“I have been trying for years to eliminate the creeping jenny that is seeming to take over my garden and flower bed with no success. What is the best way to get rid of it?” Question from Brenda of Peterson, Iowa

Answer: Such a pretty plant…such a pain to remove when you want it gone. Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) is a pretty but aggressive groundcover that can take over garden areas pronto, especially if your garden ground is moist and fertile.  The golden cultivar is most commonly planted.

The creeping stems root along the ground and spread quickly. If your plants bloom, they are setting seed, too. The plants are fairly shallow rooted, so I recommend taking a flat, sharp spade and manually cutting out plants from underneath. (They don’t respond well to weed killers.). Then cover the areas of removal with thick organic mulch to discourage small undetected stem pieces from re-rooting and seeds from sprouting. Have you observed any in your lawn?

Happy Gardening! Jessie