How to Get Rid of Creeping Charlie in My Lawn

Creeping Charlie, or Glechoma Hederacea as it is scientifically known, is a ground ivy that was originally imported from Europe. People planted it for use as ground cover, but they soon found out that it is difficult to stop its growth. If a person isn't careful, creeping Charlie can take over their entire lawn. The problem people face when they try to get rid of this plant is that if they use traditional weed killers they could end up killing their grass as well.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Creeping Charlie
• Shovel
• Garden hoe
• Mulch
• Two 3-gallon buckets
• Borax
• Water
• Long-handled spoon
• Garden sprayer or half-gallon spray bottle

Dig It Up

1. Use your shovel to dig up the creeping Charlie at the roots. Do not simply pull the plant up by its leaves.

2. Till the soil with a garden hoe to ensure that no roots remain. Throw out all of the plants you pulled up so that they don't have a chance to re-root.

3. Cover the area where the creeping Charlie was with a 2-inch layer of mulch to smother any remnants of the plant that you may have missed.

Spray It With Borax

4. Pour 5-oz. of borax into a 3-gallon bucket for each 500 square feet of creeping Charlie you need to get rid of. If the area is larger or smaller, adjust accordingly.

5. Run 1/4-cup warm water into the bucket. Stir until the borax dissolves.

6. Fill the second 3-gallon bucket with 20 cups of lukewarm water. Add in the borax solution, stirring slowly.

7. Fill your half-gallon spray bottle or a garden sprayer with this diluted solution. Spray it only on the creeping Charlie, not on the grass or the soil. Try to coat both the leaves and the stems with about a 1-mm layer.

8. Wait for the creeping Charlie to die. You will know when the leaves start to turn yellow. Then pull it out of the ground with your hands.

Tips & Warnings

• It can be difficult and time-consuming to dig up an entire lawn full of live creeping Charlie. Spraying it with borax first will make the plants weak and dry, making them come out of the ground easily.
• Borax is available in the laundry soap aisle at the grocery store. People use it to deodorize clothing and remove stains.
• Hold the sprayer as close to the creeping Charlie as possible. This will help keep it from getting on the lawn or in the soil.
• If you only have a small amount of creeping Charlie in your lawn, do not use the borax. It is a somewhat risky solution. If you over-apply it, it can affect soil quality.
• Wear gloves to protect the skin on your hands.

References

• Green Thumb Articles
• University of Minnesota