How do I get clover out of my garden?
The easiest way to deal with clover is to slice it off at the base with one of those push-style hoes. It's quick, effective and if you leave the clover where it lies, it'll add nitrogen to your soil. If you chuck it into your compost, it’ll help the pile to break down faster.
However, I wonder if it’s such a good idea to remove the clover from your garden. Clover generally grows where nitrogen is lacking. That it’s attracted to your garden would indicate that nitrogen is in short supply there.
Clover is a member of the legume (pea) family and, like all members of this family, it's adept at fixing atmospheric nitrogen. It is, in essence, delivering a whole lot of free nitrogen to your garden and asking nothing from you in return. Instead of pulling it out because it's a nuisance, you could let it grow big and strong then work it into the soil. As it breaks down, it'll release all that nitrogen into the soil where it can be taken up by your garden plants, making them strong and healthy with very little effort and no expense on your part.
If you have any questions or comments, please send them to me at vanessa@gardenmuse.ca.
