A Beginner’s Guide to Cart Weed
When you walk outside to your garden, do you find yourself pulling out weeds that always seem to regrow? One of the most common weeds you may find in your garden is cart weed. If you are new to gardening, you might be wondering what exactly is cart weed and how can you get rid of it? In this article, we’ll give you all the information you need to identify and control cart weed in your garden.
Defining Cart Weed
Cart weed, otherwise known as ground ivy, is a perennial weed that grows in gardens, lawns, and fields. Its scientific name is Glechoma hederacea but it is also known as creeping Charlie and gill-over-the-ground. Its leaves are rounded, slightly scalloped at the edge, and can have a variegated pattern. The stem of the plant can grow up to 50 cm long and can root at the nodes.
Identifying Cart Weed
Identifying cart weed in your garden can be simple; its round leaves and scented aroma are a telltale sign. One of the easiest ways to identify cart weed is to look at its square stem. Most weeds have round stems whereas cart weed has a square stem. The leaves grow in pairs and they can be hairy or not. Therefore, if you notice a low spreading plant in your garden with square stems, scalloped leaves, and a aromatic scent, it may very well be cart weed.
Controlling Cart Weed
One of the simplest ways to control cart weed growth in your garden is through hand pulling. Just grab the stem of the cart weed as close to the soil as possible and pull firmly. Take care not to leave behind any pieces of the root, as cart weed can grow back from those. If you have a lot of cart weed growth in your garden, you may choose to use different methods, like herbicides. Herbicides include glyphosate-based products and triclopyr formulations which can selectively kill cart weed. However, it’s best to use these options with caution, as herbicides can also affect other plants in the garden. If you choose to use herbicides, be sure to read the label and follow the application instructions closely.
Cart Weed 101
Cart weed is an invasive weed that has plagued gardens for centuries. Its growth habits and life cycle contribute to its resilience, making it difficult to remove from gardens. In this section, we’ll provide more comprehensive information regarding cart weed growth habits, lifespan, and why the weed is so stubborn to remove from the garden.
Life Cycle and Growth Habits
The life cycle of cart weed starts in late spring. The plant produces pink or blue violet flowers that bloom between April and June. The flowers attract insects, which play a role in pollination and seed development. After the flowers fade, cart weed produces small seeds that disperse widely. The seeds are able to germinate in the spring, usually between April and May. Cart weed can also spread by rhizomes, which are underground stems that can give rise to new plants. The plant can grow in full sun or partial shade, mainly on moist soil.
Why is Cart Weed so Stubborn?
Cart weed is stubborn to remove from the garden due to its root system. The plant has a shallow root system that can grow around other plants and make it difficult to pull out the entire root in one go. Moreover, the stems produce nodes that have the potential to grow into new plants. In addition, cart weed is incredibly resilient even after it is removed. Its small seeds can remain in the soil for years, and when soil is disturbed, the plant can quickly regrow.
Understanding the Menace of Cart Weed
Cart weed is a menace to gardens. The weed is stubborn, fast-growing, and able to spread rapidly. In this section, we’ll look at some of the common causes of cart weed in gardens, understand why cart weed is such a threat to other plants, and provide an overview of different treatment options for cart weed.
Common Causes of Cart Weed
One of the primary ways cart weed spreads is by having a persistent root system that can grow around other plants and quickly take over a garden bed. Cart weed also spreads through seeds that can be carried by the wind or by animals. Finally, cart weed can spread through soil contamination when one plant is removed and the soil is disturbed, which can help the weed germinate in other areas of the garden.
Threat to Other Plants
Cart weed is a threat to other plants in your garden. It can quickly overtake other plants by beginning to engulf the plant, which can make it difficult for the plant to grow. Cart weed also spreads quickly, forming a dense mat and covering the soil, smothering the roots of other plants or starting to shade them thus making them weak.
Treatment Options
There are several ways to treat cart weed in your garden. The first option is hand-pulling, which can be more labor-intensive, especially if you have a lot of cart weed growth in your garden. Secondly, the usage of herbicides can be a reliable option. Selective herbicides, those that can specifically target cart weed are ideal. Moreover, using pre-emergent herbicides before cart weed germination can also be effective in controlling cart weed growth.
From Seed to Flower
If you’re trying to remove cart weed from your garden, it’s important to understand its life cycle. By knowing the life cycle of cart weed, you can take steps to prevent it from spreading in your garden. In this section, we’ll detail the life cycle of cart weed and provide tips on how to prevent cart weed from spreading.
Life Cycle
The life cycle of cart weed starts in late spring, with flowering taking place between April and June. After flowering, cart weed plants will produce small seeds that can disperse widely. From there, the seeds can lay dormant in the soil for years, until the soil is disturbed or the weather is right for germination. This means the overall longevity of cart weed in a garden can stretch for several years, even up to a decade if you’re not careful about removing the lower nodes which instantly regrow into new plants.
Prevention Tips
The best way to prevent cart weed from spreading is to ensure it’s caught as early as possible. This truly is the most important step to take, otherwise the weed can become a stubborn fixture in your garden bed quickly. Frequent and devoted hand pulling of cart weed can help you prevent seed dispersal and the growth of new plants. It also pays to apply a pre-emergent herbicide at the right time to prevent the weed from germinating. However, this should be used only if you’ve removed all the present cart weed in your garden. Moreover, when you are selecting plants to grow, it is essential to opt for ones that are more hospitable to your garden’s growth zone and style, and less attractive to ground ivy.
Cart Weed Vs. Other Common Garden Weeds
Cart weed may seem like an especially persistent and annoying weed, but it is not alone. There are plenty of weeds that commonly appear in gardens. In this section, we’ll compare cart weed to other weeds and explain what makes cart weed different.
Comparison to Other Weeds
Cart weed is often compared to several common weeds like clover, chickweed, and henbit. And while these weeds have some similarities, ground ivy is distinct from them in its appearance and growth habits. For instance, clover has leaves that are typically in a triad and have a heart-shaped tint. Chickweed’s leaves are elongated and have parallel veins. Henbit, on the other hand, has a unique leaf structure that is similar to common weeds.
Dealing with Different Types of Weeds
Each type of weed has unique requirements for growth, so it’s important to approach weed control in your garden by taking factors like light, soil moisture, pH, and other factors into consideration. You may also have to use different treatment methods for different types of weeds.
A Comprehensive Look at Cart Weed
If reading this so far, you’re becoming quite familiar with cart weed. In this section, we’ll dive deeper into the world of cart weed and explore different species of cart weed, how to identify and control each species, and address some common misconceptions about cart weed.
Different Species of Cart Weed
There are two common species of cart weed: Glechoma hederacea L. and Glechoma hirsuta W. Curtis. Glechoma hederacea L. is the most prevalent and causes the most problems in gardens.
Identifying and Controlling
In order to identify and control cart weed, it is important to know firsthand if it is running rampant in your garden. Both species of cart weed have similar growth habits, with small, round leaves and purple-blue flowers. Careful handling of the weed without breaking or leaving behind any of its nodes is crucial- this is especially true for hand pulling. Cart weed also tends to grow in damp, moist soil, so adjusting how much moisture your garden bed has can make it less hospitable for it. In addition to the identification and control methods discussed earlier in the article, using pre-emergent herbicides can also be effective.
Addressing Misconceptions
There are some misconceptions about cart weed that can make it harder to control. One common notion is that cart weed is good for killing off other true weeds. However, this just isn’t true! Cart weed is now considered a major problem despite being in the same family of members as mint. Regardless of this, in a controlled environment with little proliferation, this could possibly happen.
The Ultimate Guide to Removing Cart Weed
If you have cart weed growing in your garden, then you know firsthand how challenging it can be to remove. In this section, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide for removing cart weed and offer tried-and-true methods for controlling cart weed growth.
Step-by-Step Guide to Removing Cart Weed
- Start with proper identification of the weed, ensuring it’s actually cart weed you’re dealing with.
- Remove the weed from the soil by employing a hand-pulling method, or by using a small spade, working carefully and deeply.
- Dispose of the cart weed by placing it in a plastic bag and securing it. Do not compost this weed, as it will easily start to regrow anywhere else you use it.
- Avoid soil disturbance around areas where cart weed has been removed.
- Use a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent the germination of new cart weed seeds
- Be vigilant to check for any new emergence of cart weed in the garden and hand-pull it before it proves to be stubborn.
Tried-and-True Methods
If you would like to use an herbicide, it is better to use it with caution and only use a glyphosate-based herbicide as a last resort in controlling cart weed, depending on the extent of your problem. Additionally, using a hoe to cut the cart weed before it can flower and set seed can help to limit the spread of cart weed. Another technique, known as top-dressing, can be used as a way to “smother” ground ivy from coming back. Top-dressing is where a later of soil amendment like compost or shredded leaves are added to the soil around the base of affected plants.
Additional Help
If you are struggling with cart weed on your own, professional gardeners can assist in identifying and removing this invasive weed. Additionally, gardening forums and websites can help give you further guidance in controlling cart weed in your garden.
Conclusion
Cart weed is an invasive and pervasive weed that can be hard to remove from your garden, but it’s not impossible. Understanding the different types of cart weed, its growth habits and lifecycle, and using a combination of treatment methods can help you control and eliminate this weed from your garden. The ultimate key to effective control is consistent manual removal, mulching, and other control options until it’s gone. With the proper tools and knowledge, you can achieve the cart weed-free garden of your dreams.