Is Clover a Weed? Benefits of Clover and Lawn Weeds

Whether you have clover, dandelions, goldenrod, ground ivy, or yarrow growing in your lawn, many of these common weeds can be beneficial to your lawn's health. Many of those plants we call weeds are genetically superior to the landscape plants we find more desirable since they thrive so readily.

Not only that, there are other uses for these weeds we don't consider. For example, clover weed, which will be discussed at length here, is now a popular lawn alternative. Of course, there are still reasons people may not want to have clover in their yards.

Read on to learn about whether you should keep or remove clover from your own lawn.

What Is Clover?

Clover is a plant with alternate compound leaves, usually featuring three-toothed leaflets. It's a type of plant known as a legume. While white clover (trifolium repens) is the most common type, there are more than 300 species of clover.

Is Clover a Weed?

Clover is usually considered a weed and is fought with herbicides and other remedies by homeowners and landscape professionals for aesthetic reasons. However, clover can improve the health of your lawn, especially in lawns without proper nutrients. In fact, clover is now becoming popular as a grass alternative.

Types of Clover

There are various types of clover:

• White clover (trifolium repens)
• Yellow clover, also called sweet clover (Melilotus)
• Purple clover, also called creeping clover (Dalea purpurea)
• Red clover (trifolium pratense)

Benefits of Clover

There are various benefits of clover including:

• No fertilizer needed 
• Drought-tolerant 
• Attracts pollinators 
• Improves lawn health 
• Reduces mowing needs 
• Stays green in many climates 
• Affordable to plant 

Disadvantages of Clover 

Despite its ample benefits, there are some disadvantages you'll want to keep in mind when it comes to clover such as:

• Not best for homes with children (attracts bees) 
• Spreads into garden beds 
• Requires biannual re-seeding
  

Other Beneficial Lawn Weeds

Clover isn't the only weed that can enhance the health of your lawn. Other options include:

• Dandelion 
• Goldenrod 
• Yarrow 
• Ground ivy 
• Plantain 
• Chickweed

Getting Rid of Clover

If you have clover in your lawn and have realized it may be best to remove it, there are various ways to accomplish this. Some common ways to get rid of clover include:

• Higher mowing height: Mowing your lawn at a higher height can help get rid of clover.
• Broadleaf herbicides: Applying broadleaf herbicides, herbicides that are specifically made to target broadleaf weed varieties such as clovers, can work wonders in your yard.
• Natural weed killers: Natural weed killers can also help remove clover from your lawn. Some good options include corn gluten and a mixture of vinegar and dish soap.
• Hand-pulling: You can remove clovers by hand.