Killing grass in white clover

[Bowsnbucks]

I know the info is in here SOMEWHERE, but I can't seem to find it. What's the best thing to spray on a white clover field to kill the grass in it ?? It's been planted for about 7 years and the grass is getting a bit heavy. There's still a fair amount of clover there, but the plot needs rejuvenated. I know Arrest is supposed to do it, but I think there are cheaper generic sprays, if I remember correctly. Would a surfactant be needed with the right chemical, or is the surf. already in the chemical ??

 

[wiscwhip]

Cleth with crop oil.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Thanks Whip !!

 

[Bill]

I agree with Wisc on the clethodim but not the crop oil. Even though that's what the label calls for.
Crop oil may be ok in the spring when the clover is lush and growing and the temps are still cool. If it gets hot and dry crop oil will burn your clover. It comes back but it stunts it for a bit. I nearly killed my miscanthus last year with it and I've browned lots of clover over the years.

A teaspoon of liquid dish detergent for about every 10 gallons in the sprayer will act as a sticker and not burn anything.

I get it shipped from keystone pest solutions because I can't find it locally.

A side note on mowing clover. I never mow the clover just the weeds above the clover. This lets it flower and drop lots of good seed back to the ground.

 

[wiscwhip]

Agreed Bill, the crop oil can be a harsh mistress. That said, tough grasses like crabgrass and foxtail almost require crop oil to get a solid kill. No one wants to create a herbicide resistant monster weed by not getting a complete kill when spraying.

 

[Bill]

Agreed Bill, the crop oil can be a harsh mistress. That said, tough grasses like crabgrass and foxtail almost require crop oil to get a solid kill. No one wants to create a herbicide resistant monster weed by not getting a complete kill when spraying.

I hear that. Resistant weeds are going to get us. I haven't gotten a bad kill with dish detergent. But I tend to go a pinch heavy on the herbicide measuring.

 

[j-bird]

I like to add some AMS when spraying grass - I use to for 2 reasons. First I have well water with a high iron content so it helps keep the active stuff from bonding with the iron and thus is more effective. Secondly the N in it seems to help trigger the grass to soak it up better.....in either case I get a much better kill when I mix AMS with it than without. Spraying when the grass is actively growing helps as well. I prefer to spray it early spring and then again in the fall if needed.

 

[wiscwhip]

I was going to mention AMS as well j-bird, but I have not personally used it with a grass selective herbicide such as cleth, only with gly, so I was not 100% sure it would make a difference. Good to know though!

 

[Don'tWorryIHuggedItFirst]

I use non ionic surfactant with my cleth application. Dead every time.

 

[Native Hunter]

I hear that. Resistant weeds are going to get us. I haven't gotten a bad kill with dish detergent. But I tend to go a pinch heavy on the herbicide measuring.

Exactly what I did last year and smoked fescue in clover.

 

[kabic]

sethoxydim is anther but more expensive option.

http://www.domyownpestcontrol.com/hiyield-grass-killer-postemergent-herbicide-p-2516.html

 

[Bowsnbucks]

I've used Dawn dish detergent in herbicide mix for home lawn weed killing. That addition of Dawn made the herbicide stick to the weeds and killed them. It beaded up and ran off before using Dawn. Thanks for the info on cleth. guys !! I couldn't remember if that was what LC recommended or if it was some other chemical.

 

[Steve Oehlenschlager]

The best time to kill grass is right away in the spring or after about the 4th of July. If you spray in July you will have a clean plot all fall. If you spray in the spring...you still might have grass come fall. I only kill it after the 4th of July for the last few years and my plots are spotless in regards to any grass.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

How do you guys mix the cleth with water ?? How many oz. to how many gallons ?? Keystone Pest Solutions said the recommended mix is 12 to 16 oz. to 20 gallons of water. You guys have done it - I'll listen to what you recommend with 1st-hand experience.

 

[Bill]

How do you guys mix the cleth with water ?? How many oz. to how many gallons ?? Keystone Pest Solutions said the recommended mix is 12 to 16 oz. to 20 gallons of water. You guys have done it - I'll listen to what you recommend with 1st-hand experience.

It's not so much oz to gallons of water. It's oz per acre. So if your sprayer uses 30 gallons per acre, use 16 oz cleth to 30 gallons of water.
I've tried the mathematical method of calibrating a sprayer and can never get close. Best method I've found for an ATV sprayer is to flag off a square 69 yards by 69 yards. And see how much water I use spraying it. This will get you close to how many gallons per acre your putting out.

Same method works to figure out how many pounds of seed you're spreading per acre.

 

[Spiider]

In my backpack sprayer I'll use 1/2 oz of Clethodim per gallon.

I think I got that rate from Ed Spin. or Dbltree.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Thanks, guys, for all the info. Much appreciated !!

 

[Steve Oehlenschlager]

The way to kill grass in an established clover field is ROUNDUP! A 1/2 dose will smoke all the grasses and yes will shrivel up the clover and appear to kill it, but the clover will come back clean and lush. This works EXCELLENT! Done it for many years on ESTABLISHED clover. If you have ever even tried to kill clover you will see how persistent the stuff is. Alos if your clover is 7 years old, you should rotate it out anyways. The viger from soil nematodes and other disease pressure is holding your clover back. Rotate it out!