If you don't want to use chemicals, you will have to mow, weed eat or mulch. I am thinking it may be a winter weed like henbit.

Creeping Charlie? Round-up is safe after it dries.

{{gwi:350689}}

There are so many early spring weeds this time of year. I'd take a picture so we can see. Post it on photobucket and provide a link. good luck!

It's what I call Ground Ivy (or Creeping Charlie), the bane of my lot. First plant to cover bare areas, like around your sapling tree trunks. Extremely persistant.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ground Ivy pics

When the leaves are on the trees, will it be shady enough to kill it?

helenh: no the leaves on the trees will not be shady enough to kill it. i just googled creeping charley and it says it thrives in shady spots anyway.

paula in pa...you got it, i think it IS creeping charly. about the roundup...will that kill the grass?

And does anyone know why it would grow around the tree other than because of the shade? I assumed it was soemthing falling from the willow and causing the weeds to grow...but i didnt' see anything about it being caused by a willow, so is that all just a coincidence that it is all around this willow tree?

Just to stick my oar in .... do you mind if I ask why you don't want it there? A weeping willow is a very vigorous tree and personally I would have thought it would look better with something growing under it rather than bare earth. It is clearly happy there and I think you'd have trouble establishing anything else under the willow. Why not just enjoy the flowers? Does anyone have evidence that it is detrimental to trees?

Yes, RoundUp will kill the grass. Paula should not have recommended it.

flora...the reason i dont want it there is because it is at the end of my property near a swingset and we used to have grass in the whole backyard...now surrounding this tree but at the edge of my yard are all these weeds/flowers...i cant really explain it but i like it better with just grass...now it looks like the weeds are creeping into my yard and taking over...

The weeds displaced the grass because most turfgrasses don't like shade. Killing the weed will not allow turf to grow back.

Dan

As Dan says, the Glechoma has moved into a niche which was left vacant by struggling grass. It is quite possible if you eradicate it you will be left with earth, not grass. Maybe when the willow was younger there was still enough light for grass. But things move on in nature and plants take their chances where they can.

eli2009, my error, I meant to type Ortho (weed) killer. I have problems with creeping charlie continually coming back. In some areas Roundup is the preferred to obliterate.