appreciate. #Snapper #LawnMower #ReplacementBlade

[@jimdunlop4579]

This is a great demo video and I appreciate it watching your results. I watch this video and think you waited 2 1/2 months to try this out. You could have dug it all up that small section and reseeded and had new grass in that time. Sometimes (NOT ALL THE TIME) a better choice is to reset.

[@TofuInc]

I'm a big fan of the FeHEDTA. I have a bottle of that concentrate I'm currently using to control weeds in my new grass. If it works I may try it as my only herbicide next year. I'll gladly give up the synthetic herbicides. I'm not giving up the synthetic fertilizer though. Clover thrives in low nitrogen soil. More quick release nitrogen regularly will take out the clover, or at least stunt it to the point it no longer spreads.

[@aaronsloanchase]

Great stuff, Thank you for all your videos! but I hate to tell you that iron is a chemical.

[@Skooozle]

Will this iron treatment kill Parson's Juniper shrub? I have a clover plant growing up through my shrub and I'm trying to find out how to kill the clover but not the shrub.

[@TurfMechanic]

I don't know the answer to this definitively however I would bet the shrub is hardy enough to stand up to FeHEDTA just fine, especially if you are being careful around it. For the clover, you'll probably have to apply a couple times at least, maybe a month to 45 days apart if you give it a try.

[@jvjdrn]

Clovers are no joke! Oh, sure, they look harmless enough that we sing songs about them, but MAKE NO MISTAKE! Clover don’t play!

[@TurfMechanic]

It sure does want to take over once it gets a foothold. I just made a video about how to completely kill the stuff with chems...you know, for those people that are serious about eradicating the stuff from their yards.

[@realworldcarpentryremodeli5868]

Awesome. I’m going to try this . Will this kill violets?

[@bdpgarage]

Ummm, that stuff is a chemical.

[@RDAmidwest]

So much for the 1/3 rule! 😆

[@TurfMechanic]

Seriously! Cutting the grass back down to size damaged the Turf more than the product did!

[@RDAmidwest]

@@TurfMechanic It showed! I'm fighting my front yard trying to work it down from a high of 4". Mowing 2-3 times per week moving it down a quarter inch for 2 cuts then dropping again. Then rain screwed me for the past week. It's full sun and loving the cool down so it's growing fast. Probably need a daily mow this week to get it back to the 2.5" it was at a week ago. Sigh...

[@TurfMechanic]

@@RDAmidwest I think I'm starting to jump on the "just cut it way down" bandwagon. Kind of like bermuda scalping all the other grasses recover just fine when you accidentally scalp them so you might as well cut it super low once and then let it fill back into the height you want. It'll look rough for a week or so but it comes back pretty quick so long as you leave the crowns and it's well fertilized. The spot I cut super low in August for the purpose of using the manual thatch rake looks perfect just a couple weeks after the scalp.

[@RDAmidwest]

@@TurfMechanic 😆 I decided last minute to hack the main stage of my front yard directly to 2.5" again. It went 9 days & grew to well over 4". The blades were plump & full so it matted like crazy. Hit it again at 90 degrees but I'll be fighting that crap for days. Small side of the front I cut to 3.5" & it likes like a million bucks. Daily cuts of a quarter inch until it's down to 2" is the plan, if patience allows. The KGB is growing like weeds but I want it short for winter. I'll have to blow out the irrigation by, usually, around the 10th of October. I've paused it for now to try & slow things down a bit.

[@myredrose45]

I wish I could find something to kill dallis grass without killing my lawn as there's a lot of it.

[@TofuInc]

I use a $10 weeder tool from Walmart to pull the plants out. I have a Fescue lawn and no chemicals will touch the dallisgrass.

[@markwilliamson4834]

Other than aesthetics, why is clover a problem in a regular suburban lawn? It does provide some soil and "hot" weather benefits I thought.

[@zp944]

My back yard is probably 60% clover in north Texas. My front lawn has no clover. My front lawn needs to be mowed once every 7-10 days, my back yard needs to be mowed after 3 days. If I wait a week, it takes two passes. If I wait ten days, it's virtually a jungle

[@squirrel1179]

Mostly just esthetics, but some people plant clover and microclover to naturally increase nitrogen in the soil.

[@adamroebuck1283]

My lawn is covered in clover. I started the process of applying Natria concentrate this week. Put the first coat down two days ago before a mow, mowed yesterday, and applied a second coat today. Looking pretty good so far. Much of the clover has shriveled up. Excited to see how it plays out. I can post updates if folks are interested...

[@nicknice2159]

What's your temperature I just hit the 90s so I don't know if I should put down anything to kill the clover

[@adamroebuck1283]

@@nicknice2159 Natria recommends not applying when it's over 85

[@nicknice2159]

@@adamroebuck1283 my tempts are suppose to drop next week so we'll see

[@adamroebuck1283]

@@nicknice2159 be prepared to do a few applications, if you have a lot of clover. I've done three applications now. It's almost all done but I'll probably need one or two more.

[@BLEACH366]

You aren’t going to kill clover with any liquid the only way to get rid of it permanent is pull it out and get the 2 spur roots or it will keep growing back

[@zp944]

Truth. I battled clover for 2 years. Only way I got rid of my clover was with a shovel and a metal rake. Dig up pretty much the entire yard, put all the clusters in the trash, and raked the yard flat again. It's a new year, and about 95% of the clover is gone. I just dig up the few remaining clumps right now, and I think I'm gonna be good. It took me about 7 hours, not gonna lie - I had A LOT of clover. But it was worth it.

[@sherimetschan961]

​@@zp944Could you give more details? Did you shovel the clover out then rake? Where there bare spots and did you have to reseed? Thanks!

[@sherimetschan961]

Sorry, forget the 1st question about shoveling. But I assume you had to reseed?

[@zp944]

@@sherimetschan961 nope. During the colder months I dug up all the clover by the root and nothing else. Come spring, the existing grass spread out and covered the bare spots. No need to seed

[@sherimetschan961]

@@zp944 Do you think this could be done in the summer? We have alot of clover and my husband sprayed with Spectracide. So far 2x and I'm afraid he's going to keep spraying. I'm worried about possible drift to my vegetable garden. Any more advise would be helpful.

[@Supanova70]

What is the coldest soil temp you can apply this to BBU?

[@TurfMechanic]

Not sure what the coldest is exactly but I did it in December before snow in this video and it worked good enough kzbin.info/www/bejne/eajEepmNfbiLfsU

[@mesta9997]

2 months... Ergh.. just rake and pull like a mullet.

[@sherimetschan961]

Does this work for you? You've actually done it? If so, does the grass naturally fill in or do you overseed?

[@zach8335]

Why would you want to kill clover?🤡

[@zach8335]

@@k1_w3 because it’s symbiotic and beneficial to your grass lol.

[@johngrinnell]

Always incredible content. The only good thing about moving is starting the lawn care journey all over again!!

[@TurfMechanic]

I'm soo looking forward to it, dreading some of the work but super excited to create something awesome from scratch!

[@johngrinnell]

@@TurfMechanic do you know where you are moving to? Maybe experiment with Bermuda grass or another warm season grass

[@TurfMechanic]

@@johngrinnell camarillo ca - I'll have year round green and I can grow warm or cool season grasses because of mild weather in summer and winter. The watering will be my biggest limiting factor

[@paulcoggins]

ugh. A grass lawn is an ecological DEAD zone

[@qekkb1234]

What kind of grass is this?

[@TurfMechanic]

My main lawn is a mix of kbg and perennial rye with a touch of fine mixed in mostly under the trees. My hill yard is newly seeded buffalograss and I just installed mostly fine fescue on the north face of the house with a bit of tttf mixed in.

[@BajoMundoUnderground]

is that perennial ryegrass?

[@TurfMechanic]

A lot of it is, mixed with kbg mostly in this area.

[@gtpro700]

Can you use this method after overseeding with newly establish grass in the area or will it hurt the new seedlings?

[@TurfMechanic]

The label says its fine to use on grass seedlings after 10 days or so. I've used it on baby grass of multiple types with no issues. If you overseed just give it about 10 days after when you'd expect seedlings to emerge and then you should be good to apply.

[@gtpro700]

@@TurfMechanic thanks for the quick reply!

[@TofuInc]

I'm using it on 2 week old fescue (TTTF and fine) and rye

[@twochaudiomg2578]

Toys is right. mom should be picking up that stuff. Probably dad's fault. For being the Beta It's the new time.

[@robertjohnston25]

I feel like your lawn looks better this year than it did last year. Shame to see it go after all the progress you’ve made on it. 🥲

[@TurfMechanic]

I appreciate the sentiment, last year I forced a short cut lawn with a rotary mower and it looked good for part of the year but rarely looked great. This year everything is about 1/2 inch taller cut and that makes all the difference...that and the annual effort of maintenance I do 😆 I'm sure future seasons in new lawn spaces will be super fun to work on, I can improve, this lawn, great as it may be was only practice 😊

[@robertjohnston25]

@@TurfMechanic it did look cut a bit taller and yeah it does look much healthier. It almost feels like a cheat code 🤣

[@TurfMechanic]

@@robertjohnston25 😁