Depending on who is doing the talking, ground ivy can be classified as either an aggressive, uncontrollable lawn weed or a fast-growing, attractive ground cover. Also commonly called Creeping Charlie, ground ivy is a member of the mint family, a family that includes some seriously invasive individuals.  As far as growth habit and rapid spread are concerned, ground ivy is a contender, so beware.   

Ground Ivy is a sprawling, warm season perennial with the characteristic square stems (which are often purple) of mint family members.  When brushed or crushed, the rounded, scalloped leaves emit a pleasant minty scent and the dainty, rather inconspicuous flowers are violet in color.  Left to its own devices, ground ivy will spread quickly and aggressively, choking out lawn grasses and other shorter and weaker plants.  However, it really doesn't seem to affect taller plants and bulbs much at all, and its thick spread does effectively crowd out and eventually eliminate less attractive garden invaders such as crabgrass. 

In the wild, ground ivy tends to proliferate in somewhat shady, moist areas, but it will also tolerate hot, dry, full sun positions.  It has few pest problems and spreads by creeping stems that root at the nodes.  You won't find ground ivy at the garden center in the spring, so the only way to get it may be from someone who is plagued by it, and they will willingly let you have all you can use.

If you are a brave soul who wants to try ground ivy as a ground cover, make sure you have a good-sized barrier to hold it in check, or it will jump over and quickly choke out grass and other low-growing ornamentals.  For those who consider it a weed, there is unfortunately no good way to eliminate it unless only a very small area is involved.  Good garden practices and regular mowing are helpful, along with hand pulling whenever you see new individuals.  For more severe infestations, pre-emergent herbicides don't seem to work too well, but post-emergents can help when done carefully in the fall after the weather cools.  Alternately, multiple tillings (this will take commitment) and reseeding of grass may be the only way out in severe cases.  Beware, though, that tilling ground ivy may make your problems even worse, as each node is capable of producing a new plant. 

It is really a shame that ground ivy is such an aggressive little plant, as it can be quite attractive as a ground cover with other flowering ornamentals spaced throughout.  It also has well-known medicinal properties, and a pleasant smell - two good qualities that somewhat redeem it from abject categorization as a noxious weed.

Message Board

Gardens Ablaze Home