Clover

[yorks]

A couple of years ago we took over 1/2 acre next to our house that had been an allotment for about 70 years or more.
After a lot of hard work by my husband it is now a very useful paddock which we tend to use as turnout at weekends so we can do things in the big field.
unfortunately it is about 60% or more full of white clover.
What is the best way of getting rid of it so the grass can come through? We feel it is a case of altering the PH of the soil rather than spraying. Has anyone else had this problem?

 

[Tiger2]

I have got this problem as well here in Hampshire and would also like to know the best way to reduce the clover and increase the grass!

 

[ticobay831]

Ive had this problem it has just taken over my fields this year
I had to get the fields sprayed and i cant believe how much the grass has grown

 

[Tiger2]

I think there has been a huge surge in clover in general this year. What did you spray with and when?

 

[mcooper]

MCPA will kill clover but also if you fertilise the grass will out compete the clover but you will get lots of grass"!

 

[collins]

The best way is to overseed the area with a grass seed mix such as 60% Tetraploid intermediate perennial ryegrass and 30% Tetraploid Late perennial ryegrass and 10% Timothy. at a ratio of 10kg/acre. The clover is good as it is sweet and very palatable for the horses the same with the Timothy grass. The rygrass' are very aggressive and so will establish well. The grass needs to be very short and needs to have been scarified before. Afterwrads roll the seed in and 15 days later apply nitrogen, which may not be needed with all of the clover as they will fix the atmospheric nitrogen into the soil. Graze the paddock for 10 days after seeding and then allow the sward to recover and remove the horses.