How To Get Rid Of Ground Ivy
Ground Ivy, or "creeping charlie," is an all-too-familiar menace in residential turf - and one of the toughest weeds to eradicate. This evergreen perennial weed can be found across America, thriving in shady, moist areas such as low wooded habitats and disturbed sites like roadsides.
It spreads quickly, forming roots where its leaves join stems, allowing it to creep along soil surfaces, easily out-competing more desired turfgrass species for sunlight and nutrients if left unchecked. If you have Ground Ivy on your property, take action today with a comprehensive control plan designed just for this pesky plant.
Our DIY ground ivy treatment guide below was put together by our team of lawn care experts, and it explains thoroughly how to stop ground ivy from the moment you notice it all the way through preventing it from returning to your prized lawn.
Key Takeaways
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This invasive weed prefers growing in high-moisture shaded areas where it can create a thick mat of leaves across the ground.
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We recommend using a powerful selective herbicide that only targets and kills ground ivy so as not to harm your desired turfgrasses.
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Practicing a regular and healthy lawn care program will promote a rich and strong turfgrass, making it very difficult for ground ivy to take root.
Ground Ivy Identification And Inspection
Characteristics Of Ground Ivy
It's crucial before beginning any weed treatment program to understand what exactly you may be dealing with and to confirm you have ground ivy and not another similar weed. If incorrectly identified, you may use treatment methods that not only waste your time but that harm your grass.
We've included the most identifiable traits of ground ivy below:
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You may notice tiny lavender or purple flowers on or near the leaves.
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Ground ivy, formally known as glechoma hederacea, features leaves that are rounded with toothed edges.
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Typically, ground ivy leaves grow between about 1/2 inch to 1 and 1/2 inches and grow on leafstalks further away from the stem.
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This weed is similar to vines and will form into a dense, matted carpet if left in the right growing conditions.
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Ground ivy, which is a member of the mint family, features a square stem that grows vertically. It produces a pleasant fragrance when crushed.
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Each part of the plant where leaves grow also features a node that will begin to form roots once it contacts the surface of the surrounding soil, making it very difficult to treat by hand-pulling alone.
Ground Ivy Inspection
Once you've confirmed you are dealing with ground ivy, it's time to inspect the area to get an idea of how far the weed has spread on the property. You'll want to look for areas already affected by the ground ivy, as well as areas where ground ivy is likely to grow in the future. This method can help you focus your treatments and save your herbicide for further applications.
Luckily, ground ivy is fairly easy to spot and is very noticeable among your desired garden plants and turfgrass. Typically, ground ivy will begin to bloom during March through July, but will grow the strongest during the fall months. Lawns, disturbed areas, moist sites, along roadsides, and stressed turfgrass are a few of the most likely places you'll locate ground ivy during your inspection.
As we mentioned above, look for square stems, toothy leaves, and small purple flowers when you're inspecting the area. This weed almost sticks to the ground with its nodes, making controlling it by hand-pulling it with garden gloves a challenging task.
Control Ground Ivy
How To Get Rid Of Ground Ivy
Before you begin any weed treatments and apply the herbicide, we recommend you wear clothing that protects your skin from exposure to chemicals. Clothing that covers hands, feet, ankles, legs, and arms is best for this task. We also recommend wearing a mask or face covering when possible.
Our team recommends using a powerful selective herbicide that only targets and kills ground ivy while leaving your desired turfgrass unharmed. While non-selective herbicides are very effective, they will likely also damage or kill the grass, plants, and flowers you are aiming to protect from the invasive ground ivy. Follow the instructions closely on the product label before proceeding with any treatments to ensure that you are using the correct mixture and application methods.
View our safe products for your specific variety of grass:
Ground Ivy Selective Herbicide Recommendations
3 Way Max Turf and Ornamental Broadleaf Herbicide: This broadleaf selective herbicide uses three active ingredients (47.3% 2,4D, 8.2% Meco Prop-P, and 2.3% Dicamba) to safely eliminate many common weeds. This three 3-way herbicide combination allows for a much stronger punch than simply using 2,4D alone. It will work on ground ivy and a host of other broadleaf weeds.
Bonide Poison Ivy & Brush Killer BK-32: This versatile selective herbicide uses Dicamba to get quick results in as little as one application without harming nearby ornamentals and desired turfgrass (avoid newly seeded grass) and trees. This potent, selective herbicide kills over 240 tough weeds, including ground ivy.
Non-Selective Herbicide Recommendations
It's important to note that if you choose to go with a non-selective herbicide, it will kill all plants, including your desired turfgrass. This type of herbicide is recommended only if you wish to completely get rid of creeping charlie or foliage in a targeted area.
Eraser 41% Weed Killer Herbicide: Eraser offers a potent and effective way to take care of unwanted vegetation. It's non-selective, meaning it will control and eliminate almost any type of plant. From broadleaf weeds, annuals, or perennials in your garden to stubborn undesired trees, Eraser will do just as its name suggests.
Better yet, Eraser poses minimal risk for animals like dogs that may come into contact with treated areas. Eraser doesn't leave behind harmful residues after use, so you don't need to worry about residual soil activity.
Ground Ivy Prevention
Once you've treated all areas affected by ground ivy in your yard, you'll want to ensure it doesn't return any time soon. This is a crucial step because ground ivy is known for its stubbornness. The nodes on the leaf stem quickly reconnect the root system and begin repairing and spreading itself unless meticulously dealt with. We recommend taking the following steps for preventing and controlling creeping charlie from coming back to your lawn in the long term:
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Ensure a vibrant and healthy lawn free from Ground Ivy with the proper mowing, watering, and fertilizing practices.
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Mow your lawn relatively high, at three to four inches - tall grass blades inhibit sun exposure for ground ivy while promoting stronger grass root growth.
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Clear out low air circulation by raking or dethatching your lawn as well as trimming any overhanging tree branches, which can shade small weeds trying to establish themselves in the turfgrass.
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Deep and infrequent water during the morning hours helps to ensure your lawn is developing strong roots.
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You can create a lush and rich lawn that crowds our weeds like ground ivy by keeping a good fertilizing regimen in place with the correct proportions of Potassium, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus.
Recommended Ground Ivy Prevention Products
Weed Beater Complete Granules: This is a complete solution that serves as a pre and post-emergent herbicide for dozens of weeds. Weed Beater tackles both broadleaf weeds and annual grasses in warm and cool weather conditions. It performs best when the grass is wetted so as to better absorb the granules. We advise you to check the label for the full list of weeds it can control.
Do-It-Yourself Pest Control Can Help You Eliminate Ground Ivy
Ground ivy is an unpleasant weed to have in your landscape. Fortunately, effective treatments exist for safely and quickly eliminating it. By identifying, inspecting for, and treating your lawn with the proper herbicides, you can rid your yard of ground ivy and keep it away in the future. With the right products, perseverance, and commitment to your turfgrass's health, you can kill creeping charlie.
If you need any additional help with how to get rid of ground ivy or other weeds, please don't hesitate to contact us at Do-It-Yourself Pest Control! We are available to assist you with all your pest control needs. Our experienced lawn care and pest control team will be happy to answer any questions you may have about how to get rid of ground ivy.