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Creeping Charlie removal #928549

Asked April 16, 2026, 7:36 AM EDT

I have a backyard full of Creeping Charlie. How can I begin removing it? I would like to plant native garden plants in a large area and I am wondering how to do this in an economical way.

Ramsey County Minnesota

Expert Response

Hi Terry, 

Thanks for reaching out! There are some good tips on these pages for removal:

1.https://extension.umn.edu/weeds/ground-ivy 

2.https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialplants/herbaceous/creepingcharlie.html

If you don't want to use herbicides, you might wish to consider solarization (https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/solarization-occultation). 

It can be quite tough to remove creeping charlie. A strong and healthy lawn is often a solution to prevent it from returning, so you will want to grow dense native plants if possible. Here is an alternative perspective that might be worth considering too: https://northerngardener.org/creeping-charlie/

I hope this helps! 

An Ask Extension Expert Replied April 16, 2026, 5:25 PM EDT

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