White clover (Trifolium repens) is a cool season perennial that can be both beneficial and a pest. In pastures it provides a good source of protein for livestock but in lawns it can be an unsightly weed. White clover can easily be identified with its white V on each clover leaflet. It can form large patches with multiple white ball shaped flowers.

Multiple active ingredients can control White clover. This is a pro and a con depending on what setting it is in. If you are controlling other weeds in your pasture you can accidently take away a valuable forage. If working to control it in your lawn you have different options that can help tailor your herbicide plan to your property. Dicamba, fluroxypyr, 2,4-D and quinclorac all have activity on White clover. Multiple products contain one or more of these active ingredients. It is worth noting in lawns to help prevent White clover from establishing you should regularly take soil samples and plant a grass that best fits your landscape. If you have any questions on this topic, contact your local Cooperative Extension Office.

White clover compliments tall fescue with its high protein and ability to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere. It prefers a soil pH of 6.0 and a soil sample completed by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture will give you a lime recommendation to reach that target pH if your soil falls short of that line. Phosphorous and potassium are also important to achieve a sufficient clover stand. Completed soil samples will also report the needed fertilizer application to get soil fertility to an adequate level. If this field has not had clover in multiple years you may need to inoculate the seed with a bacterium to make sure the clover can fix nitrogen. If you are looking to establish clover in your pasture NC State has a forage planting guide that has valuable planting information. This information includes recommended planting dates, depth and seeding rates. The control options listed above should also be monitored as some can remain active in the soil for an extended period of time. Even with following all of these tips for establishing White clover you can have a failed stand due to this residual herbicide activity. If you have any questions please contact your local Cooperative Extension Office.