How do I control Japanese bush clover (Lespedeza striata) in a home lawn in Frederick County Virginia?
Date of Correspondence: April 12, 2004 Website Resources: http://lespedeza.striata.turfweeds.net http://www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/lesst.htm Recommendation: Common lespedeza or Jap. bush clover is a summer annual weed that germinates in early spring and produces thick masses in the lawn. This weed is resistant to most lawn weed control products. Repeated treatments (3 or 4) of the highest recommended rate of lawn herbicides will be needed to completely control this weed. Use products that contain at least two of the following active ingredients: 2,4-D, dicamba, MCPP, triclopyr, clopyralid, and MCPA. Treatments are best applied in march when plants are young and not readily visible above the turfgrass canopy. Plants will die with the frost. Although research results are unavailable, a preemergence treatment of typical crabgrass killers (pendimethalin, dithiopyr, prodiamine, oxadiazon) will probably help if applied in early march.
