NJ Lawns Community

There are these small round leaves spreading all over my backyard! It's taking over my otherwise nice lawn. I thought it was clover at first, but now I'm not sure. It has tiny purple flowers when it blooms. Can someone identify this? Is it creeping charlie? How do I get rid of it without killing my grass?

That's almost certainly creeping charlie (Glechoma hederacea). It's a member of the mint family, which explains why it's so hard to kill - it spreads like wildfire! The round leaves with scalloped edges and purple flowers are telltale signs. For organic control: 1. Hand-pull when soil is moist - get ALL the runners 2. Corn gluten meal in spring prevents germination 3. Borax solution (be VERY careful with concentration) For conventional: 2,4-D or triclopyr herbicides work well. But honestly, the organic approach takes patience. I've been battling it for 2 years!

WeedWarrior is spot on. One thing I'll add - creeping charlie thrives in shady, moist areas. If you can improve sunlight and drainage, it'll weaken. Also, a thick, healthy lawn is your best defense - weeds invade weak spots. After you kill the existing weeds, consider overseeding to thicken up your grass so it crowds out future invasions.