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Clover - White

Clover – White

Trifolum repens

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DESCRIPTION

White clovers, though often valued as pasture plants, can become problematic weeds. It is a perennial legume that spread via seeds and creeping stems.

White Clover grows low to the ground and spreads aggressively through stolons (runners) that root at nodes. Its leaves have three leaflets with white markings, and its white-to-pinkish flowers form in clusters.

HABITAT

White clovers thrive throughout New Zealand. 

White Clover:
 • Fertile soils with reliable moisture
 • Well-managed pastures, lawns, and recreational areas
 • Struggles in dry conditions

They prefer full sun but tolerate partial shade. They are commonly found in cultivated areas, gardens, and fertile soil.

MANUAL REMOVAL

Control methods include hand pulling or digging, which is most effective on young plants in moist soil and requires removing stolons (white clover) or deep taproots (red clover). Regular mowing can prevent seed formation but won’t eliminate established plants, as white clover adapts to low mowing. Deep cultivation may help, though stolon fragments can regrow. Combining methods and monitoring regrowth yield the best results.

HERBICIDES TO CONTROL WHITE CLOVER

Spray Application

Selective Herbicides (generally pasture and turf friendly – check the product label).

Selection of which herbicide to use really depends on what other weeds you might be wanting to kill as well as clover. All of the following will kill clover but each product has different weeds they target.

  • Ranger - 20g/ha or knapsack 1g/10L water for 500m2. Great if spraying for dock and buttercup as well.
  • GrassMate – also great for brushweeds and many broadleaf weeds: Aerial 10L/ha, Boom spray 2L/ ha, or Knapsack spray 60ml/10L for 300m2.
  • WHACK - 2,4-D 800 - Knapsack @ 45g/10L water. May only check clover so use with Dicamba 500 Select at 12-14ml/10L water depending on what other weeds you are trying to remove.
  • Dicamba 500 Select 800ml + Rainbow & Brown MCPA750 1.5L in 200L water/ ha – for turf
  • Dicamba 500 Select 800ml + Rainbow & Brown MCPA750 1.5L in 200L water/ ha – for pasture. Rainbow & Brown MCPA750 on its own won’t kill clover.
  • Ralid - Aerial 0.7L/ha, Handgun 70ml/100L, or Knapsack 17ml/10L – apply to actively growing plants. Great for thistles.
  • LawnMate – for turf, lawn and sport grounds: Aerial 3-4.5L/ha per 200L water, Handgun 75-110ml/10L water, or Knapsack 75-110ml per 250m2. Do not use on pasture or cropland.

Non-Selective Herbicides

Generally will damage or check pasture, turf and many lawns – check the product label

  • MSF600 – Aerial 50g/ha, Handgun @ 5g/100L, or Knapsack 1g/10L.

NOTE: Generally, glyphosate is not very effective against clover.

Orchards/Vineyards
  • GA200 (non-selective but low systemic movement so generally only affects the parts of plants hit by the spray). Kills most weeds and grasses:
  1. Seedling stage – Aerial 3-5L/ha, Handgun 300-500ml/100L, or Knapsack 45-75ml/15L.
  2. Flowering/established – Aerial 5-7.5L/ha, Handgun @ 500-750ml/100L, or Knapsack 75-115ml/15L. 
Spot Treatment

Buckshot – apply 2-4g granules evenly over clovers. Grass friendly and good on many other broadleaf weeds also.