How to Get Rid of Creeping Charlie in Wisconsin Lawns (What Actually Works)
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Quick answer: The most effective way to get rid of creeping charlie in a Wisconsin lawn is a broadleaf herbicide containing triclopyr, applied between mid-September and mid-October, with a follow-up treatment — then thickening the turf so it can't creep back in. Borax doesn't work, hand-pulling established patches backfires, and one spray is never the end of it.
No weed generates more calls in Sheboygan County than creeping charlie. Here's how to identify it, why your lawn invited it, and the plan that actually clears it.
What Does Creeping Charlie Look Like?
Round, scallop-edged leaves about the size of a quarter, on square stems. It's in the mint family, and you'll catch a sharp minty-herbal smell when you mow through a patch. In April and May it throws small purple funnel-shaped flowers.
The real giveaway is how it moves. Creeping stems called stolons run along the ground and root at every node, knitting into a mat that crowds turf out. It's the same plant as ground ivy; older folks call it gill-over-the-ground.
You'll usually spot it first where lawn meets something else: along the garage, at bed edges, under the swing set. People sometimes confuse it with wild violet, which loves the same shady spots, but violets grow in clumps with heart-shaped leaves and no running stems. If the patch smells minty when you mow it, it's creeping charlie.
Why Do Sheboygan Lawns Get Creeping Charlie?
Three conditions, usually together: shade, moist rich soil, and thin turf. It starts on the north side of the house, under mature maples, along fence lines — anywhere grass grows half-hearted — then expands outward.
Our cool, damp lake-effect springs suit it perfectly, which is why the older tree-lined blocks of Sheboygan and Sheboygan Falls see so much of it. And mowing doesn't faze it; cut it all season and the stolons keep running under the grass canopy.
It also rarely arrives alone. It creeps in from neglected bed edges, fence lines, and woodlot borders, so treating the lawn without tidying those edges just schedules a rematch.
What Actually Kills Creeping Charlie?
A selective broadleaf herbicide with triclopyr on the label. Products sold for chickweed, clover, and oxalis usually carry it. Selective means it targets broadleaf weeds while sparing the bluegrass, ryegrass, and fescue that make up Sheboygan lawns.
Timing matters more than brand:
| When to treat | How well it works | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fall: mid-September to mid-October, right around the first light frosts | Best window of the year | The plant is pulling energy down to its roots for winter and carries the herbicide with it |
| Spring: bloom time, roughly May | Second best | Actively growing, flowering plants absorb herbicide well, but spring rain and regrowth work against you |
| Summer | Poor | Heat-stressed, waxy leaves take in very little, and the risk of lawn injury rises |
Plan on treating more than once. Established patches almost always need a repeat application, and heavy infestations often take a second season to fully clear.
A few rules that make each application count: spray on a calm, dry day when temperatures are above 50 degrees, skip mowing for a couple of days before and after so there's plenty of leaf surface to absorb the product, and don't expect instant drama. The mat yellows and thins over two to three weeks.
Rather not babysit a spray schedule? Our maintenance programs include weed control timed to these exact windows, so creeping charlie never gets a foothold. Request a free quote, call or text (630) 460-7320, or message us on Facebook.
What Doesn't Work?
Borax. The old home remedy of dissolving borax in water has been tested and retired. UW-Madison Extension specifically recommends against it: the boron dose is nearly impossible to get right, it damages turf, control is unreliable, and boron lingers in the soil.
Hand-pulling established patches. Every stolon fragment you miss roots again. Pulling is fine for a few fresh sprigs in a garden bed after rain, not for a lawn infestation.
One-and-done spraying. Survivors regrow from roots and stolons that got a partial dose. Treat, watch for regrowth, and treat again.
The Long-Term Fix Is a Lawn Too Thick to Invade
Herbicide clears the ground. Dense turf is what keeps it. Creeping charlie exploits thin, shaded, damp lawns, so the permanent fix is changing those conditions.
- Mow at 3 to 3.5 inches. Taller grass shades the soil surface where stolons try to root. Here's our full guide to mowing height.
- Overseed thin, shady areas from mid-August to mid-September with a shade-tolerant mix heavy on fine fescue. Our guide to the best grass seed for Sheboygan lawns covers what to buy.
- Fix the light and moisture. Thin out low tree limbs where you can, and water deeply but infrequently instead of keeping the soil constantly damp.
- Renovate severe cases. When creeping charlie makes up most of the ground cover, killing the area and reseeding beats fighting it for years.
This is the half most homeowners skip, and it's why the same lawns fight the same patch every year. Killing it and thickening the turf are two halves of one job; do only the first and you've bought a year, not a fix.
Our Sheboygan County lawn care calendar puts these timings on one page. And if your sunny driveway edge has its own invader, here's our guide to crabgrass, the other weed everyone asks about.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kills creeping charlie without killing grass?
A selective broadleaf herbicide containing triclopyr kills creeping charlie without harming established cool-season lawn grasses. Check the active ingredients for triclopyr; products labeled for chickweed, clover, and oxalis usually contain it. Always follow the label rates.
When should I spray creeping charlie in Wisconsin?
Mid-September to mid-October is the most effective window, right as the plant moves energy to its roots for winter. Spring bloom time, around May, is second best. Summer spraying mostly wastes product and risks lawn injury.
Does borax kill creeping charlie?
No, not reliably, and UW-Madison Extension specifically recommends against the borax home remedy. The dose is nearly impossible to control, it damages turf, and excess boron persists in the soil. Use a triclopyr-based product instead.
Will creeping charlie come back after treatment?
Often, yes. Expect a repeat application, and assume stubborn patches need attention the following season. The lawns where it stays gone are the ones that got thicker afterward through proper mowing height, fall overseeding, and better light and drainage.
Is creeping charlie the same as ground ivy?
Yes. Creeping charlie, ground ivy, and gill-over-the-ground are all common names for the same plant, Glechoma hederacea. It's a creeping perennial in the mint family, which explains the square stems and the smell when you mow it.
Tired of losing the shade war? Request a free quote, call or text (630) 460-7320, or message us on Facebook, and we'll build a plan for your lawn.
About Sunny Stripes
Sunny Stripes is a family-owned landscaping company based in Sheboygan, WI, serving homeowners and businesses across Sheboygan County — including Sheboygan, Kohler, the Town of Wilson, Sheboygan Falls, and Plymouth. From weekly mowing, trimming, and edging to garden beds, mulch and rock installs, seasonal cleanups, and commercial grounds care, we handle the details other crews skip. Call or text (630) 460-7320, email carl@sunnystripes.com, or request a quote online. Follow our latest projects on Facebook.