# How to get rid of creeping Charlie, crabgrass, clover and dandelions under Ontario's pesticide ban

URL: https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/lawn-weeds-ontario/  
Updated: 2026-10-13  
By: Hotiv Landscaping, Markham, Ontario. Call or text (437) 684-2535.

**Short answer:** Ontario's cosmetic pesticide ban means the 2,4-D and triclopyr sprays in American lawn advice can't go on a home lawn here. What you can use: iron-based (FeHEDTA) sprays on broadleaf weeds, corn gluten meal before crabgrass sprouts at about 13°C soil temperature, and hand digging. What actually keeps weeds out is thicker grass: mow at 7.5 cm, feed it, and overseed thin spots from mid-August to mid-September.

To get rid of creeping Charlie, crabgrass, clover or dandelions in Ontario, you have three legal tools: an iron-based spray, corn gluten meal and a weeding fork. They're slower than the sprays in most lawn videos, so the job that matters is thickening the grass.

Weeds are mostly a symptom. Ontario's agriculture ministry (OMAFRA) says in its turf manual that weeds colonize any opening in thin turf, so fix the cause and they lose ground.

## Key numbers

- Mowing height: About 7.5 cm
- Crabgrass seed sprouts at: Soil at about 13°C (55°F)
- Iron spray works between: 10 and 30°C
- Iron sprays per season: At most two, four weeks apart
- Best overseeding window: Mid-August to mid-September

## What can you legally use on lawn weeds in Ontario?

Products whose active ingredients are all on the province's Allowable List, plus hand weeding.

*Image: Season strip from March to November showing when to put down corn gluten, dig dandelions, overseed, spray creeping Charlie with iron and keep mowing at 7.5 cm. Each weed has its own window, and fall does most of the work*

Under the Pesticides Act and Ontario Regulation 63/09, cosmetic use of ingredients such as 2,4-D and glyphosate is banned on lawns, gardens, patios and driveways. The [province's own page](https://www.ontario.ca/page/pesticides-home-lawns-and-gardens) gives borax, corn gluten meal, soap and sulphur as allowed examples.

The ones that matter for lawn weeds:

| Ingredient | What it does | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Iron (as FeHEDTA) | Selective spray. Broadleaf weeds absorb it through the leaves and turn black. | Broadleaf weeds and moss only, not crabgrass. At most two sprays a season, four weeks apart. |
| Corn gluten meal | Kills weed seedlings as they sprout. | No effect on weeds that are already up. |
| Acetic acid | Burns down whatever it's sprayed on. | Kills grass too. Guelph's review says it may need several applications. |
| Soaps of fatty acids | Burns down moss and weeds on hard surfaces. | Kills every plant it wets, so keep it off the lawn. |
| Borax | Sold for creeping Charlie. | Can injure turf and builds up in soil (Wisconsin Extension). |

Health Canada's pest management agency registered FeHEDTA in 2010. Its review lists dandelion, white clover, plantain, chickweed, creeping buttercup, thistles and moss among the weeds it controls.

Injury to the grass was low, mostly leaf darkening that faded within about four weeks.

When one of these iron weed killers was awaiting approval in 2010, [Landscape Ontario](https://landscapeontario.com/new-weed-killer-expected-this-summer/) reported that treated weeds turn black or brown within about 24 hours and that it works between 10 and 30°C.

> **Watch out:** Ground ivy (creeping Charlie) isn't among the weeds in Health Canada's FeHEDTA review. Buy a product whose label names ground ivy or creeping Charlie.

University of Guelph field trials after the 2009 ban found some of these alternatives may control dandelions about as well as the old herbicides.

Triclopyr, the ingredient most American guides recommend for creeping Charlie, isn't on the Allowable List.

## Which weed is it, and what is it telling you?

Each weed points to a different problem. OMAFRA lists all four among Ontario's major turf weeds.

| Weed | Type | Usually means | Best time to act |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creeping Charlie (ground ivy) | Perennial, spreads by stems that root as they go | Shade and damp soil | Late September to early November |
| Crabgrass | Annual grass, dies off in fall | Thin turf, low fertility, compaction, shallow watering | Before seeds sprout in spring, overseed in late summer |
| White clover | Perennial, creeping stems | Low nitrogen, drought, compaction | Feed through the season, spot-treat in fall |
| Dandelion | Perennial with a deep taproot | Thin turf anywhere | Dig in spring, treat in fall |

The clover and crabgrass conditions come from OMAFRA's table of what favours each weed, and creeping Charlie's from [Wisconsin Extension](https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/controlling-creeping-charlie/).

## How to get rid of creeping Charlie without killing the grass

Pull what you can after a good rain, spray an iron product in the fall, and fix the shade and wet soil underneath.

Creeping Charlie is a member of the mint family, with scalloped, kidney-shaped leaves, square stems and small purple flowers in spring. It smells minty when you mow it.

*Image: Creeping Charlie with scalloped leaves, trailing stems and small purple flowers spreading through thin grass beside a tree trunk in a shady backyard. Creeping Charlie flowering in spring, where shade has thinned the grass*

1. Pull small patches after a soaking rain. A lawn full of it is too much to pull. [Iowa State Extension](https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/control-ground-ivy-creeping-charlie-lawns-and-gardens) notes that the creeping stems root at their nodes, and Wisconsin Extension adds that the stem network is hard to get out completely. Bag the pieces, because loose ones can root again.
2. Spray an iron product in the fall. Iowa State puts the window at late September through early November. Wisconsin says mid to late fall, after the first frost, is best because the plant is moving its food reserves down to the roots.
3. Spray once more in spring. Wisconsin reports good to excellent control from iron (Fe-HEDTA) sprays made in fall and again in spring.
4. Fix why it's there. Thin out low branches to let light in, stop watering a spot that's always damp, and overseed in late summer.

Under big maples and spruces, where grass struggles anyway, a shade-tolerant fine fescue or a mulched bed may beat another fight every spring.

## How do you get rid of crabgrass?

Stop the seed from sprouting in spring, and fill the bare spots it uses before the next spring. Crabgrass is an annual, so the plants you see in August die off as the weather cools in fall ([Wisconsin Extension](https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/crabgrass/)).

The trouble is the seed. [Iowa State](https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/how-control-crabgrass) says one plant can produce thousands of seeds, which wait in the soil and germinate once it warms to about 13°C (55°F).

*Image: A wide, pale green clump of crabgrass with seed heads at the edge of a lawn beside a concrete driveway. Crabgrass in late summer, coarser and paler than the lawn around it*

Corn gluten meal is the legal pre-emergent in Ontario. The [University of Guelph review](https://archive.lib.msu.edu/tic/stnew/article/2009aut6.pdf) of alternative turf controls gives three rules:

1. Put it down when forsythia is in full bloom.
2. Water it in within two days.
3. Don't overseed for six weeks afterwards.

Iowa State's rate is 20 lb per 1,000 sq ft, roughly 1 kg per 10 m².

> **Watch out:** Corn gluten meal stops grass seed as well as weed seed. If you plan to overseed this spring, skip it and seed instead.

Don't expect much in the first year. The Guelph review found the label rate relatively ineffective in most field studies, though it reduces weeds after several years of use.

OMAFRA also says frequent, light watering encourages shallow-rooted weeds such as crabgrass.

When the rain doesn't do it for you, water once a week, 2 to 2.5 cm at a time.

## How do you get rid of clover in a lawn?

Feed the lawn. [Penn State Extension](https://extension.psu.edu/lawn-and-turfgrass-weeds-white-clover) explains that white clover hosts bacteria that pull nitrogen from the air, so it wins wherever the grass is short of nitrogen.

OMAFRA's turf manual cites studies where fertilizing alone, at 0.5 kg of nitrogen per 100 m² four times a season, cut weed cover to under 5% over five seasons.

Plenty of people leave clover alone. If you don't, iron sprays are registered in Canada for white clover.

Penn State says fall treatments are often the most effective, since clover sometimes regrows after spring ones.

## How do you get rid of dandelions?

Dig them out with the whole taproot, ideally after a soaking rain. [Iowa State](https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/control-dandelions) says the deep taproot has to come out or the plant grows back, and that dandelions reseed so freely you should expect new ones every year.

A long, forked dandelion tool makes it quicker.

> **Good to know:** Sprinkle grass seed into the hole as soon as the dandelion is out. It's OMAFRA's tip, and it means grass fills the gap instead of the next weed.

Mow before the flowers turn to puffballs. If there are too many to dig, spray iron in the fall.

## Why does mowing at 7.5 cm matter so much?

Taller grass shades the soil, and OMAFRA notes that dense, shaded turf keeps weed seeds from germinating.

The [Toronto and Region Conservation Authority](https://watersheds.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Lawn-Care-by-Toronto-and-Region-Conservation-Authority.pdf) recommends cutting at about 7.5 cm, because it shades out sun-loving weeds and keeps the soil cooler and moister.

OMAFRA adds that mowing short thins the lawn and lets weeds in. Never take off more than a third of the blade at once.

Iowa State recommends 3 to 4 inches (7.5 to 10 cm) to shade out crabgrass seedlings. A lawn cut to 4 cm every week gives crabgrass the light it needs, whatever goes on it in spring.

*Image: Two lawn cross-sections: grass mowed to about 7.5 cm shading a dormant crabgrass seed, and grass cut to 4 cm with sunlight reaching a sprouting seedling. Taller grass keeps the soil shaded, so crabgrass seed stays dormant*

Mowing height is easy to let slip in a busy summer. If that's the problem, our [lawn mowing and lawn care service](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/lawn-care/) keeps the height right all season.

The [Ontario lawn care calendar](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/ontario-lawn-care-calendar/) shows where weeding, feeding and seeding fall in the year.

## Common mistakes

- Following American spray advice. Triclopyr, 2,4-D and dicamba blends are what most videos show, and none of them can go on an Ontario home lawn.
- Spraying vinegar or soap on the lawn. Both kill the grass around the weed and leave a bare patch for the next weed.
- Pulling creeping Charlie on dry, hard soil. The stems snap and every rooted piece left behind keeps growing.
- Leaving bare spots open. Seed every gap you pull. OMAFRA prefers mid-August to mid-September, and our [fall lawn care guide](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fall-lawn-care-ontario/) walks through overseeding.
- Blaming weeds for damage they didn't cause. OMAFRA notes that turf lifting like a carpet, because the roots have been eaten, is a sign of grubs. Our [lawn grubs guide](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/lawn-grubs-ontario/) covers that.

Weeds in the cracks of a driveway or patio are a different job. See [how to stop weeds growing between pavers](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/weeds-between-pavers/).

## When is it worth getting help?

A few dandelions and one shady patch of creeping Charlie are weekend work. Call someone when weeds cover a big part of the lawn, when the mowing keeps slipping, or when large areas are bare.

A lawn that's mostly weeds is often quicker to replace than to rescue patch by patch. New sod is part of our [sod installation and lawn repair](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/sod-installation/) work.

We work across [Markham](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/areas/markham/) and nearby, including [Richmond Hill](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/areas/richmond-hill/). See our [lawn care service](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/lawn-care/), or call or text [(437) 684-2535](tel:+14376842535) with a couple of photos and we'll tell you what we'd do.

## Step by step

1. **Work out which weeds you have.** Walk the lawn in May or June and note where each weed grows. Creeping Charlie means shade and damp soil, clover means hungry soil, crabgrass means thin or bare spots. The fix depends on the weed.
2. **Raise the mower to about 7.5 cm.** Keep the grass around 7.5 cm all season and never take off more than a third of the blade in one cut. Taller grass shades the soil so fewer weed seeds sprout.
3. **Put corn gluten meal down when forsythia blooms.** Only on established lawns with a crabgrass history, and only if you aren't seeding soon. Water it in within two days, and don't overseed for six weeks afterwards.
4. **Dig out dandelions and pull creeping Charlie after a soaking rain.** Moist soil lets the whole dandelion taproot and the rooted creeping Charlie stems come out. Bag the pieces, then sprinkle grass seed into the holes.
5. **Spot-spray broadleaf weeds with an iron product.** Use a product whose ingredients are on Ontario's Allowable List and whose label names your weed. Spray on a mild day, between about 10 and 30°C, and leave at least four weeks before a second spray.
6. **Feed the lawn and water deeply.** A regular, balanced feeding thickens the grass and starves clover of its advantage. Water once a week with 2 to 2.5 cm rather than a little every day.
7. **Overseed thin areas from mid-August to mid-September.** This is the best seeding window in Ontario, and it fills the gaps crabgrass would use next spring. Keep the new seed moist until it's up.
8. **Go after creeping Charlie again in the fall.** Spray it in mid to late fall, ideally after the first frost, then once more in spring when it flowers. Pull any runners that survive both rounds.

## Other questions people ask

### What kills creeping Charlie but not grass?

In Ontario, the legal option is an iron-based lawn weed product (iron as FeHEDTA is on the province's Allowable List). Broadleaf plants absorb far more of it than grass does, so the weeds blacken while the grass at most darkens for a few weeks. Check that the label names ground ivy or creeping Charlie, because not every iron product lists it. Spray in the fall and again in spring. Thick, well-fed grass is what keeps it from coming back.

### How can I get rid of creeping Charlie in Canada?

Much of the advice online names triclopyr or 2,4-D, and in Ontario neither is allowed on a home lawn because they aren't on the Allowable List. Here the workable plan is pulling the rooted stems after a soaking rain, spot-spraying an iron product in the fall, and fixing the shade and wet soil it likes. Then thicken the lawn with overseeding and keep mowing high.

### Will vinegar get rid of creeping Charlie?

Not for long. Acetic acid is on Ontario's Allowable List, but a University of Guelph review describes it as a burn-down that kills every plant it touches, grass included, and says it may take several applications. It scorches the leaves, and creeping Charlie regrows from stems that have rooted along the ground. You end up with brown patches in the lawn and the weed growing back.

### What chokes out creeping Charlie?

Dense grass and more light. Wisconsin Extension says it thrives in moist, shady spots under trees and shrubs, and recommends thinning the canopy, improving drainage or watering less, mowing at 5 to 9 cm, and overseeding in the fall. In deep shade where grass can't keep up, a shade-tolerant fine fescue or a mulched bed may be the only lasting answer.

### Can I use borax on creeping Charlie in Ontario?

Borax is on Ontario's Allowable List, so it's legal, but we wouldn't. Wisconsin Extension reports that research found borax usually isn't very effective, can injure the lawn and nearby plants, and that boron builds up in the soil with repeated use, which can leave bare patches where nothing grows well.

## Sources

1. [Government of Ontario: Pesticides (home lawns and gardens)](https://www.ontario.ca/page/pesticides-home-lawns-and-gardens)
2. [Government of Ontario: List of Active Ingredients Authorized for Cosmetic Uses (Allowable List)](https://data.ontario.ca/dataset/cosmetic-pesticide-ban)
3. [OMAFRA: Integrated Pest Management for Turf (Publication 845)](https://www.ontario.ca/files/2023-06/omafra-integrated-pest-management-for-turf-pub-845-en.pdf)
4. [University of Guelph for OTRF and OHTF: Scientific literature review of alternative pest controls for turf in Ontario (Sports Turf Manager, Autumn 2009)](https://archive.lib.msu.edu/tic/stnew/article/2009aut6.pdf)
5. [University of Guelph (Siva, Jordan, Tardif, Boland): Alternatives for dandelion management in turf after Ontario's 2009 ban (2011)](https://scisoc.confex.com/crops/2011am/webprogram/Paper67665.html)
6. [Health Canada PMRA: Proposed Registration Decision PRD2010-03, FeHEDTA (weeds controlled, turf tolerance, application limits)](https://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/9.567128/publication.html)
7. [Health Canada PMRA: Registration Decision RD2010-09, FeHEDTA](https://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/376193/publication.html)
8. [Landscape Ontario: New weed killer expected this summer (2010)](https://landscapeontario.com/new-weed-killer-expected-this-summer/)
9. [Wisconsin Horticulture Extension: Creeping Charlie](https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/controlling-creeping-charlie/)
10. [Iowa State University Extension: Control of ground ivy (creeping Charlie)](https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/control-ground-ivy-creeping-charlie-lawns-and-gardens)
11. [Iowa State University Extension: How to control crabgrass](https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/how-control-crabgrass)
12. [Wisconsin Horticulture Extension: Crabgrass management in lawns](https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/crabgrass/)
13. [Iowa State University Extension: How to use corn gluten meal as a herbicide](https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/how-use-corn-gluten-meal-herbicide-lawn-and-garden)
14. [Iowa State University Extension: Control of dandelions](https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/control-dandelions)
15. [Penn State Extension: Lawn and turfgrass weeds, white clover](https://extension.psu.edu/lawn-and-turfgrass-weeds-white-clover)
16. [Toronto and Region Conservation Authority: Lawn care](https://watersheds.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Lawn-Care-by-Toronto-and-Region-Conservation-Authority.pdf)

## Related guides

- [Ontario lawn maintenance schedule: what to do each month](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/ontario-lawn-care-calendar/)
- [Fall lawn care in Ontario: overseeding, aeration and repair](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fall-lawn-care-ontario/)
- [Lawn grubs in Ontario: signs, skunk and raccoon damage, and what you can legally use](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/lawn-grubs-ontario/)
- [How to stop weeds growing between pavers](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/weeds-between-pavers/)