Q: My yard has been taken over by clover or oxalis. What can I do to get rid of it and bring my grass back?
Clover and oxalis may look similar, due to their three-part leaves consisting of heart-shaped leaflets. They both tend to establish in turfgrass lawns and are low-growing. Clover bears pink or white pompom-like flowers and tends to be far less aggressive than oxalis.
Oxalis (commonly known as wood sorrel) is an aggressive weed that will readily take over your lawn. It bears small yellow flowers and spreads via runners and seeds. If you hand-pull, you will notice that the tiny seeds practically explode forth when the plant is disturbed. This means that by hand-weeding, you are actually spreading this odious plant. Soon, it will form large mats that can choke out turfgrass. Persistent hand-weeding can slow its spread, but this can become a full-time job. Broadleaf herbicide is not very effective against it, and even Round-up needs multiple applications to even make a dent. Due to its prolific seed production, a pre-emergent herbicide may be most effective.
Healthy turfgrass is resistant to weed invasions. Avoid mowing grass too short, water deeply and less frequently, and fertilize regularly to keep your lawn happy.
Q: What should I do to make sure my grass looks good this summer?
Since fall seems to drag on through most of the winter here, your first task should be to rake up any remaining leaves and debris from the previous year. If your grass produces surface runners (rhizomes), use a sturdy landscape rake to remove excess thatch. Pay close attention to pop-up sprinkler heads that may have been blocked by overgrowth. You may want to consider aerating if it hasn’t been done in the last few years (or at all), since this encourages healthy root growth and can prevent water runoff from irrigation.
Apply a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent crabgrass and other weeds from appearing. Once the weather becomes warmer and grass resumes growing, apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer. Inspect the sprinkler system and make any necessary repairs or adjustments. Check your lawn mower blade and have it sharpened if needed.
When spring comes, allow the grass to grow a bit before mowing, and always mow with the blade at the highest setting. Some people advise letting your grass grow for a month (“no mow May”) to provide cover for pollinators, but I advise against this. Cutting an overgrown lawn will stress the grass and make it more susceptible to sunburn and weed invasion. If you want to do something nice for the bees, plant some native flowering plants in your flower garden.
Los Angeles County
mglosangeleshelpline@ucdavis.edu; 626-586-1988; celosangeles.ucanr.edu/UC_Master_Gardener_Program/
Orange County
ucceocmghotline@ucanr.edu; mgorange.ucanr.edu/
Riverside County
anrmgriverside@ucanr.edu; 951-955-0170; ucanr.edu/sites/RiversideMG/
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