Re: Creeping Charlie

In a message dated 7/30/01 1:30:58 PM Eastern Daylight Time, Blee811@aol.com 
writes:

<< There's only one way that I know of--Dedicate the rest of your life to 
 pulling it.  Actually in one area I pretty much eradicated it after 15 years 
 of constant pulling, all summer long. >>

How many times has this come up this summer?

There is no way to get rid of Creeping Charlie (glechoma).  Earlier there was 
a thread on this subject and also the variegated form that is grown as a 
house plant.  If you have a small rear garden and spend much time fussing 
with it, you may be free of charlie for a while but a large varied garden 
simply has weeds.

I never hear this question on dandelions or plaintain, also permanent 
aggravations.  Creeping charlie is better looking than both of these.  You 
would be amazed at what can happen in good garden soil when you let a few 
common field daisies go to seed. If one dock is allowed to make seed in a 
garden, you will see it's progeny for twenty years.

The seeds blow in from fields or neighboring gardens, birds help, some 
hitchhike with newly purchased plants.  Some seed can lay dormant for years 
until soil is distrubed (the euphorbia call cypress spurge)  There is no 
garden without weeds.  Unless an army of gardeners is at your disposal, 
pulling weeds and tidying beds is part of gardening.  If one weed becomes so 
dominant that gardening cannot take place (Canada thistle is one) a chemical 
to kill all is needed.  Or, abandoning the site for a while while covered 
with black plastic or any number of other treatments.

But for just an annoying bunch of creeping charlie, you are in the same boat 
as the rest of us - out there weeding.  Weeding is not a bad job.  You get to 
sit close to the plants, observe plants and insects closely, learn habits of 
different plants.  

If clearing a large bed is overwhelming, try 15 feet or whatever is easy for 
you.  Something done is better than nothing done and you will amazed at how 
the small amounts of work add up to a showy place.  

Claire Peplowski
NYS z4

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