Ground ivy has almost gotten the better of me this spring. After a long, wet winter, it seems to have infiltrated every corner of our garden. And I mean, I’m finding it everywhere right now, including my lawn and edges. It’s well and truly winning the weed battle, and I’m at a loss as to what to do about it.
I have tried the usual ways Get rid of weeds fast And eliminate them naturallyPulling it here and there and hoping for the best. However, it became clear very quickly that this was not a weed that you could deal with like I did.
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(Image credit: Getty Images/Natalia Gritsenko)
What makes getting rid of ground ivy so difficult?
Ground ivy, also known as creeping charlie, is deceptively beautiful and beneficial Garden wildlifeBut it’s persistent, too, which explains why my initial efforts barely made a dent. Lucy Bradley, gardening expert Easy Garden IrrigationExplains that it can even grow back from a small piece of root or stem you leave behind when you try to remove it.
‘If that’s not bad enough, simply breaking the stems of ground ivy actually promotes vigorous growth,’ adds Lucy.
From Liam Cleary Old Railway Line Garden Centre, Also explains that ground ivy is one of them weed Which really shows its strength after winter.
‘It looks like it took over almost overnight, but in reality, it’s been quietly spreading underground for months, ready to grow as soon as conditions improve. That’s why many gardeners feel they’re suddenly fighting a full-on invasion.’
‘The main issue with ground ivy is that what you see above the soil is part of the problem,’ he says. ‘It spreads by creeping stems that root, so even small pieces left behind can regenerate quickly. That’s what makes it so persistent and frustrating to fully articulate.’
So now that I’m officially full of terror, what can you do to get rid of it?
Best Ways to Get Rid of Ground Ivy
Lucy advises that you will need to be patient and persistent when dealing with ground ivy, as you will need to work hard to remove all the foliage and roots.
And if you’re just looking to cut your losses and leave the herbicide out, Richard explains that it may not always be the most effective idea and may require several applications to see any effects because it’s moisture-resistant.
So, take a deep breath and here goes… Here are three expert-approved methods to get rid of this infamous way. invasive weeds.
1. Manual removal
(Image credit: Getty Images/Caroline Munsterman)
Liam explains that one of the most effective long-term approaches is simply consistency. ‘Regularly checking and pulling new growth before it’s properly established makes a bigger difference than a big clearance effort. It’s about exhausting the plant slowly rather than expecting instant improvements,’ he explains.
And Lucy says spring is the perfect time to manually remove ground ivy from your garden, before its roots are strong and well established and before it flowers and seeds.
‘Ideally, remove after it rains so the soil is moist, or water a few hours before starting work, so it’s easier to remove the roots from the soil,’ she advises. ‘Your aim is to remove all the foliage and roots, so I use a hand-held grubber like this. Gardena Combisystem Hand Weeder, £10.10 from Amazonwith a scratch that easily dislodges the runners and allows me to disturb the soil to facilitate rooting.’
Liam says if the soil is dry, the stems start to break, which you don’t want with a plant like this, so making sure the soil is moist is key, even if it hasn’t rained for a while.
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Lucy Bradley recommends a good weed grubber and this is a great choice at a reasonable price.
(Image credit: Getty Images/Eva Catalin)
2. Mulching
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Lucy explains that a great chemical-free way to clear large areas of ground ivy is ground mulching.
‘Mulching or covering affected areas can also help reduce its spread by blocking light, but is not the only solution,’ adds Liam. ‘Think of it as an auxiliary control rather than removing it. It will slow down the plant, but you still need to be on top of any shoots that find their way in.’
It’s a long-term project though, adds Lucy, which could mean it could take about six to twelve months to eradicate your target weed.
‘The aim of sheet mulching is to smother the ivy to the ground, prevent light from reaching it so it can’t grow, and once it uses up the energy stored in its roots, it dies – so the process needs to be patient,’ suggests Lucy.
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‘Cut as little ground ivy as possible,’ says Lucy with horticulturist Richard Barker. LBS HorticultureUsing a streamer or cultivator (mine Ryobi Cordless Handheld Cultivator, £139.95 at Amazon is the perfect tool to remove top growth), then Water the area, and then cover with overlapping sheets of cardboard or Newspaperwhich you should then water.’
‘Then compost, bark chips (this The 60L bag is great value, £19.99 from Amazon) or other mulches (we rate RocketGro Magic Mulch, £18.98 at Amazon here) and leave at least six months for the process to take effect.’
Richard adds that to ensure this is fully effective, the soil will need to be covered for a few years, topped with a layer of mulch when necessary. You can also consider doing some effective planting Plant ground cover to prevent spreadAs I have done with Creeping phlox.
3. Boiling water
(Image credit: Getty Images/Natalia Gritsenko)
If you want a quick way to remove the foliage and shallow roots of ground ivy, then pouring boiling water over the base and leaves will do, explains Lucy.
Hot water tears apart the plant cells and the plant withers and dies. However, any plants near ground ivy can also be damaged, so you need to be careful,’ she explains.
‘Also, because it’s unlikely to reach the long tap root and kill it, you’ll need to watch for regrowth and repeat the process.’
How to prevent ground ivy from coming back
It turns out that consistency is key in the battle against ground ivy. ‘Don’t treat ground ivy like you can remove it in one session,’ explains Liam. The gardeners who get the best results are those who are consistent over time and chip away at it until it finally loses its grip.’
Richard suggests that you should monitor any areas where you’ve previously removed ground ivy to check that it’s not re-emerging, as catching the plants when they’re young helps prevent them from taking over again.
Lucy advises that you also need to be careful when disposing of the ground ivy you remove from your garden. ‘If you want to try adding it to your compost, it needs to go in either Hot compost bin Where temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius will kill the plant.
Or you need to either dry it or seal it in a black plastic bag for months until it turns to sludge, and then add it to your compost pile. Otherwise, add it to yours Green waste collection.
Ground ivy can be one of the most stubborn weeds I’ve ever had to deal with, but as you’ve read, there are ways to defeat it. Now I know I can’t just treat it as a quick weekend weeding job and start tackling it more strategically.
And if your garden is like mine in winter, know that you are not alone. With the right approach to this pesky weed, you can definitely gain the upper hand again. Take that creepy Charlie!
