An Inconvenient Clover

There’s a full page advertisement in one of my horticulture trade journals that caught my eye and gave me the inspiration for this posting. The ad features the three greatest “weed villains” of all time: Crabgrass, dandelion and clover. Of course, the star of the ad, a big plastic bottle of liquid weed killer, looks resplendent as the defender of the perfect lawn. When I first saw the ad, all I could think was, “Hold on, clover didn’t do it – Clover is INNOCENT!!!”

I’m telling you, clover was framed!

Flash back to 1943, when certain growth regulators were identified, which disrupt the hormones in broadleaf plants. One of these natural compounds was chemically approximated and 2, 4-D was born. In its first few years on the market, 2, 4 -D was brought to bear on weeds competing with crops. It didn’t take long before golf courses, and then homeowners, starting using 2, 4 – D to wipe out weeds in turf and lawns: Dandelions died, plantains perished and clover kicked the bucket.

There’s a wonderful anecdote about the horticulturist who made the initial discovery, which suggests he felt remorseful for clover’s fate at the hands of his invention. He was aware that clover (a legume) forms a symbiotic relationship with rhizobium bacteria in the soil. This partnership produces nitrogen compounds which other plants, including grasses, can utilize for growth. A lawn with clover intermingled amongst the grass can virtually feed itself…….

Some savvy marketers realized early that this 2, 4 – D stuff was going to be a HUGE money-making opportunity. They started promoting perfect carpet-like lawns and created campaigns vilifying weeds. Clover, the Good Samaritan of the American lawn, was convicted and sentenced without getting a chance to testify. Rachel Carson put in a good word for clover in Silent Spring in 1962, but it was already too late. Most people already believed the marketing that made the inconvenient clover a threat to suburban tranquility.

The truth is, Clover serves as a terrific ally for the sustainable lawn. Last year, I treated a big lawn that was afflicted with “red thread” fungus. I noticed that all the areas with clover did not have the disease because the grass was naturally well-fed, so I only had to apply food to the areas without clover. In another example, I visited a smaller property this spring and was tickled to find a beautiful grass/ clover lawn. It was full, dark green, disease and pest free. My client’s neighbors had showed concern over their “clover problem.” I agreed to work on their back lawn, but told them their front lawn was perfect and would probably stay that way for a long time if we just let the clover do its magic…..