Why Ground Ivy Takes Over: Causes and Solutions for a Balanced Lawn

Weeds are never things you want showing up in your Northeast Ohio lawn.

They look nasty, sticking out in your otherwise perfect grass, casting blemishes on your whole yard, making you embarrassed to go outside. And since they tend to double and triple after appearing, they can quite quickly take over. 

In actuality, thousands upon thousands of weed seeds can survive in your lawn soil for years before they germinate and grow in your grass, so you’re not imagining things when they appear and seem to multiply overnight. Those seeds are just embracing the opportunities they get to germinate when conditions that enable them to grow show up. 

As you try and battle weeds, it’s important to know which ones you’re fighting so you can property and permanently eliminate them. 

Since every weed is unique, each one has different methods of control to ensure they don’t return. Some are best controlled before they emerge, while others are best handled afterward. 

One tough weed we face in Northeast Ohio is ground ivy. Let’s talk about ground ivy in your lawn and how to get rid of ground ivy so you can better prepare your weed management plans, including answering these questions:

• What does ground ivy in your lawn look like? (jump to section below)
• Where does ground ivy in your lawn grow? (jump to section below)
• When does ground ivy in your lawn tend to appear? (jump to section below)

Learning About Ground Ivy In Your Lawn

Weeds are very stealthy. They like to spring up whenever they get the chance. You don’t want those weeds emerging throughout the growing season, taking away from the overall beauty and enjoyment of your Northeast Ohio lawn.

Ground ivy in your lawn is one of them. This weed, also referred to as creeping Charlie, has some distinct characteristics. Here, we’ll dive into them. 

What Does Ground Ivy In Your Lawn Look Like?

When you're looking for ground ivy in your lawn, you’re looking for large patches of green, low-growing foliage. 

These dense mats of small, rounded, scalloped leaves will spread across the lawn. Its roots can grow deep underground. 

In spring, this weed will get small, purple flowers.  

Where Does Ground Ivy In Your Lawn Grow?

Ground ivy in your lawn loves moist, shady conditions, where it often takes the opportunity to spread unchecked. 

Moist soil conditions accelerate creeping Charlie’s growth and spread. This can take place under trees or in areas that receive limited sunlight. 

This weed prefers thin, weak grass, where it can outcompete other plants by forming dense mats with its creeping stems and roots. It thrives in unhealthy grass. 

When Does Ground Ivy In Your Lawn Tend To Appear?

Ground ivy in your lawn can usually sprout up in spring and fall. 

These times of the year are when the plant is actively growing. This happens particularly in May and June. Creeping Charlie has an aggressive growth habit with a vine-like root system that readily sends out new shoots that enable this rapid expansion. 

How to Get Rid of Creeping Charlie

Since this perennial weed returns annually and can grow multiple sets of roots, controlling it can become a challenge.

Try these strategies for effective and efficient ground ivy removal. 

Start With a Healthy Lawn

A thin, weak lawn is more susceptible to getting ground ivy in your lawn. So you want to do the things that can make your lawn thicker and healthier to prevent it from taking over your Northeast Ohio lawn. 

This means mowing to a 3.5- to 4-inch height, watered appropriately (not too much and not too little) and adding the proper balance of nutrients through regular fertilization. Annual aeration can also help keep soil compaction down. Follow that up with overseeding to help fill in thin areas. 

These proper care practices create a healthier, thicker, stronger lawn that can withstand weeds like ground ivy. To prevent overly shady areas, make sure to also trim your tree branches that hang over lawn areas to ensure they receive adequate sunlight.

Weed Control: How to Get Rid of Ground Ivy

When it comes to additional strategies in addition to proper lawn care to get rid of creeping Charlie, professional lawn care companies will use weed control applications for ground ivy removal. 

This approach usually involves using selective herbicides multiple times during the growing season to manage this aggressive weed. 

Ready to Fight Ground Ivy In Your Lawn? 

You want a lawn care program that focuses on year-round lawn health. Since nothing crowds out weeds like thick grass, this can help you get rid of all types of weeds in Northeast Ohio, including creeping Charlie.

If you feel like you’re constantly fighting ground ivy in your lawn, then it might be time to partner with a professional lawn care company in Northeast Ohio. Turf Pride can help! We deliver a customized approach to boost overall lawn health and get rid of weeds like ground ivy. Then you can enjoy a better looking, healthier lawn as a result.

Is waging war on weeds like ground ivy keeping you from having a lawn you can be proud of? Turf Pride would love to learn more about your lawn challenges. Get started today with a free quote. Together, we’ll prepare a customized plan for lawn care services in Northeast OH that leads you to the best choice for you and your lawn.  

Image Source: Ground Ivy, Ground Ivy 1, Ground Ivy 2