Creeping Charlie
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| Creeping Charlie | ||||||||||||||
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| Missing image Illustration_Glechoma_hederacea0.jpg Glechoma hederacea | ||||||||||||||
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Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea), also called Ground Ivy, of the Mint family (Lamiaceae), is a viney, invasive plant considered a weed in lawns.
It is a species with many variations. Its size is influenced by the environmental conditions.
It has small, round or reniform, crenate leaves on long stalks. The bluish-violet bilaterally symmetrical flowers grow in opposite clusters of 2-3 flowers in the leaf axils on the upper part of the four-sided stem.
It is a common plant in grasslands and wooded areas, or on wasteland. It is sometimes grown as a potted plant, and occasionally as a ground cover.
Weed Control
Creeping Charlie is a problem weed in heavy, rich soils with good fertility, high moisture, and low boron content. It thrives in shady areas where grass will not grow, though it can also be a problem in full sun.
Small infestations can be controlled through hand weeding. Repeated weeding is required because the plant is rhizomaceous and will continue to grow from its roots.
In larger lawns, a combination of cultural and chemical controls is most effective:
- Be sure there is sufficient sunlight reaching the lawn. Prune trees if necessary.
- Get soil tested for potash, phosphate, and boron content. Fertilize as required. If boron levels are low, apply sodium tetraborate pentahydrate at 50 pounds per acre (6 g/m²), either in late fall or early spring. Summer applications can injure the grass.
- Provide sufficient nitrogen for the grass each spring. Generally 120 pounds of N per acre (13 g/m²) is sufficient.
- Consider chemical control using a product containing triclopyr. Ortho Weed-B-Gone with the purple label is a triclopyr-based formulation. Triclopyr is a systemic, foliar herbicide that controls broadleaf weeds, particularly viney and woody plants. Turflon is a commercial product that contains triclopyr. Triclopyr is extremely toxic to most landscape plantings, particularly roses and grapes, and is prone to vapor drift. Apply in the morning on a cool day with a light breeze, in accordance with label instructions.
- Dicamba is also somewhat effective. It is active in the soil and taken up by the roots of the creeping Charlie, and will provide a modest amount of control, particularly if applied just before the plants flower. Trimec products and their generic equivalents contain dicamba. While vapor drift is not a major problem with these products, dicamba in the soil can accumulate to levels toxic to shallow-rooted trees with repeated applications or if excessive amounts are used. Measure carefully.
Generally the triclopyr will provide the most immediately visible results. But if a healthy stand of grass is not ready to take the place of the weeds, the weeds will return. Therefore, see to the health of the grass before using the chemicals.
Uses
While often thought of as a weed for its propensity for spreading, the plant has culinary and medicinal uses. It makes an excellent and tastely herb tea that is rich in vitamin C, and the the essential oil of the plant has many potent medicinal properties. The plant has been used for centuries as a general tonic for colds & coughs and its bio-chemical constituants are known to reduce inflammation and congestion of the mucus membranes. Pick a handful of the fresh herb, rinse it, and place in a teapot with hot water to create a pleasant, healthful tea.
External links
- Ground Ivy at altnature.com (http://altnature.com/gallery/Ground_Ivy.htm)de:Gundermann