Creeping Charlie

Creeping Charlie

Garden Clippings for May 10, 2025

A year ago, when it was still acceptable behavior to travel to the US, I attended a conference at Grand Rapids, Michigan. The hotel grounds were smartly landscaped and carefully maintained to the highest level. The grass, which I mistook for artificial, was deep green and manicured, without a weed to be found.

In Michigan, where there are no restrictions on pesticides, it is possible to have a weed free lawn. Gardeners and groundskeepers can go to their local nursery, home improvement warehouse or grocery store and buy chemicals to keep their grass clean and bugs away.

Here in Ontario and by now all of Canada, we’ve grown to tolerate the uninvited into our lawns, and for the most part, we are happier for it. Oh, we still have a few fussy homeowners who through considerable effort manage to keep the weeds away, but most lawns are like mine: lots of grass, dotted with quite a few interruptions.

Creeping Charlie is the weed I am asked about most. Also known as Ground Ivy, Catsfoot and Field Balm, Creeping Charlie is an aggressive weed that some will appreciate, but most will loathe.

A member of the mint family, Creeping Charlie has been used to make tea, treat colds, relieve headaches and treat minor bruises. That said, my primary care provider is not likely to prescribe Creeping Charlie for any of my ailments.

For those who would like to see an end to Creeping Charlie in turf, the time to tackle the issue is early in spring when ground is moist, and roots are easy to pull. Using a stiff garden rake, vigorously scratch the soil, pulling up as many roots and stems as possible. You will find roots are easy to pull out while grass will remain in place. It is not necessary to pull 100 percent of the roots.

Next, sow a good quality grass seed that contains a blend of Perennial Rye, Kentucky Bluegrass and Turf-type Fescue. Apply at a rate of 1 kg seed spread over 50 sq metres of area. (1 lb over 200 sq ft). Hopefully, the weather will cooperate with sunshine and periodic rain. Adding water frequently and lightly will speed up the process.

Within a week or two the seeded areas will be noticeably green and within a month your grass may be ready to cut. Once you’ve cut it twice, add fertilizer to encourage roots to spread and shoots to grow. Your diligence will drown out the unwanted Creeping Charlie.

Common Blue Violet is the other lawn guest that invades grass, particularly in tough shady areas where desirable turf struggles. Like its cousin the delightful Pansy, Blue Violets bloom in the cool spring, subside in summer, and blooms again in fall when cool weather returns.

Those with relaxed gardens may want to bring Blue Violets’ flowers and leaves into the kitchen to take advantage of rich levels of Vitamin C. Or leave them in the garden for pollinators to enjoy.

If Blue Violets are on your nasty list, be prepared for battle. Hand digging is effective, but difficult to capture all the roots. A double layer of cardboard put down for a month will cut off photosynthesis and smother the growth. Once that’s done, apply grass seed as described above and fertilize after the second grass cut.

Your best defense against weeds is a healthy lawn. Good lawn maintenance practice includes proper mowing, fertilizing, aeration and careful water control.