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 Ground ivy
 

A. Creeping Woodsorrel

Sorry, but that’s incorrect. The weed shown is actually ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea). Also called creeping Charlie, it is an aromatic, perennial creeper that thrives particularly in moist, shady areas, but also can tolerate the sun very well.

It can be identified by its round or fan-shape, with round-toothed edges. It is a highly variable species as it relates to size, with its square stem ranging from 5 cm up to 50 cm tall depending on environmental conditions. The flowers generally bloom in spring and are funnel-shaped, bluish-purple petals. In addition, ground ivy, being a member of the mint family, emits a distinctive odor when damaged.

Native to Europe, creeping Charlie has adapted to the soils of North America. It’s fairly common in most regions of the U.S. except for the Rocky Mountains. A big reason for the spread of this ground ivy is its rhizomatous method of reproduction.

To control ground ivy using a postemergence herbicide, we recommend one of the following treatments on labeled sites:

  • LockUp® specialty herbicide provides control of ground ivy as well as dollarweed. Granular formulations of LockUp on fertilizer are available from The Andersons, Harrell’s, Howard’s Fertilizer, Howard Johnson’s Enterprises, John Deere Landscapes, LebanonTurf and Regal Chemical Company. See product label for proper rates.
  • Turflon® Ester Ultra specialty herbicide at 0.5 to 1 quart per acre as a broadcast treatment from early spring through fall when weeds are actively growing.