![]() Pull the Creeping Charlie out of the ground and dispose of it as you would in the hand-pulling method. When Creeping Charlie is shriveled and brown, it’s good and dead! STEP 3: Remove the dead Creeping Charlie by hand. Take a peek under the tarp at the week mark if there’s any green left, replace the cover for another several days. It may take a week-or longer, depending on your soil conditions-to smother the Creeping Charlie. Weigh the cover down with rocks or bricks to keep it from blowing or shifting back and allowing light to reach the plants. Extend the coverage 6 to 12 inches beyond the vines and leaves, as the roots underneath the ground can reach further out from what’s above them on the ground. – Lawn waste disposal bag STEP 1: Completely cover the patch of Creeping Charlie to block sunlight.Ĭover the Creeping Charlie with a barrier of newspaper, tarp, or cardboard to completely block sunlight. Be aware that any other plants mixed in with the Creeping Charlie will also die, so use this method either where Creeping Charlie has taken over or where you are willing to reseed grass or other plants after the weed is gone. Remember, this weed thrives in shade, so you’ll need to cover it and block the sun out completely for this method to be effective. You can banish a larger Creeping Charlie patch by depriving it of sunlight for an extended period. How to Get Rid of Creeping Charlie by Smothering It RELATED: Buyer’s Guide: The Best Weeding Tools Any little bits of the plant left behind, or that go wayward, are bound to reseed themselves. When you’ve removed all the Creeping Charlie in sight, dig through the soil with your hands or a cultivator to ensure you’ve gotten any root pieces that have broken off, since they will regenerate and you’ll be right back where you started. STEP 3: Make sure that you’ve removed all root pieces from the soil. As you pull, put plants immediately in a disposal bag do not leave them lying around. ![]() If the roots are particularly deep, loosen the soil around them with a rooting tool or cultivator. If the ground is hard and dry, watering the area first to soften it will make for easier yanking. STEP 2: Grasp the plant by the roots and pull it out. Grab a kneed pad, if you like, for better comfort. This will expose the areas where you need to pull and dig out the weeds. Then, prune the weed by cutting off any loose vines not rooted to the ground. Creeping Charlie can cause skin irritation and itching some people are even allergic to it. – Garden hose STEP 1: Prune Creeping Charlie to expose the roots.ĭon long sleeves and quality but thin gardening gloves. But if you see a plant or two here or there, you can get rid of it with your own two hands quite effectively. For example, you might pull up the root, but if the plant already flowered and seeded, you just might give those new seeds a soft place to take hold next year. The task will take far too long, and result in minimal success since this perennial weed spreads by seeds, rhizomes, and creeping stems that can root where they lie. Manual removal is not recommended for large patches of Creeping Charlie. Once you get rid of Creeping Charlie, replace the weedy ground cover with native alternatives or grasses that tolerate shade. Protection of the hands, arms, legs, and eyes is especially essential if you end up using chemical applications. Be sure to wear gloves and long sleeves when pulling these weeds, since they can cause an itchy rash when handled. When implementing any of the methods below, choose a day with no or light breeze this helps prevent drift of any sprays or of the seeds on the plants you pull. Dealing with invasive plants is like dealing with insect pests: Start with the method that’s least likely to upset the delicate balance of soil, plant, and animal life then get a little tougher incrementally until you can declare victory. Some are more effective than others and some require more physical work or time, so patience helps you prevail. While the best way to control Creeping Charlie is to avoid planting it, there are several ways to get rid of Creeping Charlie if it’s already taken hold. Always start with the least extreme, escalating only if necessary, and prioritize solutions that will not have detrimental effects on the health and longevity of this planet and its inhabitants. Bob Vila’s staff encourages readers to make informed choices about maintaining their home and property. Though effective, some of the solutions offered in this content are not organic or sustainable. Bob Vila and its parent company, Recurrent Ventures, put conservation and sustainability at the forefront of nearly everything we do.
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