How to Kill Ground Ivy Creeping Charlie in Your Lawn

Ground ivy, also known as creeping Charlie, is a persistent weed that can be challenging to eradicate from your lawn.

It thrives in moist, shady areas, which is why it's often found in lawns with poor drainage or under dense tree cover.

To kill ground ivy, you'll want to target its roots, as the plant can regrow from even small fragments.

You can start by pulling or digging up as much of the plant as possible, making sure to remove as many roots as you can.

Related reading: Creeping Charlie Roots

Ground ivy is a common weed that's also known as Creeping Charlie. It's a very adaptable weed that can grow up to 30 centimeters high.

Its glossy green, scalloped leaves are 2-5 centimeters across and have square edges, making it relatively easy to notice in the yard.

Ground ivy is relatively easy to notice in the yard, especially when it starts to take over your lawn.

It can grow up to 30 centimeters high with glossy green, scalloped leaves 2-5 centimeters across and square edges.

The weed produces clusters of blue to purple flowers in spring and early summer months, consisting of a bunch of two or three funnel-shaped flowers.

Its shiny appearance is especially noticeable in lawns with overly wet soil and poor fertilizing.

Watch out for its kidney-shaped leaves, which are a dead giveaway that you have a creeping Charlie problem on your hands.

Creeping Charlie has more pronounced scalloped leaf edges compared to wild violet, which has heart-shaped leaves with sawtooth-like serrations at the edges.

Creeping Charlie also has a mint-like smell when crushed, making it easy to distinguish from other weeds.

Wild violet's leaves are often mistaken for creeping Charlie's, but a closer look at the leaves will reveal the differences.

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Ground ivy can be tricky to identify, especially when it's surrounded by other plants that share similar features.

Creeping Charlie, a common look-alike, is a flowering plant native to Europe that grows on low-level ground. It has a long woody stem that branches from its base, which can sometimes grow upright.

Henbit is another plant that shares common features with creeping Charlie, including the shape of its flowers and leaves. Its leaves are not as glossy as creeping Charlie's and are pinkish purple, unlike ground ivy's dark purple.

Purple dead nettle is a flowering plant that can reproduce vegetatively from a single piece of leaf or stem, making it difficult to control. Mature plants don't grow more than 10 inches high.

If you're trying to get rid of ground ivy, it's essential to know what to look out for. Here are some common look-alikes to be aware of:

Ground ivy is a plant that's often debated as an herb or a weed. It's a member of the mint family, which might lead you to think it's a desirable addition to your garden. However, its aggressive spreading habits and difficulty in controlling make it a noxious lawn weed.

Ground ivy can grow up to 1 foot tall and has a pleasant aromatic minty smell when its leaves are crushed. It's a perennial evergreen plant that tolerates both sunny and shady spots.

Its flowers are a lovely lavender-blue color and appear in clusters of two or more. They bloom from March to July, which is a critical period to remember if you want to control this weed.

Ground ivy is known to spread by seeds and stolons, making it a challenge to eradicate. It can form dense mats and take over entire areas of your lawn. In fact, some describe ground ivy as "plant Velcro" due to its ability to attach to the soil surface at multiple points.

Here are some common names for ground ivy:

These names might give you an idea of its spreading habits and how it can quickly take over a lawn.

Chemical control can be effective, but it's not a one-size-fits-all solution. Researchers at Iowa State University found that 20-Mule Team Borax can control ground ivy by applying 20 or 30 ounces of Borax in 1 gallon of water.

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However, this method may not work in all areas due to variations in soil chemistry. It's essential to note that this treatment is not effective in all areas.

To effectively control ground ivy on your property, you need to consider the location and type of area it's growing in. Here's a breakdown of the best methods for different areas:

Manual removal is a safe and effective method for controlling ground ivy in many areas. It's especially recommended for flower gardens and vegetable gardens where chemical herbicides can harm food crops.

In areas where chemical herbicides are needed, like lawns and hardscape areas, it's essential to use selective or non-selective herbicides carefully to avoid harming other plants.

Removing Ground Ivy can be a challenge, but it's doable with the right approach. Wearing gloves is essential to prevent an allergic reaction from the weed.

Homeowners should tackle the weed quickly before it spreads and becomes more challenging to control. To do this effectively, wet the ground near the weed before pulling to soften its roots, making the rhizomes easier to remove.

Removing all parts of the plant above ground and under the soil is crucial for the most effective results. This means pulling out all the roots, as ground ivy has multiple root systems.

For small infestations, manually pulling the weed out of the soil with a trowel is a viable option. Just be sure to check the surrounding area for additional roots.

Ground ivy is a tough weed to get rid of, but the right herbicide can make all the difference. Selective broadleaf herbicides like 2,4-D, MCPP, and dicamba are effective at killing ground ivy without harming your grass.

For severe infestations, combinations of tri-clopyr and 2,4-D can be very effective. Check the label and appropriateness for home use, as some combination herbicides are only sold to professionals.

Two broadleaf herbicide applications are necessary to effectively control ground ivy. The first application should be made in late September/early October, and the second a month later.

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For flower and vegetable gardens, non-selective herbicides like glyphosate should be used with care, as they will kill any green plant material they contact. Always apply herbicides when winds are calm and temperatures are cool to prevent drift and damage to desirable plants.

Some herbicides, like triclopyr, can be applied as a spot treatment to only the ground ivy, reducing the risk of collateral damage to nearby plants. Protect garden plants with barriers like buckets, boxes, or plastic sheets to further reduce problems with drift.

Here are some effective herbicides to use for control:

Pre-emergent herbicides can also be used to prevent weeds from growing the following season. Check the manufacturer’s manual when mixing the herbicide with water, and consult the product label for the measurement and application details.

Maintaining a healthy lawn is key to out-competing ground ivy and creeping Charlie. A good nitrogen fertility program is essential, with 3 to 4 pounds of nitrogen applied per 1,000 square feet per year.

Nitrogen improves the vigor and competitiveness of Kentucky bluegrass, slowing the spread of ground ivy. An excellent fertilizer program consists of applications of 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet in late April/May, September, and late October/early November.

Regular mowing is crucial to prevent creeping Charlie from taking over your lawn. Long grass makes it difficult for grass to take the nutrients it needs from the soil.

Proper mowing, fertilization, and other good management practices should help establish a thick, healthy lawn. A dense stand of grass should help discourage future invasions of this aggressive weed.

Here are some key lawn care practices to follow:

A healthy lawn is the best defense against many weeds, including creeping Charlie. By following these simple steps, you can maintain a healthy lawn that will outcompete ground ivy and creeping Charlie.

If you're looking for alternatives to chemicals to kill ground ivy, pulling and digging is a method that can be effective in small areas. This method works best after a soaking rain or deep watering, as it loosens the soil and makes it easier to remove the plant.

Ground ivy can be pulled and dug up, but it's essential to remove all stem and root pieces to prevent regrowth. Unfortunately, this method is often ineffective because it's rare to remove all the pieces.

Persistence is key to making pulling and digging successful. It may take several growing seasons and frequent removal of the plant as soon as it re-emerges to keep ground ivy populations low.

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Ground ivy, also known as Creeping Charlie, is a tough plant to get rid of, but it's not impossible.

If you're looking for a non-chemical solution, you can try manually removing the plant by digging it up or using a tool to scrape it out.

Creeping Charlie can be a persistent problem, but with the right approach, you can stamp it out.

You can also try using a post-emergent herbicide, but be careful to choose a selective, broadleaf herbicide that targets weeds without harming your grass.

It's worth noting that herbicides can harm the plants you want to keep, so use them with caution.

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You can't let ground ivy take over your lawn, trust me. Ground ivy is a common lawn weed problem that thrives in shady lawns with poorly drained fertile soil.

To keep it from spreading, maintain a thick lawn by mowing high, mowing often, and keeping your blades sharp. This will help your grass compete with the weed.

Shady areas are a perfect breeding ground for ground ivy, and unfortunately, grasses in these areas aren't as competitive against weeds as those in full sun.

One control option is to dig out existing ground ivy, pulling up all the roots and stems to prevent it from growing back. This works well if it's only gotten a foothold in a flower or shrub bed.

You can also treat existing ground ivy with postemergence broadleaf herbicides from mid-spring to early summer and/or mid to late fall. Make sure the weeds are actively growing for the treatment to be effective.

The most effective chemical option is three-way broadleaf herbicide combinations that include 2,4-D, mecoprop, and dicamba. These products are often labeled for weed control in lawns.

Research has shown that in cool-season grasses, fluroxypyr and triclopyr work best as standalone products, and may even be more effective than when combined with other ingredients.