Getting Rid of Ground Ivy in Your Landscaping

Getting Rid of Ground Ivy in Your Landscaping

Ground ivy, also known as creeping Charlie, gill-over-the-ground, field balm, or run away robin, can be quite an annoyance in your landscaping. Whether you simply have too much of it in your yard or your pets are eating it, or you simply don’t like the look of it – you are probably wondering how to get rid of it and keep it out of your landscaping.

Here is our guide to ground ivy, whether or not you should remove it, and how to do so efficiently.

Should Ground Ivy Be Removed?

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Attribution: Jay Sturner from the USA, no changes made. 

So, before we discuss how to prevent and remove ground ivy, let’s talk about whether or not you should remove it in the first place. Are there are benefits to having the ivy?

While, yes, it can be extremely disruptive to your lawns, it does also have some pros as well. Ivy can be a beautiful, decorative part of a landscape or even as potted plants on your deck or in your home. Ivy is also great for bees, and some people even use it to flavor drinks or to help remedy colds.

However, even with these benefits, it can be a really big hassle for homeowners. Unless you really stay on top of it and keep its growth in check, it can become unruly very, very quickly. Lastly, this weed can easily wrap around and strangle other plants growing nearby if it isn’t cut back and watched.

So, unless you are really interested in seeing it in your landscaping and want to regularly cut it back and manage it, it’s best to prevent and remove ground ivy when you see it.

Now let’s talk about how to prevent ground ivy.

Preventing Ground Ivy

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To prevent ground ivy, you essentially want to remove the elements that it typically thrives in. The weed does best in a moist, shady place, and it won’t avoid empty or weak areas.

Pruning your trees, shrubs, and hedges to eliminate some extra shade is a great way to help avoid ground ivy. You can also overseed any bare patches in your grass to discourage growth and consider watering your lawn less frequently to avoid additional moisture.

You should also make sure you are taking the best care of your lawn possible. Not only should you be mowing regularly, but you should make sure you are aerating your grass and fertilizing as well. Doing this will help keep any invasive weeds away.

Getting Rid of Ground Ivy

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Attribution: Ian Cunliffe / Ground Ivy - Glechoma hederacea, no changes made. 

Obviously the easiest solution to getting rid of ground ivy is by using a herbicide, but this is only a good idea if this weed is nowhere near any of your trees, plants, or flowers. Otherwise, you could be killing plants that you actually want to keep.

If you do need to go the route of using an herbicide, it’s best to use one that actually includes the name “ground ivy” on the label for ideal results. Use your preferred herbicide when the weed is at its peak growth.

You can also pull it up by hand, you just need to be meticulous about it. Meaning that you will need to remove all of the roots as well, otherwise, it will grow right back the next season.

Contacting a Landscaper to Help You with Ground Ivy

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If you need to remove ground ivy or contain it in your landscaping, you may want to consider contacting a local landscaping professional to assist you.

For those of you in the San Francisco Bay Area, Homescape Now is an optimal choice for handling your weed and pest control. Contact us today for assistance!

Main photo attribution: Melissa McMasters from Memphis, TN, United States, no changes were made