Ground ivy, Creeping Charlie and Gill-over-the-ground are all names for what I consider a highly invasive weed that I swear, grows faster than green corn through the new maid. In fact, ground ivy is far from just a weed. It is a creeping perennial herb brought to our land from our European ancestors as a ground cover. We can blame Uncle Angus or Aunt Brunhilda, but they really had our best interests in mind. They were looking for an attractive ground cover that was easy to maintain and grew in both sun and shade. They were partial to ground ivy because of its array of medicinal properties. It was used for inflammation, indigestion, as a sedative, and even for clarifying beer before hops was introduced. House painters actually cultivated it and would use it in a tonic they believed would clear their eyes after being exposed to lead paint.
There is no doubt the medicinal value exists; however, it is the one plant I dont want anywhere near my garden. I dont pay too much attention to it in the lawn because I am of the belief if its green, its alright with me. We use no toxic chemicals beyond borax, baking soda and vinegar in the Avant Garden, so broad leaf killers usually consist of my hand tightly covered in a garden glove, a hand trowel and lots and lots of attitude.
Pulling ground ivy in the garden is actually pretty easy. The only problem is it has a rhizomatous root system that continues to grow even after it has been yanked, pulled, stepped on and cursed at. If you miss one small piece, trust me, it will grow. Using a hoe to control ground ivy in the garden can be effective, but do it when the ground is dry and the sun is hot so the roots dont have time recover.
Some gardeners actually grow ground ivy on purpose to block out other weeds. I consider these gardeners to be crazy and in need of intense therapy, but they have their reasons, I suppose. You can purchase ground ivy seeds and starts from various sources. So far there is no chance of your name getting on a watch list for doing this, but if you arent suffering from severe indigestion, lead poisoning or brewing beer, your neighbors might demand an explanation as to why you are perpetuating the scourge of the garden.
Despite its bitter taste, ground ivy smells wonderful. It is a member of the mint family and rightfully so. Its clean, fresh smell is delightful, especially after it has been cut or mowed.
Using a solution of 10 ounces Borax dissolved in four ounces warm water and then mixed with two and a half gallons of water will slow the growth and even kill ground ivy in gardens and lawns. Borax contains boron, an important plant micronutrient. By dousing it with too much at once, you are effectively poisoning the ivy with a toxic amount. In doing so, you might also kill other plants.
Never put pulled ground ivy in your compost pile. It will haunt you forever. Treat it as non-compostable yard waste.
We might never fully remove all weeds from the garden, but it is more important to maintain than eradicate. Perfect gardens do exist but not in my world. Mother Nature is powerful. She certainly keeps me on my toes or knees rather, maintaining the ground ivy in the garden.
