While some gardeners appreciate the white or red-flowering clover as an ingredient in the lawn or even as a lawn replacement, others don't think much of the easy-care "troublemaker". While clover in the bed has to be weeded by hand, the scarifier can be used if there is clover in the lawn.
How to remove clover from the lawn with a scarifier?
To combat clover in the lawn with a scarifier, use the device to pull the clover plants out of the ground along with their roots. You should then take measures to strengthen grass growth, such as adequate watering and targeted fertilization.
Use clover as green manure and cover crops
Because the types of clover used agriculturally, such as red and white clover, have special properties due to their protein richness, they are often used as cover crops in late summer and as green manure. After all, this has the following effects:
- Enrichment of the soil with nitrogen through nodule bacteria on the roots
- Loosening compacted soils
- erosion protection
So that hardy clovers such as red and white clover can decompose in time before the next crop, they must be mulched before winter. On a flat surface, a scarifier can be used to save time and effort.
Fighting clover in the lawn with the scarifier
On lawns with clover, the scarifier ensures that the clover plants and their roots are pulled out of the ground. Since clover not only reproduces through sowing, but also vegetatively, veritable nests of clover often form in the lawn. Individual clover nests can also be cut out by hand and the gaps filled with soil and grass seeds. If there is a strong mixture of clover, the only option is to remove it with a powerful scarifier (€119.00 on Amazon). The torn out plants can be disposed of in the compost heap as long as they are not dead specimens with seeds attached.
Where to get a scarifier
A scarifier is needed a maximum of once or twice a year, depending on the soil and location conditions in the garden. Therefore, purchasing and maintaining such a device is not worth it for every hobby gardener. Well-maintained scarifiers can usually be rented from specialist garden shops or from gardening clubs and neighbors.
Tip
In addition to scarifying, measures should be taken to strengthen the growth of the grass. Ensure adequate irrigation and targeted fertilizer selection to positively influence grass growth in relation to clover. If the lawn is heavily infested with clover, instead of scarifying, temporarily covering the area with a plastic film may have the desired effect, as the grass recovers more easily than the clover.
