How To Get Rid of Creeping Charlie

Also known as ground ivy, creeping Charlie (glechoma hederacea), is a fast-spreading and resilient weed that can grow in either sun or shade. Because of its ability to spread quickly and crowd out other vegetation, this plant can turn your outdoor space into a weed-infested lawn — exactly why you need to get rid of it.

Creeping Charlie is a member of the mint family and has small, scallop-edged leaves that grow low to the ground like ivy. In the spring, it produces small blue flowers. It can grow in many conditions but prefers moist and shaded areas. Though pretty at times, it’s a menace to deal with when it takes over your landscaping.

The most common ways to remove creeping Charlie are to hand weed, use herbicides, cover it up, and use a mixture of Dawn dish soap, vinegar, and Epsom salt. In this article, I’ll guide you through these techniques and share my insights on preventing creeping Charlie from returning to your yard.

Why You Have Creeping Charlie

Creeping Charlie thrives in specific conditions your yard may be providing. Poor drainage, compacted soil, and excessive shade are prime factors that encourage its growth. This weed also flourishes in areas where the grass is thin or struggling, taking advantage of bare spots in your lawn.

Additionally, creeping Charlie can spread from neighboring yards or be introduced from contaminated soil or plants. Understanding these factors can help you address the root causes of your creeping Charlie problem.

Top Methods To Remove Creeping Charlie

1. Hand Weeding

Hand removing creeping Charlie is hard work but not impossible. Here are a few guidelines to help make the project go smoothly.

Materials

• Gardening gloves
• Gardening fork
• Garbage bag
• Lawn cultivator
• Rake or pitchfork

1. Before getting started, slip on a pair of gardening gloves.
2. Grab the plant near the roots and pull firmly to remove it from the ground. If the soil is tightly packed, you’ll want to loosen it with a gardening fork first.
3. Throw the plants in a garbage bag — don’t add them to a compost pile, or you’re likely to face a lot of aggravation and work when the plants re-root.
4. Use a lawn cultivator or rake to make sure you’ve removed all pieces of the root system. Roots will regenerate new plants if left behind in the soil.

2. Herbicide

Herbicide involves the least amount of physical work and might make the most sense if the plant has seriously taken over your lawn. However, herbicides are strong and kill most vegetation, so be sure to use it with care and follow directions. Herbicides with the active ingredients dicamba and triclopyr are the most common and effective options for treating creeping Charlie.

The best time to apply herbicide is in the fall before the first frost, when creeping Charlie goes dormant, or in the spring, when it’s flowering.

Materials

• Long gloves
• Protective clothing
• Protective eyewear
• Garden sprayer
• Herbicide

1. When applying herbicide, it’s important to wear gloves, protective clothing, and protective eyewear.
2. Use a garden sprayer to apply the herbicide to the leaves, making sure to soak them thoroughly, and steer clear of other plants. Let the herbicide soak into the plants for a few days.
3. Once the plants have turned brown, remove them from the ground and throw them in the trash.
4. If you have herbicide spray left over after your application, be careful to dispose of it according to the label directions.

3. Smothering

Creeping Charlie can also be smothered with a layer of cardboard or newspaper. Though the plant grows well in low light, it will die if all light is blocked.

Materials

• Cardboard or newspaper

1. First, cover the creeping Charlie entirely, extending your covering of choice about a foot beyond all edges of the plant.
2. After about a week, check to see if the plant has turned brown or if any green patches remain. If green leaves are present, replace the cover and leave it for another few days.
3. Once the creeping Charlie has turned fully brown, the plant should be fairly easy to remove and toss in the garbage (remember, no compost).

4. Mixture of Dawn Dish Soap, Vinegar, and Epsom Salt

Another way to get rid of creeping Charlie is to mix equal amounts of Dawn dish soap, vinegar, and Epsom salt into a spray bottle. The dish soap helps break down the outer coating of the plants, allowing the vinegar and Epsom salt to dehydrate and kill them.

Materials

• Dawn dish soap
• Vinegar
• Epsom salt
• Spray bottle

1. Combine equal parts of Dawn, Epsom salt, and vinegar.
2. Mix the three ingredients.
3. Pour them into a spray bottle.
4. Spray over creeping Charlie.
5. Do this at least once daily — combine with weed pulling for best results.

How To Keep Creeping Charlie from Creeping Back

If you have creeping Charlie, you likely need to address your lawn’s growing conditions. Some reasons why you’re struggling with this weed can include shady conditions, poor fertility, and overly wet soil. With proper lawn care, creeping Charlie has a hard time coming back.

Additionally, creeping Charlie loves open areas such as flower beds. Applying mulch around planting beds can help reduce the chances that creeping Charlie will grow back. Here are some other ways to keep creeping Charlie from recurring:

• Prune bushes and trees in your yard to let more light reach your lawn.
• Seed your lawn with grass seed that does best in the shade.
• Don’t let your grass grow taller than three inches, and when mowing your grass, don’t cut more than a third off the top of the blades.
• Use a high-quality fertilizer to feed your grass.
• Aerate your lawn to loosen any compacted soil.

Final Thoughts

While getting rid of creeping Charlie is a chore, it can be done by using herbicides, hand weeding, or smothering for weed control. If you are looking for a DIY approach, a mixture of Dawn dish soap, vinegar, and Epsom salts will do the trick.

Be sure to have all of your materials on hand before starting to remove the weeds, as it’s important to be prepared and protect yourself from sharp edges and weed-killing chemicals.