How to Get Rid of Creeping Charlie

Creeping Charlie weed is a green vine whose leaves are round with scalloped edges and has a small purple flower.

Tools Needed to get rid of Creeping Charlie:

• Weed trimmer
• bow rake
• garbage bag
• 1 large container
• shovel
• 1 cubic foot of compost
• 2 lbs of good quality grass seed
• water
• straw (optional)

Before beginning removal, let the creeping charlie grow slightly high.

The best time to get rid of Creeping Charlie is after a good rain.

Step 1:

Using a weed trimmer, run the trimmer over the top leaf/flower and get as low to the soil level as possible.  If using a mower, use the lowest setting.

Step 2:

Use the bow rake to pull up any loose Creeping Charlie vines still on the ground.

Step 3:

Collect all the Creeping Charlie in a pile and discard into a garbage bag.

Don’t be surprised if after removing the Creeping Charlie there are bare spots left on your lawn.

Step 4:

Mix the compost and grass seed together.

Step 5:

Pour the compost/seed mix onto the area.

Using the flat side of the bow rake, spread the mix and rake evenly.

You should have a layer about 1-2 inches high.

Step 6:

Water until moist. Do not soak the mix or cause puddles to form.

Cover with straw. (0ptional)

Let the new grass grow fairly tall before the first mowing.

Tip: Be picky about the compost you choose.

If you don’t have your own home made available, purchase good quality. You don’t want compost full of weed seeds.

About the author:

Edith (Edie) Henderson-Villegas is from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

She is currently a college student studying horticulture.

She is in the beginning stage of starting a native plant business called Let’s Get Native. Her new website will launch on Jan 1, 2015, at www.letsgetnative.com