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Lawn/Clover Advice

zara.akesterzara.akester Posts: 2
in Problem solving
Am sure that this has been asked a million times but was wondering if anyone could suggest the best way to get rid of our huge clover problem?  Am on London Clay and the lawn is super-soggy - so wanted to kill the clover/moss, then rotivate to get some air in and re-seed ready for next summer. 

Happy to use herbicide to kill clover/moss off and wanted to know whether it's too late to do it now - Oct 20th?  What products would people recommend to use?  And, should we then rotivate/re-seed?  Or, just leave it all til early Spring?

Thanks very much in advance for any advice/suggestions?

Best,

Zar

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Weedkillers work best when plants are in active growth so not now when growth has slowed down or stopped because of reduced sunlight and low temperatures.   Clover is actually a good plant to have for wildlife and moss indicates poor drainage or insufficient light or both.

    I would advise instead that you scarify your lawn by raking off all loose thatch with a spring-tined rake or a special machine which you can hire or buy if your awn is large.   This will allow rain to soak in better and also allow more light and air to your grass leaves.

    Then you need to aerate your lawn by spiking it with your garden fork.  Push it in vertically for a few inches, wiggle back and forth to enlarge the holes and make sure you work backwards so you don't crush them.  If you're lawn is large you can hire a machine.

    Then you need to pour on some dry, sharp sand - not builders' - and brush it across the holes so they stay open and allow drainage to improve.   After that, leave it alone till spring when you can apply a seasonal weed and feed being sure to follow the instructions about quantities and watering in.  Once that has worked, scarify again then re-sow on any bare spots.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • zara.akesterzara.akester Posts: 2
    Fantastic - thanks very much.  Yes, have been rather distracted and just left the lawn to fend for itself...will get scarifying this weekend. 
    Zar
  • SydRoySydRoy Posts: 167
    zara.akester said:
    Am sure that this has been asked a million times but was wondering if anyone could suggest the best way to get rid of our huge clover problem?  Am on London Clay and the lawn is super-soggy - so wanted to kill the clover/moss, then rotivate to get some air in and re-seed ready for next summer. 


    If your lawn is "super soggy" it will always remain so until you carry out (probably major) drainage work or raise your whole lawn.
    Rotivating, scarifying etc will IMHO will be a waste of time & effort. The moss & clover will quickly return once the lawn gets waterlogged again - which it surely will.
    I don't mean to be negative and put a downer on your efforts but poor drainage is poor drainage.

    Having said that its your garden of course and if you still want to give it a try, iron sulphate will kill moss. 
    As for clover, I think it makes a great lawn.
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