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Clover in wildflower I were garden, #872998

Asked June 13, 2024, 3:33 PM EDT

Last year I planted a perennial wildflower garden but this year it has been over run with clover. It is hampering the growth of the wildflowers. Some of the flowers are too close for weeding. Any suggestions on getting rid of the clover?

Wright County Minnesota

Expert Response

Thanks for your question.  We apologize for not responding earlier but for the last week or so, the number of submitted questions to us has significantly increased.

Could you please take a few pictures of your garden and send to us?  We need to ascertain the extent to which you currently have wildflowers blooming and the degree to which the clover is covering your garden.

Also, do you know what kind of clover was planted?  More specifically, was it red or white?  Was it an annual clover or a perennial clover?

We look forward to hearing back from you.  Thanks for consulting us.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 19, 2024, 3:43 PM EDT
I have attached several pictures of the clover growing in our wildflowers.    We tilled the ground last spring and planted the wildflowers.    They were just coming up when our HOA decided to plant grass seed (not lawn grass) between our lawns and the marsh..   We asked them not to plant the seed in our wildflower patch but our request never reached the guys who did the planting.   As soon as they finished we took a weed blower and hoped we got all the seed off our wildflower patch.    We aren't sure if the grass seed contained clover or not.   It seems like we have both kinds of clover.  The shorter white kind and then the taller pink kind.   It is overtaking the entire garden as you can see from the pictures.    I pulled a bunch by hand so the wildflowers could get some sun and grow but I know it will grow back.. 
Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Mary Duerr
#0142916

On Wed, Jun 19, 2024 at 2:43 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied July 03, 2024, 3:10 PM EDT

Thanks for the response.  It would be important and necessary to find out whether the planted clover was annual or perennial.The strategies dealing with these two types of clover are quite different.  If it was an annual clover, you could slow down the germination of 2024 sends in the beginning of 2025.  If perennial clover was planted, it will be difficult to eliminate it without also inhibiting the growth of your perennial wildflowers.  It the area of your garden is not real large, you may end having to kill everything in the garden and starting over again.

Probably not the best news you wanted to hear.  Thanks for consulting us.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 03, 2024, 4:32 PM EDT

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