What will kill creeping charlie

But beware that this can make the problem worse by spreading nodes and inducing their development into new plants. This also cuts out some of the grass as well, so you may need to reseed after dethatching. The best time to do this is mid-August to mid-September, which is also the best time to reseed your lawn.

Borax has been touted as an organic control for creeping Charlie, but research at both the University of Wisconsin and Iowa State University has shown that borax is typically not very effective and can injure turf and other plants as well, causing stunting and yellowing.

Borax contains boron, which is necessary in very small amounts for plant growth but is toxic in larger doses. Creeping Charlie thrives in moist shade. The best means of controlling creeping Charlie is with a postemergence broadleaf herbicide. As with any pesticide, always read and follow label directions. The best choice for homeowners is a weed killer containing salt of dicamba 3, 6-dichloro-o-anisic acid or triclopyr.

These active ingredients are often found in combination products, such as Trimec or Three Way Lawn Weed Killer, so check the ingredient list on the label to see if it contains dicamba or triclopyr. The other chemicals in these combinations are generally 2,4-D 2, 4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and mecoprop or MCPP 2- 2-methlychlorophenoxy propionic acid. Creeping Charlie spreads rapidly under optimal conditions.

Herbicide applications should be made when the weeds are actively growing. Mid to late autumn, after the first frost, is an excellent time to apply herbicides to creeping Charlie and other perennial broadleaf weeds. At this time the plants are busily sending food reserves to the roots, so the herbicide is moved down to the roots as well, resulting in better control. A second application can be made again the following spring, but wait until the plants are in bloom April to June as the plants are most susceptible to herbicides then.

If you see it, act fast, or you will have a hard battle later. One of these three tried-and-true methods for how to get rid of Creeping Charlie should solve your landscaping trouble:. Manual removal is not recommended for large infestations of Creeping Charlie.

It will take too long, and success will be minimal. But if you see a plant or two here or there, you can get rid of it with your own two hands quite effectively.

Don gardening gloves, as Creeping Charlie can cause skin irritation and itching; some people are even allergic to it. Then, prune the weed by cutting off any loose vines not rooted to the ground in order to help expose the areas where you need to pull and dig out the weeds. If the ground is hard and dry, watering the area first to soften it will make for easier yanking.

If the roots are particularly deep, loosen the soil around them with a rooting tool or cultivator. As you pull, put plants immediately in a disposal bag; do not leave them lying around. Any little bits left behind, or that go wayward, are bound to reseed themselves. You can banish a larger Creeping Charlie infestation by depriving it of sunlight for an extended period. Be aware that any other plants mixed in with the Creeping Charlie will also die. Cover the Creeping Charlie with a barrier of newspaper , tarp, or cardboard to completely block sunlight.

Weight the cover down with rocks or bricks to keep it from blowing or shifting back, allowing light to reach the plants. Like all mints, it spreads on top of the soil via stolons surface roots and will regrow from very small pieces of vegetation left behind in the soil after removal. Creeping charlie can be found where lawn grass is thin and not very robust. This may be in compacted soils, shady locations, and weedy sites.

Therefore, treating with an appropriate product, maintaining a healthy lawn, utilizing shade tolerant grasses, and choosing alternative ground covers in areas not suitable for growing lawn grasses will help manage weeds including creeping charlie.

Best cultural practices are recommended to encourage healthy growth and vigor of lawn grasses. Proper selection of grass varieties for the site, fertilization and watering practices that encourage deeply rooted plants are important to a healthy lawn that can out-compete weeds. Most lawns are comprised Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass and require full sun, proper nutrition, and non-compacted soils for optimal growth.

A soil test can provide recommendations for soil health and fertilizer. As shade increases, it becomes less and less favorable for sustaining a lawn in this area, and more favorable for weeds like creeping Charlie. Pruning to increase sunlight and aeration may be options for improving growing conditions; however, if the area is too shady, give up on trying to grow grass in this area and consider planting other ground covers or a shade garden of perennial flowers.