Burclover is a commonly used name for two prickly invasive clovers, Black Medic Medicago lupulina  and California Burclover Medicago polymorpha.  Since the beginning of the last drought we had, probably around 2007, my neighborhood has slowly been overtaken by burclover.  It is the tiny clover looking plant with yellow flowers and then prickly spiral shaped seed pods that stick to beach towels, picnic blankets, and dog fur.  I have been hand pulling it from the beginning, not wanting to resort to chemicals for control.  Each week, prior to mowing, I spend a  few minutes or so, going over the front lawn looking for any new signs of it to pull.  This time of year, it is slightly darker than my Bermuda grass so it is easy to spot.  At the neighbor’s house, I spot it even easier with all the tiny yellow flowers on larger established patches.

My previous efforts to eliminate it have been futile, so much so it makes me want to cry.  I feel bad for our Golden Retriever because he gets the burrs stuck in his fur. We either have to hand remove them or we use a slicker brush to get them out. The whole neighborhood has these burrs, with a few lawns on the block that look like all they have now is burclover.  It seems to be easily spread by the pets, the yardmen, and the kids.  With the water restrictions, thin bare patches began to make the lawns on the block ideal for the burclover to take over.  After discussing it with the next-door neighbors last month, we have decided to team up to each make a concerted effort to get rid of it over the next few seasons.  I compiled a page of control methods suggested by U.C. Davis ANR and Cooperative Extension and shared with the neighbors.  Neither of the households are organic gardeners like me and they would prefer to use the easiest or fastest method available. They are from the generation that was brought up to believe in “better living through chemicals.”

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Wednesday, I spread a few bags of an organic product, Safer Weed Prevention, made with corn gluten meal, all over the front lawn and parkway.  Although I spread compost on the lawn at least once a year, Safer Weed Prevention, and similar brands like it, is a natural fertilizer that is also reported to have allelopathic properties to inhibit the growth of broadleaf weeds, like clover.  It wasn’t necessary to spread it out back since the burclover has never managed to get a foot hold. The chickens and tortoise like clovers and enjoy munching on any patches that manage to germinate.

U.C. Davis ANR and Cooperative Extension suggest some “best practices for control,” for both organic gardeners like me that want to avoid synthetic chemicals and folks like my neighbors that just want to kill it by the easiest means possible, as long as it doesn’t pose a risk to the kids or pets, and be done with it for half a year. With all pesticides and herbicides, even the organic ones, carefully read and follow all the directions on the label. The following is adapted from information at UC ANR that I shared with the neighbors:

MANAGEMENT OF BURCLOVER

Clovers are relatively easy to control in the home garden by hand-pulling, cultivation, and the application of mulch. In large, landscaped areas herbicides may also be necessary. Clover has a hard seed coat and is heat tolerant. Solarization and composting will typically not eliminate or kill it. Because of the hard seed coat clover lasts a long time in the soil and can germinate many years later. Controlling burclover and other clovers will require an ongoing effort.

Once clovers are controlled, change cultural practices in the landscape and turfgrass to reduce the chance of reinfestation. Keeping the lawn thick and healthy helps to exclude clovers from reestablishing. Lack of nitrogen fertilization can also influence clover growth.  Maintain a seasonal fertilization regimine.  Mulches can be effective in excluding clovers and other weeds in landscapes.

ORGANIC CONTROLS – Natural Ingredients and Organic Based Methods

Annual clovers can be easily controlled by hand-pulling, hoeing, or cultivation. Mulching, depending on the size and depth of the mulch, can prevent seedling establishment. Before weed seeds germinate, apply a 4-inch thick organic mulch to prevent the establishment of clovers. Organic mulch can also be applied after the seedlings have germinated but must be applied in a thicker layer (4 to 6 inches) and must cover the plants completely to block out all light. Organic mulches need to be reapplied each year to maintain the 4-inch-thick layer because they decompose and the thickness of the mulch declines over time. High-quality thick Woven black landscape fabric can exclude weeds over a number of years. Larger plants are more difficult to control with mulching, but they can be hand-pulled or hoed.

CHEMICAL CONTROL– Post-emergent Herbicides

Both established annual and perennial clovers can be controlled with postemergence herbicides. The best herbicide to use depends upon the species of turfgrass. Warm-season turfgrasses such as bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, and kikuyugrass will tolerate products containing mecoprop and dicamba but not triclopyr. Cool-season turfgrasses will tolerate all of the herbicides that control clover. The herbicide 2,4-D is not effective for clover control; it will injure the plant but does not eliminate it. TREMEC is a trade name for a chemical herbicide that contains mecoprop, dicamba, and 2, 4-D, to control bur clover and other lawn weeds.

In North Orange County, my parents have also been battling burclover in their Marathon lawn in the backyard during the drought. My father hates Bermuda grass and decided to use the Turflon Ester product on it to get rid of Bermuda but keep the Marathon lawn. The herbicide has many of the above mentioned herbicides in its formulation. The Turflon Ester not only eliminated the few patches of Bermuda grass from his Marathon lawn over a couple of seasons applicatons, and along with improved irrigation and fertilization. He was happy to report the ever-expanding patch of burclover disappeared along with the Bermuda grass lawn weeds.

CHEMICAL CONTROL- Preemergent Herbicides

Preemergent herbicides available for landscape use are effective but generally unnecessary in the home landscape where annual clovers are easily controlled by the methods mentioned. For landscape professionals, herbicide formulations that contain isoxaben, sold under the brand name “Gallery” are effective for controlling annual clovers and can be used around many woody shrubs and trees. Most established annual flowers tolerate this herbicide. Herbicide formulations containing oryzalin, trifluralin, or pendimethalin will control most grass species and some broadleaf weeds but will miss many other broadleaf species, including legumes like burclover.

CONCLUSION

As I mentioned at the beginning of the post, I am an organic gardener, and prefer to use the more enviromentally safe methods to deal with pests, weeds, and disease that are available. I have had sucess dealing with burclover and other weeds this way, however, I understand that not everyone feels the same way I do or doesn’t have the time and patience. If burclover is taking over, don’t feel bad if you have to resort to a chemical herbicide. If you do use any product on your yard (Organic or chemical), please make sure to carefully read and follow all the directions on the label and use caution around pets and children.

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