Question & Answer

Can you suggest how I can eradicate yellow suckling clover from my lawn? I have tried several advertised lawn weedkillers – with no success.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Nov 2010, 14:24 BST
Updated 5th Nov 2010, 14:25 BST

Yellow suckling clover (Trifolium dubium) is an annual which flowers from May to October.

The yellow, self-fertile flowers are a good food source for bees and butterflies. The leaves are similar to clover, which is a relative, but the plant is a member of the pea family.

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It's not normally a big problem in lawns, but it can infest those which have low fertility. So, treat it as you would clover.

Rake the lawn before mowing, this will raise the plants to be cut. Water during drought and keep the grass well fed.

If it's in flower, remove the mowings from the lawn and don't add them to the compost heap or use them for mulching.

Yellow suckling clover does not grow in tall grass, so allowing the sward to grow longer for a time should reduce the clover.

Lawn sand applied in the spring works well, as do selective weedkillers.

YP MAG 6/11/10