Question
I have a relatively new house (6years old)with 2 acres, all lawn, all direct sun.  Most of the lawn was existing farm land and I planted seed for the construction area.  In the early years we had a minimal amount of clover, but over the last few years it has spread tremendously.  I usually fertilize (not always) twice a year (retail fertilizers) once in spring and again in fall, and I put down granular lime as well. I live in NY (orange county)and the soil has a clay content.  What can I do to eliminate this stuff......its so thick, it looks like chopped lettuce after I mow.

Answer
Clover is drought tolerant, stays green all winter and converts nitrogen into a form usable by other plants. A lawn that contains about 5 percent clover can create enough usable nitrogen to make fertilizing unnecessary if clippings are left on the lawn, and the clover is cut before going to seed.

The best defense against weeds is a healthy, balanced organic soil. Have your soil tested, and balance it with organic nutrients. Lawns prefer slightly acidic soils with a pH range of 6.5 to 7. When you see legumes taking over your lawn (clover, medic, etc.), you know that your soil is nitrogen poor.

In the spring you can use 4 or 5 pounds of sugar per 1000 sq.ft. Sprinkle it by hand, and water it in well. This will help eliminate weeds.  

You can also use corn gluten meal. It controls weed seeds by releasing an organic dipeptide into the soil and inhibiting root formation of germinating weed seeds.  Sprinkle it on according to the directions on the package, water the lawn well, and then let it dry out for a bit.

If you cut the grass high, it will also cut off the light of weed seed, and prevent them from growing.   

A Healthy soil contains billions of beneficial microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, protozoa and  earthworms that build soil structure. Chemically treated grass has very little life because of the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Fertilize your lawn in the spring and fall with an organic fertilizer.  These are available online from Peaceful Valley Farm Supply.

If you have really large clumps of clover you can kill them with vinegar, which will make the soil so acidic they will die.  Then, when they are dead, remove them and mix in some lime to make the soil balanced again.  Or yo could dig them out by hand, fill in the hole with fresh soil, and replant grass seed.

Again, the most important thing is to have a balanced, healthy soil.  For more information on soil building see our website: http://www.avant-gardening.com