Safety First
Wear gloves, closed-toe shoes, and eye protection when applying lawn treatments. If using a selective herbicide, make sure it is labeled for clover and safe for your specific grass type. Follow all application, watering, and reentry directions on the product label, and keep children and pets off the treated lawn for the recommended time.
Time
30-60 Minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Cost
$15-$40
🧰 Tools & Materials
Tools
- Garden gloves
- Hand weeder or small digging tool
- Pump sprayer or ready-to-use applicator, if needed
- Lawn mower
- Hand spreader, if applying fertilizer
Materials
- Selective broadleaf herbicide labeled for clover and safe for your grass type
- Lawn fertilizer, if a soil or nutrient deficiency is contributing to the problem
- Grass seed, if thin areas need to be repaired afterward
👀 Signs You Have Clover
- Low-growing patches of three-leaf clusters spreading through the lawn
- Small white or pinkish flowers appearing above the grass
- Clover growing heavily in thin or weak areas of turf
- Patches returning year after year
- Clover spreading faster than the surrounding grass
📋 Before You Buy
Check your grass type before choosing a herbicide. Not every weed killer is safe for every lawn.
Look for a selective broadleaf herbicide that specifically lists clover on the label and confirms compatibility with your turfgrass.
If you plan to fertilize as well, avoid guessing at what the lawn needs. A soil test can help determine whether low nitrogen or another issue is contributing to weak turf.
💡 Pro Tip: Clover often thrives where grass is thin or underfed, so killing the clover without improving the lawn can lead to the same problem returning.
📋 Before You Start
Confirm that the weed is actually clover before treating it.
Avoid mowing immediately before herbicide application if the product label recommends leaving more leaf surface for better absorption.
Check the weather and follow the label’s temperature, rain, watering, and mowing restrictions before and after treatment.
Step 1: Pull Small Patches by Hand
If you only have a few patches, hand removal may be enough.
Use a hand weeder or small digging tool to loosen the soil and remove as much of the root system as possible.
Fix any larger bare spots afterward if needed.
What You Should See: The clover patch should lift out with the roots rather than simply breaking off at the surface.
Step 2: Treat Larger Areas With a Selective Herbicide
For widespread clover, apply a selective broadleaf herbicide labeled for clover and your specific grass type.
Spot-treat problem areas whenever practical instead of spraying the entire lawn unnecessarily.
Follow the product label exactly for mixing, application rate, temperature range, and repeat treatment instructions.
What You Should See: Treated clover may begin curling, yellowing, or declining over the following days.
If Yours Looks Different: If nothing happens right away, don’t immediately reapply. Check the label for the expected response time and required interval before another treatment.
Step 3: Recheck the Lawn
Inspect the treated areas after the amount of time recommended on the herbicide label.
Established clover may require more than one treatment. If so, repeat only according to the product directions.
Remove dead clover if it leaves thick patches or exposes bare soil.
Step 4: Improve the Surrounding Grass
Clover has an easier time spreading where turf is thin.
Correct poor mowing habits, compacted soil, inadequate watering, or nutrient problems that may be weakening the lawn.
If appropriate, fertilize according to your lawn’s needs and the product directions.
💡 Pro Tip: A thick, healthy lawn is one of the best long-term defenses against clover and other weeds.
Step 5: Repair Bare Areas
Once treatment restrictions allow, loosen the soil in any bare areas and apply grass seed that matches the existing lawn.
Lightly rake the seed into the soil and keep the area consistently moist while it germinates.
Avoid applying herbicides that could interfere with seed germination during the reseeding period.
What You Should See: New grass gradually filling in the spaces where clover was removed.
❌ Common Mistakes
Using a Herbicide That Isn’t Safe for Your Lawn
Problem: The clover dies, but the surrounding grass is damaged too.
Solution: Always confirm that your grass type is listed as safe on the product label before applying.
Treating Clover Without Improving the Lawn
Killing the clover may only provide temporary results if the surrounding grass remains thin and weak.
Applying Too Much Herbicide
More product does not mean faster or better results. Overapplication can damage the turf and nearby plants.
Use only the labeled rate.
Mowing Too Soon After Treatment
Some herbicides need time to remain on the clover leaves and be absorbed.
Follow the label’s mowing restrictions before and after application.
Ignoring Bare Spots
Open soil makes it easier for clover and other weeds to return.
Repair thin and bare areas once the treatment allows reseeding.
❓ FAQs
Why is clover growing in my lawn?
Clover often spreads where grass is thin, stressed, compacted, or low in available nitrogen. It can also establish in otherwise healthy lawns if conditions favor it.
Can you pull clover by hand?
Yes. Hand pulling works well for small patches, especially when the soil is moist and the roots can be removed more easily.
Will mowing get rid of clover?
No. Mowing may reduce the flowers temporarily, but the plant will continue growing from its low, spreading stems.
What kills clover without killing grass?
A selective broadleaf herbicide labeled for clover can control it while leaving compatible lawn grasses unharmed. Always confirm your grass type on the label first.
Does fertilizer get rid of clover?
Not directly. Improving lawn nutrition can help the grass grow thicker and compete with clover, but established clover may still need to be removed or treated.
Will clover come back after treatment?
It can. Clover may return if roots survive or if the lawn remains thin enough for new plants to establish.
👷 When to Call a Professional
Consider calling a lawn-care professional if clover covers a large portion of the yard, repeated treatments haven’t worked, or you’re unsure which herbicide is safe for your grass type.
A professional can also help identify soil, nutrient, irrigation, or turf-health problems that may be allowing clover to keep returning.