Ground ivy thrives in damp, shady areas, but also grows well in sunny locations. A member of the mint family, ground ivy produces a minty odor when cut or crushed. Originally brought to the United States from Europe as a ground cover, the plant soon became a pest because of its spreading habit. As early as the 1920s, this mineral was being used not only for its cleaning properties, but for its ability to eradicate weeds. Through trial and error, people found that borax could kill ground ivy.
Borax contains boron, an important plant micronutrient.
However, the difference between plant requirements and toxicity problems is very small. When excessive quantities are present, boron can damage and even destroy plants. We also know that grasses tend to be more tolerant of excess boron than are broadleaves. But there is little research information on how borax affects turf and ornamentals in the home landscape. Research was conducted over the next two years, and they concluded that, dependent upon weather conditions, borax indeed could indeed match or exceed the performance of common herbicides' in eradicating ground ivy.