Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Get Rid of Creeping Ivy
How to Get Rid of Creeping Ivy. Creeping ivy goes by a number of names, such as creeping Charlie, ground ivy, gill-on-the-ground or creeping Jenny. Once the creeping ivy starts to grow, it can quickly take over an area. On some creeping ivy, the stems will root wherever they make contact with the ground. It is hard to completely get rid of creeping...
Creeping ivy goes by a number of names, such as creeping Charlie, ground ivy, gill-on-the-ground or creeping Jenny. Once the creeping ivy starts to grow, it can quickly take over an area. On some creeping ivy, the stems will root wherever they make contact with the ground. It is hard to completely get rid of creeping ivy, but with diligence, their numbers can be decreased.
Things You'll Need
Garden gloves
Black plastic, old carpeting or newspaper
Broadleaf herbicide
Borax
5-gallon bucket
Put on garden gloves to protect your hands. Pull the creeping ivy from the ground by hand. This works well in small areas. Throw the creeping ivy into the trash. Do not put the creeping ivy into the compost pile or it will continue to grow.
Cover the invaded area with black plastic, old carpeting or newspaper, five or more pages thick. Leave the cover on for one year. The creeping ivy will not receive sunlight or water and will die. If using black plastic, the sun will cook the creeping ivy. Obviously, if newspaper is used, it will have to be replaced from time to time.
Spray the area with a broadleaf herbicide made to kill ivy plants. Mix and apply after the first frost in mid- to late autumn according to label directions. A second application may be applied after the plants bloom, in April to June. If the ivy is growing with other plants, carefully read the label or discuss with a professional at a garden supply store or university extension service which herbicide will work best.
Spray the area with a mixture of 5 tsp. borax with 1 qt. warm water. Stir until the borax is dissolved. Spray the area every year. For a bigger amount, mix 1/4 cup borax with 5 gallons water. This can be poured into a watering can and distributed onto the weeds. It may take several applications.
Tips & Warnings
Research at the University of Wisconsin and Iowa State University has found that borax may not be very effective. If too much is used, it can injure other plants and grass. Borax contains boron, and too much of it is toxic to all plants.
