Subject: Re: clover
From: Alan.Holmes@brunel.ac.uk (Alan J Holmes)
Organization: Brunel University, Uxbridge, UK
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 98 09:19:11
Message-ID: <MOD$980811.20520@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$980806.7180@rec.gardens.ecosystems> <MOD$980811.15109@rec.gardens.ecosystems> <MOD$980811.17064@rec.gardens.ecosystems> <MOD$980811.17679@rec.gardens.ecosystems>



In article <MOD$980811.17679@rec.gardens.ecosystems>,
Ronald Zwaagstra wrote:

>Alan J Holmes wrote:

>> In article <MOD$980811.15109@rec.gardens.ecosystems>,
>> Ronald Zwaagstra wrote:

>[snip]

>> >I see two basic options to avoid clover.
>> >1. Replace your lawn by concrete (you probably wouldn't like it: no
>> >grass, no clover, no insects, no kids, unbearable heat when the sun
>> >shines)
>> >2. Go over the lawn with a rototiller each spring and sow a new lawn
>> >each year. If you are lucky the lawn will tolerate playing kids by the
>> >end of summer each year.

>> And a third is Verdon, which is a weedkiller for use on
>> grass, it kills all the weeds and leaves the grass
>> untouched.

>Which is a "solution" that is not really on topic for
>rec.gardens.ecosystems

>Please keep in mind that this group has the intention to discuss how we
>can use naturally occuring ecosystems for our gardening benefits. The
>use of poisonous material is in this case completely unneeded as the
>combination of frequent mowing and borders that are attractive to
>wildlife provide a solution.

Sorry, that's what comes of putting your own interpretation on
headers! But I would add that as far as I'm aware there is no
other practical solution to the problem, once clover has taken a
hold, no matter how much you mow, you will never be rid of it,
and, I know of no natural predator which feeds solely on clover,
indeed the only wildlife which is interested in clover is there
to propagate the stuff rather than keep it down.

And the suggestion to dig up the grass every so often and replant
it will _not_ solve the problem. the seeds will persist in the
ground for many, probably hundreds of years.

My suggestion was a perfectly practical one, which was to get
rid of the clover.

--
Alan G4CRW, Ex FAA, RNARS and others!
Here I sit, giving the world the benefit of my words of wit and wisdom!
What an exciting life I lead!(:-)