Q: Dear Daisy,
I've discovered there is a creeper in my garden. A creeper named Charlie, specifically. Is there anything that can be done to keep this dude at bay? He's EVERYWHERE!
A: Despite the cuteness of the name Charlie, which might make you think of Charlie Brown, the only similarity is that both Charlies will survive almost anything. Creeping Charlie is the cockroach of the plant world: stubborn, persistent, and almost indestructible. We can thank European ancestors for helping spread it around the globe.
Firstly, it’s a member of the mint family and so is potentially edible for humans, not that I’ve ever heard of anyone eating it. I’ve read that cattle, horses, and other domestic animals can get sick from eating too much of it, especially horses. How much is too much? No idea. So I can’t recommend it as part of your daily fruit and veg. Its Latin name is glechoma hederacea. Its common names are: ground ivy (but it’s not an ivy), gill over the ground (where does that come from?) alehoof, tun hoof, cat’s foot, field balm (it does have a similar look to lemon balm), and run-away robin. It is not to be confused with creeping Jenny, which is a poorly behaved member of the primrose family.
Secondly, it spreads and spreads and spreads. The smallest piece can reroot, so yes, you will spread it by mowing.
Thirdly, it secretes a substance that prevents surrounding plants from competing with it. A completely bad actor!
You can try all the normal organic ways to get rid of it. Smother it with cardboard and mulch, black plastic, pull it out constantly, or just live with it and keep it out of your gardens as best as you can. If you must use an herbicide, and I cannot and do not recommend them, I recommend you hire a professional who will have the right training and equipment.
Can you live with it? Some pollinators use the blue flowers. It is a drought-tolerant ground cover. I pull it out whenever I see it, but I know it’s always there, spreading and growing. It may not quite rise to the level of having a horror movie made about it, though I think it deserves one.
