Question
We have zoysia grass in the backyard.  It is mixed with clover.  Have any suggestions for getting rid of the clover?

Answer
Suggestions for GETTING RID of the Clover?

Au contraire, Leslie, I suggest you KEEP it.  Plant more!

Did you know that Clover plants are little Nitrogen factories?  The AMPAC Seed Company (http://www.ampacseed.com/clover1.htm) pushes Clover seeds right next to its Kentucky Bluegrass and Fescue varieties.  AMPAC notes that Crimson Clover (Trifolium Incarnatum L.) 'Crimson Clover will return to the soil as much as 100 lbs. of Nitrogen per acre if cultivated under'.  Barenbrug Seed Co (http://www.barusa.com/Products_Forage/White%20Clover.htm) points out that sweetly fragrant White Clover (Trifolium repens) 'can yield as much as pure grass which receives 175 pounds of Nitrogen per acre.'  You should read all about it at the Killer Plants website, which flashes a striking photo of Clover in its paragraphs describing Nitrogen Fixation (http://www.killerplants.com/weird-plants/20030710.asp).

Why is this the GREATEST thing since sliced bread?

I'll tell you why!

Nitrogen from Clover is FREE.  Nitrogen fertilizers from Scotts if NOT FREE.

Nitrogen from Clover is PERFECT Nitrogen, an ongoing smorgasbord of Nitrogen appetizers that are constantly feeding your Grass, all summer long, while you sit by the pool with a Margarita.

Compare THAT to the vision of a sweaty homeowner pushing the spreader, puffs of Urea filling the air, the scent of Fertilizer wafting across the lawn in a toxic cloud of dust, evoking the scenes of mustard gas that floated silently across the battlefield.  The sun is baking down, the sweat is dripping down your face, your Grass is screaming 'Stop! Stop!' as you scald the blades with searingly salty chemical fertilizer.  And it cost you money!

I vote for Clover.  You can't overfertilize with Clover.  It looks beautiful.  It tells the world, I am intelligent.

Here's what you should do, Leslie.

Memorize the following sentences:

'I have completely stopped using Scotts chemical fertilizers.  I use White Clover instead.  It fills in areas where my Zoysia hasn't grown thick enough, and the Rhizobia in the Clover generate Nitrogen for me.  I never fertilize any more.'

Now, I KNOW you love the idea of low maintenance.  That's why you selected Zoysia Grass for a lawn.  I'll bet you even got one of the superior new hybrids that are coming along.

Your Zoysia will eventually get so thick and healthy that NOTHING but Zoysia will ever grow with it.  Including Clover.  Your Zoysia will get that healthy even faster if you let that Clover feed it for you.

Hard to believe sometimes.

One more thing.  Clover can grow in compacted soil.  It is possible your soil is a little too hard for your Zoysia to work to its full potential, in the time you would like it to.  Clover will help loosen that compaction.  Plus if you stay away from weed killers, your Zoysia roots won't turn into thatch -- all that soil bacteria will decompose them efficiently and effectively, building up Organic Matter, making it a good, rich place for Grass to grow.  Grass and Clover, that is.

Science has come a long way when it comes to growing a beautiful Lawn.  Yesterday, Zoysia.  Today, Clover.  Who knows what's next?  It just gets better and better.

You'll love Clover.  Just give it a chance.

*************

Thanks for your rating, Leslie.  While looking over some of my answers tonite, it occurred to me...

What if YOU'RE WRONG about 'Clover'?

This is VERY common, Leslie.  A Weed called Black Medic masquerades as Clover.  See the Black Medic photograph on the Michigan State University Gardening website:

http://www.msuturfweeds.net/details/_/black_medic_29/

While there, you'll see a tab called 'Look Alikes'.  It will take you right through to links for:

Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)

White Clover (Trifolium repens)

Yellow Woodsorrel (Oxalis stricta)

with photos for all.  Note please in particular under White Clover the very clear design on the leaf.  ALL Clover has those marks.

I have both in my lawn.  It took quite a bit of looking to find a place that would help me tell them apart.

Now, if you have Black Medic with the Zoysia, you want to get RID of it.  It does NOTHING for your soil.

They note, 'Cultural practices for managing black medic can be very effective. Increased nitrogen fertilization will be extremely effective at reducing medic competition.  However, it is often necessary to remove existing medic in order for cultural practices to be most effective.'

Please take a look and see if this is what you're dealing with.  And thank again.  I'm sorry I didn't think of this sooner.

Mowing Zoysia down to the proper, low height it needs will certainly help.  Watering infrequently may weaken the Black Medic.  Removing it by hand is also an option, not used much anymore except at my house.