Tanya Sharon

I have questions about 2 plants that are extremely difficult to control.

The first is creeping Charlie or Glechoma hederacea. I mulch heavily with straw but it just grows up through it. If I put down paper or cardboard and then mulch with straw it takes a bit more time to invade but is quite capable of finding a pathway between the overlapping layers. So I'm wondering if this "weed" will eventually go somewhere else when my soil has had more time to improve (with compost, mulch, deep rooted veggies, and little disturbance)? Or is it something I should not worry about because it will just act as a living mulch? Pulling it just appears to encourage it.

The second is phragmites. It has been invading the roadsides around Michigan for years. This year it just showed up on our lakeshore. My neighbors are convinced that because RoundUp is approved by the EPA for use in wetlands that it is safe. I don't believe it. Does anyone know of any way to manage or eliminate it other than poisons?

I live in zone 6 near Detroit, Michigan and have grown thyme, oregano, sage, and tarragon in my garden for years with no difficulty. I don't cover them and they do fine.

This year I have planted rosemary in a sunny place next to a large boulder. Hopefully this will be a microclimate that will provide enough warmth for the rosemary to survive the low temperature, ice, and snow. Just in case I have several more in pots that will move into the house for the winter.

I've had trouble keeping lavender alive but know many other gardeners in this area who have no trouble with it. This year a neighbor gave me one of her lavenders which is now thriving in my garden. We'll see if it survives the winter.