Know Your Weeds: Clover

Understanding how to identify the clover weed is crucial for managing it effectively in your garden or lawn. Clover, a versatile plant often used in lawns for its ability to fix nitrogen, can also become an invasive weed if not properly controlled. Recognizing clover weeds at various stages of its life cycle—starting from its tiny seeds to its mature flowering form—can help you address it appropriately. In this guide, we’ll explore key characteristics of clover weeds, including how to identify its seeds, seedlings, juvenile plants, and mature forms, so you can better manage this resilient plant in your landscape.

Clover Identification

Seed:

• Clover seeds are tiny, round, and can vary in color from light yellow to brown. These seeds are often sown deliberately in lawns and pastures but can also spread naturally.

Germination:

• Clover seeds germinate best in cool, moist conditions. They typically sprout within a week or two of being sown. The seedlings have small, rounded cotyledons (seed leaves).

Juvenile Plant:

• As clover plants grow, they develop their characteristic trifoliate leaves, each with three oval leaflets. The leaves are usually green but can have white or red markings depending on the species.

Mature Plant:

• A mature clover plant produces creeping stems (stolons) that root at the nodes, allowing the plant to spread across the ground. The plants produce small, spherical flower heads that can be white, pink, or red, depending on the species.
• The flowers are composed of numerous tiny florets that attract pollinators like bees.

Death:

• Clover is a perennial plant, meaning it can live for several years. It does not have a traditional death cycle but will go dormant in extreme heat or cold, reviving when conditions improve. Control usually involves persistent removal or the use of herbicides.

Benefits

Soil:

• Clover is a nitrogen-fixing plant, which means it can convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use. This enriches the soil, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers.
• Its dense root system helps prevent soil erosion and improves soil structure.

Humans:

• Nutritional: Clover sprouts and leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. They are rich in vitamins A and C, and are often used in salads and teas.
• Medicinal: Clover has been used in traditional medicine for its purported benefits, including reducing inflammation and improving circulation. Red clover, in particular, is used for its potential benefits in managing menopause symptoms.

Animals:

• Clover is a valuable forage plant for livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats. It provides a high-protein, palatable feed.
• The flowers are a crucial food source for bees and other pollinators, which helps support biodiversity.

Harms

• While generally beneficial, clover can become invasive in lawns and gardens, outcompeting other plants.
• Some species of clover can cause bloat in grazing animals if consumed in large quantities.
• In agricultural settings, clover can harbor pests and diseases that affect other crops.

Uses and Harvesting

Uses:

• Culinary: Clover leaves and flowers can be used in salads, soups, and teas. They are also used to make clover honey.
• Medicinal: Red clover is used in herbal medicine for its potential benefits in managing menopause symptoms, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular health.
• Agricultural: Clover is often planted as a cover crop to improve soil fertility and prevent erosion.

Harvesting:

• Leaves and Flowers: Harvest clover leaves and flowers in the spring and early summer when they are most tender and flavorful.
• Seeds: To harvest clover seeds, allow the flower heads to mature and dry on the plant. Once dry, they can be collected and stored for future planting.

Sources

1. Scotts Turf Builder Weed & Feed Product Label
2. Hunker – What Kinds of Weeds Does Scotts Weed and Feed Kill?
3. National Center for Biotechnology Information – Red Clover
4. WebMD – Red Clover
5. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources – Clover

This article in the “Know Your Weeds” series highlights the benefits and uses of clover, an often misunderstood plant that offers numerous advantages for soil health, human nutrition, and animal forage. Understanding these benefits can help gardeners and farmers make informed decisions about managing clover in their landscapes. Stay tuned for more insights into common weeds and their roles in our ecosystems!