What is creeping charlie?
Glechoma hederacea , also called creeping charlie or ground ivy , is an invasive perennial that grows along the ground and variant stems with small , purple - gentle flowers . It has scallop - shaped folio , and can go around through its seed and ascendant , making it extremely difficult to get rid of . Creeping charlie is n’t inherently evil by any means , but it does compete with your garden plants for blank and resources . Since it spreads so readily , creeping charlie can easy overtake a garden if given the opportunity .
There are a couple lookalike plants , namely dead nettle and Lamium amplexicaule . The easiest way to tell the difference is that dead nettle has softer folio , and henbit has deep scarlet stems with leaves that sit down wealthy against the prow . However , all three plants are take weeds ( and are edible ) , so you do n’t need to concern too much about confusing them .
How to prevent it from growing
If you do n’t already have creeping charlie in your M , you should have an light time keeping it out . fawn charlie is sometimes used as ground cover version in lawns , which can then escape into neighboring lawn . There ’s not much you may do about creep charlie in your neighbor ’s lawn , but it can be skilful to make love , so you may keep an optic out in fount it begins spreading in your instruction .
If you have crawl charlie in your yard but not your garden , there are a few steps you’re able to take to keep it from get to your garden . Firstly , root out the creeping charlie from your yard can help . However , that can be time consuming , potentially damaging to your yard , and generally unnecessary , since creeping charlie does n’t typically hurt lawns .
Your other , arguably better , option is to fence off your garden . It does n’t need to be a particularly large fencing , but it does need to extend several inch underground , to keep out creeping charlie ’s roots . It also involve to be self-coloured , since creeping charlie can produce through col . Any material will do . you’re able to even make your own fence from cardboard enclose in atomic number 13 foil , or go the more esthetically pleasing path and get a solid wooden fencing that you’re able to paint .
Getting rid of existing creeping charlie
Once cringe charlie has entered your garden , or if you ’re looking to hit it from your K before it get that far , you have a duad selection for getting rid of it . Herbicides can belt down creeping charlie , but they can also harm or kill the good plants around it . If you decide to practice weedkiller , be sure to follow the instructions closely and take any recommended safety precautions . It ’s also sound to do this during an off season in your garden , when you do n’t have any industrial plant growing .
If herbicides are n’t to your liking , then you’re able to hollow grovel charlie up or else . Start by tear or clip any aboveground stem you see , just like with distinctive weeding . Keep track of where the plants were , though , as the next footstep is to go underground . Turn up the soil where the plants were , and cautiously remove any roots you find . It ’s easier if you thoroughly soak the soil first and plow up small amounts at a sentence .
Once you ’ve found all the root word you may and have repay the grunge to its piazza , keep an eye on the area . If you escape any roots , or if the creeping charlie had already gone to ejaculate , then there may be a revitalization in that area . The creeping charlie you pulled up should be thrown off , burn , or eaten , not composted . compost it could reintroduce creeping charlie to the expanse when you employ the compost .
grovel charlie can be a hassle to carry on with , but there are ways to keep it from sneaking into your garden . Keep it out with a fencing or root out it totally . Either way , it pays to be exhaustive and argus-eyed , as creeping charlie can be a sneaky , retiring plant . Do n’t let creeping charlie take over your garden — trip up it ahead of time and save yourself some difficulty in the future .
