It is very prevalent in under-fertilized lawns and grows best in full sun; however, it can also colonize turf areas that receive fertilizer and are partially shaded. White clover produces stolons and can creep into thin turf, forming patches. It grows well in spring, summer, and fall, and is most noticeable when flowering during late spring and early summer. Although some homeowners don't mind having clover in their lawns, others object to its patchy appearance.
Figure 2. Patches of white clover in a home lawn. Photo: Peter Landschoot, Penn State
Life cycle
White clover belongs to the legume family (Fabaceae) and is classified as a perennial. Plants form patches through branching stems that grow prostrate along the soil surface and root at nodes. Foliage typically dies back in winter and new leaves are produced from crown tissues in spring. Foliage may persist and remain visible during mild winters. White clover produces flowers from spring to fall, with a peak flowering period in late spring to early summer. Flowers eventually produce small seeds with hard coats that can remain dormant in the soil for long periods. Seed germination takes place during cool, moist periods in spring and fall. Like other legumes, white clover exists symbiotically with nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium bacteria which produce nodules on roots and convert atmospheric nitrogen into a plant-available form.
Identification
White clover stems are smooth to sparsely hairy and grow close to the ground. Leaves are made up of three oval leaflets (trifoliate arrangement) approximately ¼ to ¾ inch in diameter and arise alternately on stems. Margins of leaflets are slightly serrated, with a small indentation at the tip. A white or light green inverted V-shaped pattern often referred to as a watermark, is usually visible on the lower portion of each leaflet. Mature inflorescences are globe-shaped, ½ to ¾ inch in diameter, and contain 20-40 white flowers.
Figure 3. Leaves of white clover showing trifoliate leaflets and pale inverted V-shaped watermark on the lower portion of each leaflet. Photo: Peter Landschoot, Penn State
Figure 4. Inflorescences of white clover. A single inflorescence may be composed of 20-40 individual flowers. Photo: Peter Landschoot, Penn State
Management and control
White clover is more likely to form large patches in the turf that is not adequately fertilized with nitrogen. Infestations of white clover can be reduced by improving turf density through good establishment procedures and the use of turfgrasses well-adapted to site conditions. This weed is best controlled by herbicides containing dicamba, clopyralid, fluroxypyr, and quinclorac. Products containing combinations of these active ingredients usually provide very good control of white clover. Regrowth of foliage sometimes occurs following spring herbicide applications. Fall applications of herbicides are often the most effective means of controlling white clover.
Some postemergence herbicide products labeled for control of white clover.
| Active ingredients | Product name(s)* |
|---|---|
| 2,4-D and 2,4-DP | Patron 170 (ester formulation) |
| 2,4-D, 2,4-DP, and dicamba | Super Trimec (ester formulation) |
| 2,4-D, clopyralid, and dicamba | Millennium Ultra 2** |
| 2,4-D, dicamba, and quinclorac | 2-DQ Herbicide |
| 2,4-D, fluroxypyr, and dicamba | Escalade 2, Escalade |
| 2,4-D, fluroxypyr, triclopyr, and flumioxazin | Sure Power (ester formulation) |
| 2,4-D, MCPA, dicamba, and sulfentrazone | Triad SFZ Select |
| 2,4-D, MCPP, dicamba | Trimec Classic; 3-D Herbicide; Threesome; Primera Triplet SF |
| 2,4-D, MCPP, dicamba, and carfentrazone-ethyl | Speedzone |
| 2,4-D, MCPP, dicamba, and sulfentrazone | Surge |
| 2,4-D, quinclorac, and dicamba | Quincept; 2DQ Herbicide; Triad QC Select |
| 2,4-D, quinclorac, dicamba, and sulfentrazone | Q4 Plus |
| 2,4-D, fluroxypyr, and triclopyr | Momentum FX2 |
| 2,4-D, fluroxypyr, triclopyr, and sulfentrazone | Momentum 4-Score |
| 2,4-D and triclopyr | Chaser (ester formulation) |
| 2,4-D and triclopyr | Chaser 2 Amine, Turflon II Amine |
| 2,4-D, triclopyr, and clopyralid | Lesco Momentum |
| 2,4-D, triclopyr, dicamba, and pyraflufen-ethyl | 4-Speed XT (ester formulation) |
| 2,4-D, triclopyr, dicamba, and sulfentrazone | Foundation |
| clopyralid | Lontrel** |
| florasulam | Defendor |
| fluroxypyr | Vista XRT |
| fluroxypyr, dicamba, and fenoxaprop-p-ethyl | Last Call Selective Herbicide |
| MCPA, fluroxypyr, and dicamba | Change Up |
| MCPA, fluroxypyr, and triclopyr | Battleship III |
| MCPA, MCPP, and dicamba | Trimec Encore, Tri-Power Selective Herbicide |
| MCPA, MCPP, dicamba, and carfentrazone-ethyl | Powerzone (ester formulation) |
| MCPA, triclopyr, and dicamba | Eliminate |
| MCPA, triclopyr, and dicamba | Lesco Three-Way Ester II, Cool Power (ester formulation); Lesco Three-Way Ester II |
| MCPP | Mecomec 4 Turf Herbicide |
| mesotrione | Tenacity |
| prodiamine and quinclorac | Cavalcade PQ |
| Pyraflufen ethyl | Octane |
| quinclorac | Drive XLR8, Quinclorac 1.5 L, Quinclorac 75 DF |
| Quinclorac and carfentrazone-ethyl | SquareOne Herbicide |
| triclopyr | Trycera |
| triclopyr | Triclopyr 4 (ester formulation); Turflon Ester Ultra |
| triclopyr and clopyralid | 2-D Herbicide, Confront** |
| triclopyr and fluroxypyr | Tailspin |
| 2,4-D, triclopyr, dicamba, and sulfentrazone | Tzone SE (ester formulation) |
*Follow label precautionary statements, restrictions, and directions regarding tolerant turfgrass species, rates, and timing of applications.
**Clopyralid-containing products should not be used on residential lawns but can be used for treating weeds in non-residential turf.
References
- Patton, A.J. 2019. Turfgrass weed control for professionals. Purdue University Extension. 128 pp.
- Uva, R.H., J.C. Neal, and J.M. DiThomaso. 1997. Weeds of the northeast. Cornell University Press. 397 pp.
