Creeping Charlie Update

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.