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Does your yard have creeping Charlie weed? This can be a problem, especially if the weeds are too much.
Creeping Charlie is scientifically known as glechoma hederacea. This weed tends to grow in moist and shady areas.
People in the US once used Creeping Charlie as a ground cover. When it started spreading, they noticed that it was a pest and stopped using it.
If you leave it unattended, it will spread to other parts of your lawn. You can remove this weed using your hands if the problem is minor.
However, if your yard has developed a lot of this weed, the best solution is to use Borax.
How to get rid of creeping Charlie with Borax is simple if you follow the right steps.
How can you identify Creeping Charlie?
It’s easy to identify Creeping Charlie because its leaves have a unique coin shape and rounded-toothed edges. They also have an aromatic scent and are members of the mint family.
You will love using Borax because it is not harmful to humans as it is to these weeds.
Let’s learn more about Borax.
Related Article: How to Get Rid of “Lily of the Valley”
Borax – The Natural Weed Killer
Borax can permanently eliminate creeping Charlie from your yard. The best thing about it is that it is a natural weed killer.
You want to be extra careful about how much you use. If you use too much of it, you risk destroying your lawn.
While Borax is effective in killing Creeping Charlie it is not as effective for other types of weed.
Borax is made of sodium tetraborate with a composition of mineral salt, white crystalline, and Boron. When you use Borax on weeds, the weeds get more Boron than they need, and this kills them.
How effective this weed killer works will depend on how much Boron the soil contains. The more Boron in the soil, the faster the Creeping Charlie dies. Consider testing your soil for it.
Steps to Using Borax on Creeping Charlie
The best time to apply Borax on your Creeping Charlie is during the spring season. Here is what you need to do while applying Borax on the Creeping Charlie.
– Take half a cup of warm water and add 10oz. of Borax
– Add 2 ½ gallons of water, mix them well to dissolve the Borax
– Pour mixture into a sprayer that attaches to a garden hose. You want to make enough to cover 1,000 square feet of area of your lawn.
– If you need to treat a smaller area, you will want to prorate smaller amounts when measuring the water and Borax.
– Always wear protective clothing including long pants, face mask, gloves, goggles, shoes, and long-sleeved shirts before you start spraying.
– Spray this mixture directly in the area affected by creeping Charlie.
It is considered good lawn care practice to spray this mixture during the springtime when there’s no rain. However, when the weed is actively growing during the fall, you want to treat the weeds with the Borax at that time.
Whether in the spring or fall, when you do apply the treatment you want to make sure that you use it on a day that is not expecting any rainfall. Allow for at least 48 hours of clear weather to apply the mixture. Otherwise, the rain may wash away the Borax and will dilute the solution and not kill out the weeds.
What should you expect?
You need only use the Borax mixture once a year to kill Creeping Charlie. Remember to use it for two consecutive years for great results.
However, it is essential to note that you need to test the soil to determine how much Boron is already in the soil. If your lawn has the amount of Boron necessary, then you don’t need to apply a lot of Borax.
After the first week of applying Borax, you should see the leaves begin to brown. Don’t be startled when you notice light browning on the high grass of your lawn after applying Borax. That’s normal, and the grass will recover with time.
Avoid applying too much Borax as that might be harmful to other plants. Use the recommended amount.
Don’t over-apply this weed killer in your lawn once you start noticing results. It might create dead patches in your yard. When this happens, your garden will need reseeding.
Once you get rid of Creeping Charlie, remember to practice good lawn care so that this stubborn weed will not return.
Proper lawn care will encourage the growth of turfgrass. This grass discourages the growth of Creeping Charlie. Also, make sure that your lawn receives enough sunlight by pruning your trees selectively.
Maintain the grass in your lawn not to exceed 3 inches in height. Apply fertilizer and water frequently to keep it healthy.
Tips for using Borax
Are you having trouble mixing the Borax? Use a blender and mix it for 30 seconds until the content mixes well. Do not use a blender that you use for food preparation. Maybe an old blender would work.
You need to apply Borax uniformly in the affected areas. To achieve this, consider using a spray bottle that can hold up to 3 cups of the solution.
Remember that this spray bottle should spray a lawn measuring 62 square feet
As mentioned earlier, Borax stays in the soil for quite some time, so you should reapply it after one year at the same time. Should Creeping Charlie come back to your lawn after you are done with the treatment, then consider removing the weeds manually.
This weed spreads quickly underground in a wide area. So while treating it you want to spray a slightly wider area beyond the affected region. If you are treating a smaller area, use a lesser amount of Borax to avoid over-applying it.
Proactively maintaining your lawn will keep Creeping Charlie and other weeds away. Treat your yard as soon as you notice this weed. For maintenance remember to reapply the Borax mixture after one year at the same time.