How to Use Borax on a Lawn to Kill Creeping Charlie
Gardeners have used Borax to kill creeping charlie in lawns for decades. The secret to Borax's effectiveness is its active ingredient, boron. Boron is actually a plant micronutrient found in trace amounts in most soils. When it is present in large amounts, it kills plants. However, you can eradicate creeping charlie and keep your grass alive because it takes a slightly higher amount of boron to kill turf grass than it does to kill creeping Charlie. The solution used in these steps makes enough Borax weed killer to treat 1,000 square feet of your lawn.
Add 1/2 cup of warm water to 1-1/4 cups of Borax in a small plastic container. Stir until the Borax is completely dissolved.
- Gardeners have used Borax to kill creeping charlie in lawns for decades.
- The solution used in these steps makes enough Borax weed killer to treat 1,000 square feet of your lawn.
Fill a bucket with 2-1/2 gallons of water. Add the Borax solution. Stir until the Borax is completely dissolved.
Pour the diluted Borax solution into your hose-end sprayer.
Spray the contents of the hose-end sprayer evenly over 1,000 square feet of lawn.
Refill the sprayer and reapply to your lawn. Repeat until all of the diluted Borax solution has been sprayed on the lawn.
- Fill a bucket with 2-1/2 gallons of water.
- Pour the diluted Borax solution into your hose-end sprayer.
Kill Weeded Creeping Charlie With Borax
Creeping charlie, or ground ivy, is a flowering weed that grows in shady, moist areas and, if left unchecked, can quickly take over other areas of your lawn. After this has been accomplished, it is important to ensure that this pesky flowering invader no longer attempts to take over your yard. Pour the borax mixture into 2 1/2 gallons of water. Mix the solution until the borax is completely dissolved. Put on a pair of gloves, a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, socks, shoes, goggles and a face mask. Apply this borax mixture once more next year around the same date.
Tip
The horticultural experts at Iowa State University Extension recommend treating creeping charlie with Super Trimec or another dicamba-based herbicide when Borax is no longer an option.
A healthy lawn is the best defense against creeping charlie. Once you have kileed the creeping charlie with Borax, reseed any bare patches. Follow a regular fertilization, mowing and watering schedule to encourage a thick, weed-resistant lawn.
Warning
Borax accumulates in a lawn. You can only treat the lawn with Borax once a year for two years. After that, you should switch to a standard herbicide.
Related Articles
References
Tips
- The horticultural experts at Iowa State University Extension recommend treating creeping charlie with Super Trimec or another dicamba-based herbicide when Borax is no longer an option.
- A healthy lawn is the best defense against creeping charlie. Once you have kileed the creeping charlie with Borax, reseed any bare patches. Follow a regular fertilization, mowing and watering schedule to encourage a thick, weed-resistant lawn.
Warnings
- Borax accumulates in a lawn. You can only treat the lawn with Borax once a year for two years. After that, you should switch to a standard herbicide.
Writer Bio
Based in Houston, Texas, Meg Butler is a professional farmer, house flipper and landscaper. When not busy learning about homes and appliances she's sharing that knowledge. Butler began blogging, editing and writing in 2000. Her work has appered in the "Houston Press" and several other publications. She has an A.A. in journalism and a B.A. in history from New York University.
