How to Get Rid of Clover in Lawn: 7 Methods That Actually Work
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To get rid of clover in lawn, the most reliable approach is to fix the underlying cause – low nitrogen and thin, compacted soil – then deal with the existing patches. Hand-pull small infestations, smother larger ones, spot-treat with a labeled broadleaf weed killer if needed, and feed your turf so dense, healthy grass crowds the clover out. Clover is a low-maintenance plant that thrives wherever grass is weak, so a thick lawn is your best defense.
This guide draws on university extension guidance (Iowa State, Clemson, Colorado State, UC IPM) and general turf practice. Herbicide products differ by grass type and state, so the product label always overrides anything written here.
Why Clover Takes Over a Lawn in the First Place
White clover (Trifolium repens) is a perennial broadleaf plant with creeping stems and small white or pale-pink flowers. It is native to Europe but is now common across the United States in lawns, gardens, and open land. Like most lawn weeds, it succeeds because it exploits gaps that desirable plants leave open.
Clover thrives in conditions where turf grass struggles. The big drivers are:
- Low nitrogen. Clover is a legume – it fixes nitrogen from the air through its roots. Iowa State Extension notes that its presence is often a sign of low nitrogen fertility, so it can grow happily where grass is underfed.
- Thin, weak turf. Bare soil and thin patches are an open invitation. Wherever the ground is exposed, clover seed can sprout and spread its creeping stems sideways.
- Mowing too short. Mowing the grass too low weakens it and gives low-growing clover the light it needs. Shade from trees can thin the turf the same way – in those spots, the best grass seed for shade will hold density better than standard mixes.
- Compacted, poor ground. Compacted soil keeps grass roots shallow while clover tolerates it.
So clover isn’t really the disease – it’s the symptom. The most durable fix is to grow grass so dense and healthy that weed seeds never get the light or the gap they need to germinate.
How to Identify Clover (and Rule Out Look-Alikes)
Most lawn clover is white clover, but a few related plants get lumped in with it – and some, like black medick, are not true clover at all. True clovers share the classic three-leaflet leaf, and white clover leaflets often carry a pale, crescent-shaped mark. The yellow-flowered look-alikes tend to be smaller.
| Plant | Latin name | Flower |
|---|---|---|
| White clover | Trifolium repens | White / pale pink |
| Red clover | Trifolium pratense | Pink-purple |
| Lesser trefoil | Trifolium dubium | Small yellow |
| Black medick (look-alike) | Medicago lupulina | Small yellow |
| Bird’s-foot trefoil (look-alike) | Lotus corniculatus | Yellow |
White clover is the one you’ll usually be targeting. The cultural methods below work on all of these look-alikes, but herbicide labels list specific weeds, so confirm that clover or your particular weed is named on the product before you buy.
The 7 Best Ways to Get Rid of Clover in Lawn
There is no single magic method. The right choice depends on how big the patches are, how many other weeds are present, whether you want to protect pollinators, and how fast you need results. For the best results, most people combine two methods – one to remove what’s there and one to keep clover from coming back.
| Method | Best for | Effect on grass / bees | Lasting? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand-pulling | Small, young patches | None | Only if soil is improved |
| Smothering (plastic/cardboard) | Medium dense patches | Kills grass underneath too | Yes, then reseed |
| Corn gluten meal | Reducing new seedlings (does not kill established clover) | Check the label; results vary | Partial |
| Vinegar spray (DIY) | Tiny seedlings only | Burns grass; roots survive | No – clover regrows |
| Boiling water | Cracks, edges, isolated sprouts | Kills everything it touches | No on established roots |
| Selective broadleaf weed killer | Large, stubborn infestations | Labeled for certain grasses only; can harm bees if sprayed on flowering clover | Yes if soil is also fixed |
| Feed + overseed (cultural fix) | The long-term cure | None | Most lasting of all |
1. Pull clover by hand
For small infestations this is the most efficient method and the cheapest. Water the area first so the ground is soft, then grip the plant low and pull slowly to lift the roots and creeping stems intact. If you snap off the foliage and leave roots behind, clover will regrow. After you pull, drop a little grass seed into the bare soil so grass – not more weeds – fills the gap.
2. Smother it out
For a dense patch you don’t mind losing the grass on, lay down plastic sheeting or cardboard so the area is fully covered for several weeks. With the light cut off, the clover dies. The catch: everything underneath dies too, so this is really a reset-and-reseed move, not a spot fix.
3. Spread corn gluten meal
Corn gluten meal is sold as a natural pre-emergent. It does not kill established clover; it is meant to reduce germination of new weed seeds and adds some nitrogen as it breaks down. Evidence on how well it works is mixed, so treat it as a minor helper rather than a cure, and don’t use it where you plan to seed grass. Follow the product label for timing and amount.
4. Spot-spray a selective broadleaf weed killer
When clover has spread across a big area, a selective broadleaf herbicide is the usual next step. Spot-treat rather than blanket-spray, follow the label exactly, and don’t spray clover that is in flower and being visited by bees. Iowa State Extension lists products containing 2,4-D, MCPP (mecoprop), dicamba, or triclopyr as giving good control, and notes that fall applications are more effective than late-spring or summer ones. Not every product is safe on every grass: UC IPM notes that triclopyr is not suitable for some warm-season grasses, and Clemson limits its clover use to tall fescue lawns, so check that your grass type is on the label. Crabgrass preventers (pre-emergents) will not control clover. If you want to browse, you can look at a broadleaf lawn weed killer on Amazon – read the label for the weeds and grass types it covers. For questions about pets, children, or waiting periods, follow the label and your state extension office.
5. Try a vinegar spray (with realistic expectations)
A horticultural vinegar mix can scorch young clover, but read the section below before you reach for it – it rarely kills established roots and will burn your grass.
6. Use boiling water on edges
Boiling water is a no-chemical option for clover sprouting in cracks, along borders, or in isolated spots away from grass you want to keep. It kills on contact but does not discriminate, so keep it off the lawn itself.
7. Feed and overseed – the real cure
This is the method that lasts. Fertilize on a sensible schedule to keep nitrogen up (a soil test tells you what your lawn needs), mow at the recommended height for your grass, water deeply but infrequently, and overseed thin areas so grass fills every gap. When the turf is thick and green, clover has nowhere to land. You can pair a lawn fertilizer on Amazon with overseeding; follow the bag label for the rate.
When Boiling Water and Vinegar Won’t Work
Two of the most-shared DIY clover hacks are also the two most likely to disappoint, so it’s worth being honest about their limits.
Boiling water only kills what it touches. On a young sprout in a sidewalk crack it works fine. On established white clover spreading through your lawn, the heat scorches the foliage but deeper roots can survive and the plant can come back. It also kills any grass it splashes, leaving bare soil that new weeds like.
Vinegar is a contact, non-selective spray. It browns the top growth quickly, which looks like success, but perennial plants like clover often push out fresh leaves from surviving roots. Meanwhile, vinegar will burn and thin the surrounding grass – the opposite of what you want, because thin turf invites more clover. Skip both methods on clover that is already well rooted, and reach for hand-pulling, a selective weed killer, or the feed-and-overseed fix instead.
Which Herbicide Ingredients Are Used on Clover?
White clover has a waxy leaf, and not every “lawn weed killer” handles it. According to extension sources, these are the active ingredients to look for on a label:
| Active ingredient | What extension says |
|---|---|
| 2,4-D | Listed by Iowa State among products giving good control; UC IPM says it alone is not effective on clover, so it is usually used in a mix |
| MCPP (mecoprop) | Listed by Iowa State; common in three-way mixes |
| Dicamba | Listed by Iowa State; common in three-way mixes |
| Triclopyr | Listed by Iowa State; not safe on some warm-season grasses (UC IPM), and Clemson limits its use to tall fescue lawns |
Spray when clover is actively growing and not drought-stressed, and avoid applying when air temperatures are above about 90°F (Clemson). Many products are not meant for use during spring green-up. Whether you can repeat an application, and how long to wait, is set by the label – follow it exactly, since it overrides any general advice you read online.
How to Prevent Clover From Coming Back
Removing clover once is easy. Keeping it gone is about denying it the conditions it likes. To prevent weeds long-term:
- Keep nitrogen up. Feed your lawn on schedule. Well-fed grass outcompetes clover.
- Mow at the recommended height. Taller grass shades the soil and starves low clover of light.
- Overseed bare patches with the right grass seed for your conditions so there is no open ground for weed seeds.
- Aerate compacted ground so grass roots grow deep and strong.
- Water deeply, not often to encourage deep roots.
- Keep weeds in check early. A quick weekly walk to pull the first few clover plants stops a handful of weeds from becoming a lawn-wide takeover.
A thick, healthy, well-fed lawn is the best defense against clover and just about every other broadleaf weed. If you’re rebuilding thin areas, our guide on how long it takes for grass seed to grow covers timelines so you don’t give up too soon. For dog-worn lawns, the best grass seed for dogs holds up better to traffic and bare patches.
Why clover keeps coming back
If clover returns within a season or two, the plant is rarely the real problem – the conditions are. Run through this checklist: Are you still feeding the lawn on schedule? Are you mowing too short? Did you reseed the bare spots you cleared, or leave open soil where fresh clover seed can land? Is the ground still compacted? Clover returns through any one of those open doors. Fix the weak link – not just the visible patch – and the regrowth slows.
Should you kill clover at all?
Not everyone should. Clover is soft underfoot, tends to stay green in dry weather, feeds bees and other pollinators, and fixes its own nitrogen. A lot of people now mix clover into their lawns on purpose. If your only complaint is a few white flowers, you may not have a problem. The case for control is strongest when clover is crowding out the grass you want, or attracting more bees than is comfortable near a play area. Whether you keep it or remove it is your call.
Do clover-killing herbicides harm bees and other plants?
Selective broadleaf weed killers target broadleaf plants, so nearby ornamentals and vegetables can be damaged by drift – keep spray off flower beds and vegetable gardens. Clover flowers attract pollinators, so mow off the blooms or wait until the patch isn’t flowering before you spray, as the label directs. For anything about re-entry times for kids and pets, go by the product label.
Best Time of Year to Get Rid of Clover
| Season | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Hand-pull young clover; start feeding on schedule | Young clover pulls easily; feeding thickens the turf |
| Summer | Mow at the right height; avoid spraying in high heat | Herbicides can stress grass in heat (labels warn above about 90°F) |
| Fall | Overseed and fertilize; if using a herbicide, this is the more effective window per Iowa State | Best window to thicken turf for next year |
Spring is when you pull and prevent; fall is when you build the dense lawn that keeps clover out. Matching your method to the season makes weed control easier than fighting a mid-summer outbreak.
FAQ
Does pulling clover get rid of it for good?
Only if you remove the roots and creeping stems and then fix the soil. Pull the foliage alone and it regrows. Pull the whole plant, reseed the bare spot, and feed the lawn, and that patch is much less likely to return.
Will vinegar kill clover permanently?
Usually not. Vinegar burns the top growth but often fails to kill established roots, and it scorches your grass in the process. Use it only on tiny seedlings, and expect mature clover to come back.
What kills clover but not grass?
A selective broadleaf weed killer that lists clover and your grass type on its label. Extension sources name 2,4-D, MCPP, dicamba and triclopyr as active ingredients, but which are safe depends on your grass, so check the label.
Why does the lawn have so much clover?
Often low nitrogen plus thin, compacted soil. Clover fixes its own nitrogen, so it thrives where grass is underfed. Feed and thicken the lawn and the clover loses its advantage.
Is clover bad for the lawn?
Not inherently. White clover adds nitrogen and feeds pollinators – real benefits that some lawns are better off keeping. It becomes a problem when it crowds out the grass you want or attracts bees near where people walk barefoot. If you do want it gone, drop fresh grass seed into every bare spot you clear so grass, not more weeds, fills the gap.
How long does it take to get rid of clover?
It depends on the method. Hand-pulling and boiling water work on contact; smothering takes several weeks; a selective herbicide works over days to weeks and the label says whether a repeat application is allowed. The real cure – feeding and overseeding until the turf is thick enough to crowd clover out – is a season-long or multi-season project.
Will clover come back after I kill it?
It can if the conditions that invited it are still there. Unless you raise soil fertility, mow at the right height, aerate compacted ground, and reseed bare spots, new clover seed can germinate in the same weak turf. Fix the cause and the clover is much less likely to return.
