How to Kill Creeping Charlie
How to kill creeping charlie with triclopyr-based herbicide. Timing, application method, and why standard weed killers don't work on ground ivy.
Standard 2,4-D products burn creeping charlie leaves but don't kill the stolon network. You need triclopyr as the active ingredient. Products like Ortho Weed B Gon Chickweed, Clover & Oxalis Killer or Crossbow contain triclopyr. Three-way herbicides with triclopyr plus 2,4-D plus dicamba are the strongest option.
October through early November is the most effective window. Creeping charlie is actively pulling nutrients into its stolon network for winter storage, carrying herbicide deep into the runner system. Spring treatment (May) works as a second option but typically requires more follow-up applications.
Use a pump sprayer and wet every leaf surface until the liquid just begins to drip. Creeping charlie's round leaves shed water, so add a surfactant (sticker) to improve adhesion. Spray on a calm day (wind under 5 mph) between 60 and 80 degrees. Do not spray when rain is expected within 24 hours.
One application rarely kills the entire stolon network. The second application catches regrowth from runners that survived the first treatment. If significant creeping charlie remains after two applications, wait until the following fall and repeat the cycle.
Dead creeping charlie leaves behind bare patches, especially in shaded areas. Overseed with a shade-tolerant grass mix (fine fescue) in the same fall window. If the area is too shaded for any grass, consider a ground cover like pachysandra or mulch rather than fighting a losing battle with turf.
