How to Kill Creeping Charlie

Co-authored by Maggie Moran

Last Updated: April 13, 2021 References Approved

Creeping charlie is the common name for an evergreen, creeping weed called Glechoma hederacea. It is very resilient and adaptable, which means it can quickly become a pesky, stubborn weed. The plant easily reproduces from seeds and also regrows from small cuttings, which causes rapid spreading. The vine can easily move from one lawn or area to another. It has attractive blue flowers, but it is often undesirable due to its aggressiveness.^{[1]
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Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Removing Creeping Charlie Manually

1
Identify suitable areas for manual removal. This works best in small areas covered with or affected by the plant. Areas with widespread creeping charlie will take a long time to manually remove, so you might consider sunlight deprivation or chemical treatment in these cases.
- It is recommended you wear gloves for protection if you plan to pull the plant out by hand. Gloves can prevent blisters, friction burns, and callouses from forming during manual removal.
- Creeping charlie is a common skin allergen that can cause itching or a rash from contact. Wearing gloves will prevent you from having an unexpected allergic response while weeding.^{[2]
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2
Remove leaves and vine growth. For plants that are especially thick, you should cut off the leaves and vines to make the roots more accessible. You can do this most easily with a few snips from a pair of pruning shears. Once the protective upper foliage is removed, you'll be able to target the roots in the ground.
- Keep bits and pieces of creeping charlie collected together off to the side or put it in a bag for disposal later. Lost bits and pieces can reseed your plot with the plant.
- You may want to avoid doing this on windy days. The wind might blow a stray leaf or vine somewhere else you don't want the plant growing.
- It is not recommended you use a hoe to break up the soil or cut through the top layer of the plant. This can spread creeping charlie even further.^{[3]
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3
Pull up the roots thoroughly. In loose, loamy soil, you may find that the roots pull free with relatively little effort. However, in some cases, the roots may be very stubborn. Grasp the root by its topmost part and apply firm, steady pressure until the roots pull free.
- You may need to use a rooting tool, which is shaped like a long, flat-tipped screwdriver, to assist in removing difficult plants or those with deep-sunk roots.
- You should investigate the soil following the hand removal of roots. If you leave behind root pieces, the creeping charlie may return.^{[4]
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4
Dispose all clippings and roots. The leaves and vines you have cut from the plants could serve to further seed creeping charlie, so be careful when disposing this plant. Avoid places like open compost piles where the wind might carry seeds or leaves back to your plot.
- Using a thin tined rake can help you sift through dirt to find remaining creeping charlie plant debris. Even small pieces can contribute to regrowth.
- Throwing the creeping charlie away in the garbage should be sufficient, but you could also dispose of trimmings by burning them. Be sure you have a fire permit before burning, if your region requires one.^{[5]
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5
Add mulch to deter regrowth. After you've weeded out the creeping, you can help prevent regrowth by adding mulch, like wood chips, over the area the plant was growing. Use a regular cover of 2 - 3 in (5 - 7.6 cm) of your mulch for the best effect.^{[6]
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6
Remove the creeping charlie as it regrows. Getting the whole root system and removing every seed-carrying leaf can be a tall order. It's likely you'll miss a few and see the plant return. Every time you see the scalloped leaves of creeping charlie reappear, pull it out. Eventually it should stop coming back.
- You should see the creeping charlie diminish after each weeding, but it can take up to a year or longer before the plant is fully removed.^{[7]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Depriving Creeping Charlie of Sunlight

1
Starve the planted of sunlight. Creeping Charlie, like other plants, needs light for growth. However, this plant can survive even in low level light, like strong shade. Because of this, if you intend to use this method, the light must be completely blocked to the plant.
2
Cover the area affected with creeping charlie. There are many items you could use for this purpose. For example, you could lay down a large piece of cardboard, a heavy drop-cloth, or a tarp over top the plant for maximum light blockage.
- When creeping charlie is growing among plants you want to keep, you might consider cutting a circular hole around in a heavy cloth or tarp. This way you can block light to the creeping charlie around the wanted plant without denying it of light.
- Any surrounding plants that are deprived of light will die along with the creeping charlie. This likely means you'll need to reseed your plot later.^{[8]
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3
Protect your light cover from disturbance. Stray wind, animals, or other environmental factors can cause your light cover to shift in position. Stabilize your light cover by heaping some soil, rocks, or some other kind of weight on top of it to hold it in place.
- To ensure the light is completely blocked, you should make sure that the cardboard is large enough to cover at least six inches beyond any protruding stems.^{[9]
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4
Wait until the plant dies. In many cases, a week of light deprivation will cause the creeping charlie to wither and die, though depending on soil richness and other factors this can take longer. Peek under your light cover periodically to check whether or not the creeping charlie has died.
- When you notice that all parts of the creeping charlie are withered, shriveled, and lacking in green color, the plant should be dead.^{[10]
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5
Remove the plant and clear the area of remains. There is a risk of creeping charlie reseeding even after the plant has died. In order to prevent regrowth, you should gather up all of its plant matter, including roots, and dispose of it by throwing it away or burning.
- Be sure you wear gloves when handling or removing creeping charlie directly. Many people are allergic to this plant.^{[11]
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- Many places require you to request a burning permit to prevent false fire alarms. Be sure you have a burning permit before attempting to dispose this plant with fire.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Killing Creeping Charlie with Chemicals

1
Select a suitable herbicide to treat the creeping charlie. There are many herbicides you might use, though you should be aware this plant is resistant to many common treatments. Regular herbicides used for dandelion control won't likely be strong enough to kill creeping charlie.
- Three way herbicides, often called "trimec herbicides," should be prioritized, as the special compounds in these are effective at eliminating creeping charlie.^{[12]
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- Some herbicides may affect other plants around the creeping charlie. You should consult the label of your herbicide to understand the full effects before administering it.
- Some herbicides leave behind residue for a period of time after its application that can be harmful to children or animals. In these cases, you should block off the area and/or keep an eye around children and pets until the next rainfall or until your label indicates the herbicide has diminished to safe levels.
2
Treat the plant with herbicides in fall. This is the ideal time for chemical treatment of creeping charlie. At this time of year, the plant begins storing nutrient in the stem and root system for the winter. This means your herbicide treatment will have a greater effect on the plant.^{[13]
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- When using a herbicidal treatment, more is not always better. Follow the directions that came with your herbicide for best results.
3
Re-treat the creeping charlie in spring, if necessary.^{[14]
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Research source} Treating creeping charlie in the spring with herbicide is a useful follow-up to fall treatments, though spring applications won't be as effective. A follow-up spring application is best suited to severe or especially stubborn cases.^{[15]
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4
Apply annual treatments for best results. If you have a plot that is susceptible to creeping charlie, or if this plant is common in your area, even if you kill or remove it completely it'll likely spring up again from another source. In this situation, you'll likely have to apply herbicide yearly to your lawn to ensure the plant doesn't come back.
- You can also make your lawn less hospitable for creeping charlie by creating a bright sunlight environment by pruning shade casting branches.
- A thick cover of grass can also make your lawn less hospitable for creeping charlie. By planting grass that grows well in shade, it's less likely creeping charlie will pop up in shady areas that are more susceptible to the plant.^{[16]
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5
Use a natural method to control the plant. If you don't want to use chemicals on the plant, then you can always spay the creeping charlie with some horticultural vinegar. Other natural options for controlling the plant include adding lime to the soil along with calcium and magnesium. This will raise the pH levels of the soil and make it inhospitable to creeping charlie.

Expert Q&A
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Question

What chemical kills chickweed?

Maggie Moran
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Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

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Home & Garden Specialist

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Glyphosate herbicide is a great chemical to kill chickweed at the roots. Another way is to use ammonium sulfate dusted over the chickweed during the pre-dawn hours when there is still dew on the leaves.
Question

What kills creeping Charlie in your lawn?

Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist
Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran

Home & Garden Specialist

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The best treatment is a broadleaf herbicide. It is best if it contains the chemicals triclopyr or dicamba.
Question

What kills creeping Charlie naturally?

Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist
Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran

Home & Garden Specialist

Expert Answer

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Denying the creeping charlie of light will suffocate the plant and kill it. This can be achieved with about 2 inches of wood mulch.

Warnings

Although a Borax solution is sometimes recommended for killing creeping charlie, the application of this substance can have a significant negative effect on surrounding plant life and should be avoided.^{[17]
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