The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Most lawn weeds described as “vining” are not the same plant, and the difference determines how you remove them. Ground ivy, also called creeping Charlie, crawls across the surface on above-ground stems that root wherever a node touches soil. Wild violet spreads mainly from underground rhizomes and seed. Identify the weed first, then choose a removal method, because digging, timing, and herbicide choice that work on one can fail on the other.
Identify the weed before you treat it
Several plants get lumped together as creeping or vining lawn weeds. The table compares the ones extension guidance most often confuses.
| Plant | Type and life cycle | Growth structure | Leaves | Flowers | Commonly confused with |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground ivy (creeping Charlie), Glechoma hederacea | Perennial, mint family | Creeping stems (stolons) that root at nodes | Round or kidney-shaped, scalloped edges, smooth, opposite, on stalks | Small, bluish-purple, funnel-shaped | Henbit |
| Henbit | Winter annual | Does not have node-rooting creeping stems like ground ivy | Hairy; upper leaves attach directly to the stem with no stalk | Not stated in the source | Ground ivy |
| Wild violet, genus Viola | Perennial | Underground rhizomes and seed; low rosettes rather than surface runners | Heart-shaped, with a waxy surface | Five petals; purple, violet, blue, or white | Ground ivy, although it is not a surface vine |
| Field bindweed, Convolvulus arvensis | Perennial | Deep roots (Minnesota Extension) | Arrow-shaped | Not stated in the source | Plants sold or discussed as “Creeping Jenny” |
Quick field checks
- Stem shape: Ground ivy has four-sided, square stems.
- Leaf base: Ground ivy leaves have stalks. Henbit’s upper leaves sit directly on the stem.
- Leaf surface: Henbit leaves are hairy; ground ivy leaves are smooth.
- Runners: If pieces lie on the surface and root where they touch soil, you are dealing with ground ivy-type creeping stems.
- Roots: Dig a plant and look for underground rhizomes. A wild violet’s regrowth depends on them.
- Life cycle: Henbit is an annual that germinates and dies within a year; ground ivy and wild violet are perennials that return from the same plant.
Creeping Jenny is not one plant
“Creeping Jenny” is an ambiguous common name. Minnesota Extension uses it for field bindweed, a perennial with arrow-shaped leaves and deep roots that it describes as most common in landscape plantings, meadows, and uncultivated areas. Rutgers uses the same name among the names for ground ivy. Do not rely on the name alone. Compare leaf shape, stem type, and root structure against the table above, or ask your county extension office to confirm the plant.
Ground ivy: removal and herbicide options
Small patches: pull or dig
Pull or dig after rain or watering, then remove every stem and rooted piece. Iowa State Extension warns that this is difficult, because any viable portion left in the soil can regrow. Repeated removal over several growing seasons may be necessary.
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Established patches: labeled broadleaf herbicides
For larger infestations, university guidance supports post-emergence broadleaf herbicides labeled for ground ivy. Iowa State Extension identifies triclopyr and 2,4-D as especially effective ingredients, with other combinations including MCPP and dicamba. It notes that susceptibility varies between populations. Penn State Extension lists examples of post-emergence products, but that list is not a purchase recommendation; formulation, turf tolerance, rates, and current registration must be checked on the label.
Timing differs by region. Iowa State Extension’s guidance is specific to Iowa, and its ground ivy article states: “Fall (late September through early November) is the best time to control ground ivy.” Illinois Extension describes treatment while weeds are actively growing, in mid-spring to early summer and/or mid-to-late fall.
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| Source | Region | Timing cited | Repeat treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa State Extension | Iowa | Late September through early November | Two applications about a month apart |
| Illinois Extension | Illinois | Mid-spring to early summer and/or mid-to-late fall, while weeds are actively growing | A repeat treatment may be needed |
Wild violet: why it survives and how to remove it
Wild violet persists because its underground rhizomes store resources and produce new plants, and its waxy leaf surface and strong recovery make it hard to kill. That is a different problem from ground ivy’s surface runners, so the removal approach changes.
Beds
Iowa State Extension says digging can be effective for small plants in beds if most of the root system is removed. Any rhizome fragment left behind can regrow, so inspect the soil after digging.
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Lawns
In lawns, broadleaf herbicides containing triclopyr generally provide good control. Iowa State Extension says two treatments spaced three to four weeks apart may be needed, and that spring or fall applications are described. Penn State Extension notes that established plants may need repeat applications over a growing season and across multiple years.
Some homeowners choose to keep violets because they are a flowering groundcover that supports native butterflies. If that is your situation, decide before you treat, because control is most effective when it is planned.
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- Do not apply to zoysiagrass just emerging from dormancy.
A treatment sequence that avoids common failures
- Confirm the weed using the table and field checks above. Photograph the plant and compare it with the extension page for your region.
- Read the product label for that exact weed, your turf species, and the site. A lawn-selective product should not go into flower or vegetable beds.
- Time the application to the regional extension window for active growth.
- Apply only under label conditions and at label rates. Do not use a product outside its label.
- Schedule a second application if the label and extension guidance call for one, and reassess after the interval.
- After control, maintain dense turf so bare gaps are not refilled by the same weed.
Turf density and shade: prevention, not a cure
Dense, vigorous turf makes invasion harder, but it may not eradicate weeds that are already established. Shade, moisture, drainage, and turf suitability determine how well grass competes. Illinois Extension suggests higher mowing and shade-tolerant grasses in shaded areas, and Iowa State Extension recommends keeping turf vigorous after control. These steps slow encroachment; they do not replace treatment of an existing infestation.
Mistakes to avoid
- Homemade borax treatments. Illinois Extension says results are inconsistent and long-term soil damage can occur.
- Expecting one application to clear the lawn. Purdue Extension states: “It is impossible to get 100% weed control in your lawn.”
- Identifying by common name alone. Names such as “Creeping Jenny” point to different plants depending on the source.
- Using a herbicide outside its label, or carrying a lawn product into beds.
When to call a professional
Purdue Extension identifies professional control as an option for difficult weeds. Consider it when patches are extensive or repeated treatments have not worked. Ask the provider which weed they are targeting, which product they plan to use, and how that product’s label applies to your turf and site.
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Extension guidance cited here comes from Iowa State, Illinois, Penn State, Purdue, Minnesota, and Rutgers, and it is regional. Check the date on the extension page you use and follow your state or county extension office for timing.
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