With the removal of Imprelis from the marketplace, treating
stubborn weeds like Ground Ivy (Creeping Charlie) has become a bit more
complicated. Last fall we spent some
time looking for an alternative Creeping Charlie weed control that showed some
promise and our research suggested that there were a few weed control products
that were effective when applied in mid to late fall. I recently attended a winter tree care &
lawn care trade show attended by a range of green industry professionals, and
had a chance to talk with a golf course superintendant about this weed control
strategy. I was gratified to discover
that our intended plan of action was the same as his and he reported very good
success in controlling Creeping Charlie on his golf course fairways.
That said, be aware that Creeping Charlie is a weed that we
cannot make go away overnight. It
prefers to grow in part shade and these areas have turf that usually is not as
robust in its growth habits. The plant
has a very waxy leaf that resists absorption of lawn weed controls. Strategies revolve around spraying Creeping
Charlie in early spring when the leaves are tender and again in the fall as
noted above. Depending on the severity
of the Creeping Charlie infestation, it may take a couple seasons of
applications to rein it in, but it can be managed with persistence.
