How to Identify and Control Creeping Charlie
Creeping Charlie is a low growing, invasive weed from the mint family and is VERY hard to control or get rid of. It’s running-vine like nature is trying to take over my yard.
It has almost totally covered my Phlox Phlowerbed, which should look like this soon:
But right now, looks like this:
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Recognizing the problem:
Creeping Charlie is easily recognized by it’s scalloped leaf and really that’s ALL you can see in the above picture. It has pretty much totally covered everything else.
It is trying to cover up the stepping stones that our granddaughters made for me.
And its even trying to escape the bed onto the cement driveway!
Creeping Charlie as far as the eye can see…
METHODS FOR CONTROL:
HAND WEEDING
It pulls out easily and here you can see where I have weeded. However, you will never get it all the first time. Every piece that breaks off and leaves a rhizome will grow again with vigor! You must be diligent.
SPRAY WITH HERBICIDES:
You can spray Creeping Charlie to kill it but it is resistant to most weed killers. You have to make sure your spray contains triclopyr (or use Roundup which kills everything) and spray in the fall.
SPRAY WITH HOME SOLUTION:
Creeping Charlie can also be killed using a homemade Borax solution, but you also have to be careful about boron toxicity. Click HERE for the recipe.
I plan to hand weed the flower bed. But I also plan to try the Borax solution in the yard.
Have you ever had to deal with Charlie and his creepiness?
Oh, and do you wonder about “Sorry Charlie”?…
Please tell me all about it in the comments.
Have you tried 20% vinegar? I’ve had good luck with spraying it on a bright sunny day.
No, I’ve not tried any kind of spray yet. Do you use it on Creeping Charlie specifically? Do you use it straight?
Yes. I have it every year. Since it’s one of the easier ones to pull out that’s what I do but some other weeds are a bigger problem, and some I live with for a time. 🙂
I let it get out of hand last year Patti. I didn’t pull any and it shows. I learned my lesson. 🙂
Not a problem here, sorry it’s aggravating for you. Kinda reminds me of how kudzu spreads. Shared on Fb, G+, Pn, and Tw ♥
True Dee. It spreads like wildfire. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
So that’s what that stuff is called!! I have it all over my side garden. I have left it because it has filled in the bar spots and just pull it when it takes over something else I want there. I guess I will just keep doing what I am doing! Thanks for visiting my blog.
Yes, it is easiest to just leave it. Unless someday you decide you don’t want it any more. Thanks for visiting with me AnnMarie. 🙂
Like Ann Marie above, I didn’t know what it was called. I have to turn a blind eye to what’s growing out there now. I haven’t done much yard work in a few years. Eek! The weeds! I’ve seen this many times!
Hi Florence. Good to see you again. 🙂
Oh my goodness, can I relate to this post. Creeping Charlie is ruthless and has completely taken over my yard too!
I am sure sorry to hear that Amy. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. 🙂
Being the expert gardener that I am (insert smirk here) I thought it looked really cool, but what do I know?
LOL I will have to learn to live with it I suspect. I love chatting with you Mary. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Very invasive. Thanks for letting me know not to plant that. 😉
Yes Clearissa, it is very invasive here. Thanks for visiting. 🙂
I don’t like to spray any chemicals at all because of the harm they can do to bees and other beneficial and pollinating insects that we need to survive. The only sustainable solution is to keep pulling it up by hand. I find with most things as long as you can pull out the roots without leaving bits behind, eventually it is possible to keep things under control. I had bindweed in my garden at first but regularly removing it over the first year got rid of it and it hasn’t come back. I had to keep removing it making sure the roots came out to. It also helps to remove any flowers before they set seed as this is the other way things spread. #DIDI
I don’t like to spray much either Mr. Green! This weed especially, I just pull. And pull. And pull… Thanks for visiting. 🙂
We don’t seem to have that in our area but we do have dollar weed which seems to be very similar. Pulling it up seems my best line of defense! Thanks for sharing at The Blogger’s Pit Stop!
Oh yes, I have Dollar Weed too. sigh… I pull and pull. 🙂
I remember that commercial. It was so fun to see it highlighted here.
I wondered how many would remember it Elise! haha 🙂