How to Get Rid of Creeping Charlie and Keep It From Coming Back
By Leah Chester-Davis
Better Homes & Gardens
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How to Get Rid of Creeping Charlie and Keep It From Coming Back
This perennial weed can easily take over lawns and garden beds. Here are the best ways to control it.
ByLeah Chester-Davis
Key Takeaways
Hand-weeding can be effective for small infestations of Creeping Charlie, but all roots must be removed to prevent regrowth.
Using a broadleaf herbicide containing triclopyr, 2,4-D, and Dicamba in early fall is recommended for larger infestations.
Maintaining healthy turf and mulching planting beds can prevent Creeping Charlie from re-establishing in treated areas.
How to Control Creeping Charlie
Repeated hand-weeding is a great option if you spot creeping Charlie in your yard early. Make sure to remove and destroy all parts of the roots in order to prevent regrowth. Keep it out of the compost bin because it could easily take root again. Instead, you should bag it for your yard waste pickup. When this persistent weed has spread over a large area, hand-weeding becomes less feasible. However, you can outsmart it by smothering the affected area under layers of cardboard or black plastic for several months. In lawns, applying a broadleaf herbicide works best in early fall. This timing allows the plant to absorb the product into its roots before entering winter dormancy. Look for herbicides that contain triclopyr, often combined with 2,4-D and Dicamba, as they are the most effective against creeping Charlie.
Always read and follow label directions when using herbicides to avoid harming yourself and the environment.
Some years ago, the application of borax was suggested as a herbicide, but it's not effective. In addition, applying borax to the soil, even in small amounts, makes the soil less able to support lawn grasses and other desirable plants.
How to Organically Kill Weeds Without Harming Your Plants
Here’s how you can pull out creeping Charlie by hand:
Step 1: Prune and Trim
To play it safe, put on protective gardening gloves—creeping Charlie can cause skin irritation, and some people are allergic to it. Trim the leaves, stems, and any vines that aren’t rooted to the ground with your garden shears. Doing this will expose the area you need to pull the roots out.
Place each and every trimming into a lawn waste bag—if you let any of the creeping Charlie remain on the ground, the rhizomes could take root again.
Step 2: Water the Surrounding Ground
Creeping Charlie, also known as ground ivy, is a fast-spreading vine often found in shady, moist areas of the yard. Once it takes hold, it can be hard to eliminate because it spreads through roots and runners. If you’re dealing with an infestation of this stubborn weed, there are ways to remove it and prevent it from coming back.
We’ll pass on some tips for eliminating creeping Charlie in your lawn and keeping it away. If you need help maintaining your lawn, we’ll also recommend our top lawn care company to keep your yard looking neat and weed-free.
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Select the company that best meets your needs.
Get a free, no-obligation quote for your home.
Average Lawn Care Cost (per Service)
Low End Cost
$100
Average Cost
$300
High End Cost
$500
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What Is Creeping Charlie?
How To Kill Creeping Charlie
There are three primary ways to get rid of the creeping Charlie or ground ivy attacking your lawn: by hand, by smothering, or by herbicide.
Method #1: Pull It Out By Hand
If there’s only a small patch of creeping Charlie, think about tackling it the old-fashioned way: by pulling it out by hand. This method is practical when you’ve just spotted some early growth of this weed in your lawn or landscape.
Consider manual removal if you have children, pets, or edible plants you don’t want to hit with more effective but chemical-based methods. However, it’s a labor-intensive technique that requires ongoing vigilance and might not be the most suitable if the invasion is extensive.
Here’s how you can pull out creeping Charlie by hand:
Step 1: Prune and Trim
To play it safe, put on protective gardening gloves—creeping Charlie can cause skin irritation, and some people are allergic to it. Trim the leaves, stems, and any vines that aren’t rooted to the ground with your garden shears. Doing this will expose the area you need to pull the roots out.
Place each and every trimming into a lawn waste bag—if you let any of the creeping Charlie remain on the ground, the rhizomes could take root again.
Step 2: Water the Surrounding Ground
You won’t be able to tug the creeping Charlie out, roots and all, if the ground is hard and dry. Soften the soil with enough water so that you won’t meet much resistance when you pull out the roots. The soil should be moist to the touch but not soggy. Wait about half an hour before the next step.
Step 3: Loosen the Soil
Take a pitchfork and loosen up the soil to make yanking out the creeping Charlie roots easier.
Step 4: Pull It Out
Firmly grasp the base of each root cluster and tug it up gently to remove all of the roots. If you meet resistance, use your pitchfork again to make the soil a little looser. Place all of the creeping Charlie into a lawn waste bag, as you did with the trimmings.
Creeping Charlie, also known as ground ivy, is a fast-spreading vine often found in shady, moist areas of the yard. Once it takes hold, it can be hard to eliminate because it spreads through roots and runners. If you’re dealing with an infestation of this stubborn weed, there are ways to remove it and prevent it from coming back.
We’ll pass on some tips for eliminating creeping Charlie in your lawn and keeping it away. If you need help maintaining your lawn, we’ll also recommend our top lawn care company to keep your yard looking neat and weed-free.
Find Lawn Help
See our list of top lawn care companies based on in-depth research.
Select the company that best meets your needs.
Get a free, no-obligation quote for your home.
Average Lawn Care Cost (per Service)
Low End Cost
$100
Average Cost
$300
High End Cost
$500
Get Your Estimate
Clicking “Get Your Estimate” submits your data to All Star Pros, which will process your data in accordance with the All Star Pros Privacy Policy.Ad Disclaimer
What Is Creeping Charlie?
How To Kill Creeping Charlie
There are three primary ways to get rid of the creeping Charlie or ground ivy attacking your lawn: by hand, by smothering, or by herbicide.
Method #1: Pull It Out By Hand
If there’s only a small patch of creeping Charlie, think about tackling it the old-fashioned way: by pulling it out by hand. This method is practical when you’ve just spotted some early growth of this weed in your lawn or landscape.
Consider manual removal if you have children, pets, or edible plants you don’t want to hit with more effective but chemical-based methods. However, it’s a labor-intensive technique that requires ongoing vigilance and might not be the most suitable if the invasion is extensive.
Here’s how you can pull out creeping Charlie by hand:
Step 1: Prune and Trim
To play it safe, put on protective gardening gloves—creeping Charlie can cause skin irritation, and some people are allergic to it. Trim the leaves, stems, and any vines that aren’t rooted to the ground with your garden shears. Doing this will expose the area you need to pull the roots out.
Place each and every trimming into a lawn waste bag—if you let any of the creeping Charlie remain on the ground, the rhizomes could take root again.
Step 2: Water the Surrounding Ground
You won’t be able to tug the creeping Charlie out, roots and all, if the ground is hard and dry. Soften the soil with enough water so that you won’t meet much resistance when you pull out the roots. The soil should be moist to the touch but not soggy. Wait about half an hour before the next step.
Step 3: Loosen the Soil
Take a pitchfork and loosen up the soil to make yanking out the creeping Charlie roots easier.
Step 4: Pull It Out
Firmly grasp the base of each root cluster and tug it up gently to remove all of the roots. If you meet resistance, use your pitchfork again to make the soil a little looser. Place all of the creeping Charlie into a lawn waste bag, as you did with the trimmings.
Pro Tip
Roger Cook, TOH’s landscape contractor, emphasizes that when pulling invasive plants by hand, the goal is to get as much of the root system as possible: “The more you can get up of the root system, the better off we’ll be.” Once removed, bag everything for trash pickup — don’t compost it or burn it.
Step 5: Inspect the Area
Make sure you didn’t leave a single root that could allow the creeping Charlie to regrow. Take a trowel or cultivator and remove any additional rhizomes you find. This may take several passes.
Method #2: Smother It to Block Sunlight
Another way to tackle this weed is by smothering it, completely blocking it from the sunlight it needs to survive. As noted, creeping Charlie thrives in shady areas, but it still needs sunlight. Because of this, you’ll have to make sure you block all sunlight to the weed for an extended period.
Note that any plants underneath the cover will die, including any turfgrass and ornamental plants you may want to keep, so place the cover carefully. Again, this method is most effective for small patches of creeping Charlie.
Step 1: Cover the Creeping Charlie
Create a barrier that completely blocks out sunlight, using a piece of cardboard, a tarp, or some newspaper. Because the roots beneath the ground fan out, you’ll want to make sure the barrier extends about six to twelve inches around the vines and leaves on every side.
This method will do no good if there are any gaps at all, so you’ll need to weigh down the cover you’ve made with objects like bricks or rocks. This will stop the cover from blowing around and letting any sunlight in.
Creeping Charlie, also known as ground ivy, is a fast-spreading vine often found in shady, moist areas of the yard. Once it takes hold, it can be hard to eliminate because it spreads through roots and runners. If you’re dealing with an infestation of this stubborn weed, there are ways to remove it and prevent it from coming back.
What Is Creeping Charlie?
How To Kill Creeping Charlie
There are three primary ways to get rid of the creeping Charlie or ground ivy attacking your lawn: by hand, by smothering, or by herbicide.
Method #1: Pull It Out By Hand
If there’s only a small patch of creeping Charlie, think about tackling it the old-fashioned way: by pulling it out by hand. This method is practical when you’ve just spotted some early growth of this weed in your lawn or landscape.
Consider manual removal if you have children, pets, or edible plants you don’t want to hit with more effective but chemical-based methods. However, it’s a labor-intensive technique that requires ongoing vigilance and might not be the most suitable if the invasion is extensive.
Here’s how you can pull out creeping Charlie by hand:
Step 1: Prune and Trim
To play it safe, put on protective gardening gloves—creeping Charlie can cause skin irritation, and some people are allergic to it. Trim the leaves, stems, and any vines that aren’t rooted to the ground with your garden shears. Doing this will expose the area you need to pull the roots out.
Place each and every trimming into a lawn waste bag—if you let any of the creeping Charlie remain on the ground, the rhizomes could take root again.
Step 2: Water the Surrounding Ground
You won’t be able to tug the creeping Charlie out, roots and all, if the ground is hard and dry. Soften the soil with enough water so that you won’t meet much resistance when you pull out the roots. The soil should be moist to the touch but not soggy. Wait about half an hour before the next step.
Step 3: Loosen the Soil
Take a pitchfork and loosen up the soil to make yanking out the creeping Charlie roots easier.
Step 4: Pull It Out
Firmly grasp the base of each root cluster and tug it up gently to remove all of the roots. If you meet resistance, use your pitchfork again to make the soil a little looser. Place all of the creeping Charlie into a lawn waste bag, as you did with the trimmings.
Pro Tip
Roger Cook, TOH’s landscape contractor, emphasizes that when pulling invasive plants by hand, the goal is to get as much of the root system as possible: “The more you can get up of the root system, the better off we’ll be.” Once removed, bag everything for trash pickup — don’t compost it or burn it.
Step 5: Inspect the Area
Make sure you didn’t leave a single root that could allow the creeping Charlie to regrow. Take a trowel or cultivator and remove any additional rhizomes you find. This may take several passes.
Method #2: Smother It to Block Sunlight
Another way to tackle this weed is by smothering it, completely blocking it from the sunlight it needs to survive. As noted, creeping Charlie thrives in shady areas, but it still needs sunlight. Because of this, you’ll have to make sure you block all sunlight to the weed for an extended period.
Note that any plants underneath the cover will die, including any turfgrass and ornamental plants you may want to keep, so place the cover carefully. Again, this method is most effective for small patches of creeping Charlie.
Pro Tip
Roger Cook, TOH landscape contractor, recommends using black plastic sheeting rather than cardboard or newspaper for smothering: “Spread black plastic sheeting over the top of the groundcover and weigh it down with rocks. Wait a year, maybe two, for the plants to die, then dig out all the dead roots.” Be prepared — this method requires serious patience, but it works without chemicals.
Step 1: Cover the Creeping Charlie
Create a barrier that completely blocks out sunlight, using a piece of cardboard, a tarp, or some newspaper. Because the roots beneath the ground fan out, you’ll want to make sure the barrier extends about six to twelve inches around the vines and leaves on every side.
This method will do no good if there are any gaps at all, so you’ll need to weigh down the cover you’ve made with objects like bricks or rocks. This will stop the cover from blowing around and letting any sunlight in.
Keep in mind that Roger Cook’s timeline for smothering aggressive groundcovers is considerably longer than a single week — he advises waiting a year or even two for the plants to fully die before digging out the dead roots. Creeping Charlie’s extensive root system means it can survive longer than you might expect under a cover, so resist the urge to pull up the barrier too soon.
Step 2: Keep the Weed Covered Until It Turns Brown
This process will take time. Wait for a week, then take a peek to see if there is any green left in the area you’ve covered. If there is, put the cover back on and leave it in place for several days. You’ll know the cover has worked when the creeping Charlie is brown and shriveled.
Step 3: Remove the Creeping Charlie
Pull the dried-up Creeping Charlie out by the roots and dispose of it, once again paying careful attention not to leave any of it on your lawn.
Method #3: Kill It With Herbicide
When creeping Charlie has staged a full-scale attack and manual removal and smothering just won’t cut it, you may want to use synthetic herbicides. But be careful—many herbicides can kill your grass or ornamental plants alongside any
unwanted weeds.
You can eradicate creeping Charlie using a targeted broadleaf herbicide that contains either dicamba or triclopyr. These ingredients should eliminate the weed while leaving your grass unharmed, but they will likely kill ornamental broadleaf plants.
The best time to kill creeping Charlie with herbicide is the days right before or right after the first frost.
Step 1: Prep the Herbicide
Put on protective goggles and gloves, then follow the directions on the herbicide’s label and mix it with water in a pump sprayer.
Step 2: Spray the Herbicide
Spray the herbicide onto the creeping Charlie. Concentrate on the leaves and stems and ensure they’re thoroughly soaked. You want the herbicide to soak down into the roots. Be careful not to overspray and hit any surrounding plants.
Step 3: Wait for Chemicals to Absorb
You should not mow for at least two days to give the creeping Charlie’s roots time to absorb the herbicide’s chemicals. Leave the area alone all winter. In spring, you can rake up the dead weeds.
Step 4: Repeat the Process
You will likely need to apply herbicide more than once. Read the manufacturer’s instructions for specific information.
To strengthen your lawn’s defenses organically, apply a ½-inch layer of finished compost over your turf and rake it into the surface—one cubic yard covers about 600 square feet. As natural lawn care expert Paul Tukey, founder of Safelawns.org, has noted for TOH Magazine: “You can kill the messenger all day long, but it doesn’t change the message that something is wrong with your soil.” Addressing the underlying soil conditions is key to keeping creeping Charlie from returning.
