Talkback: Bindweed - Talkback - gardenersworld.com

10/08/2009 at 16:14

Yes - I do agree that bindweed is very pretty in the hedgerows and a nuisance in the garden - but the main problem around here in North Yorkshire is the invasion of Himalayan Balsam. It flowers late in the season so the jury is out on whether or not it stifles too many of the earlier wild flowers. Luckily, bees seem to like it despite its (to us)awful smell! It's pretty, but nearly as pretty as willow-herb which it does seem to be strangling.

Gardeners' World Web User

11/08/2009 at 11:53

The bindweed in Scotland mainly has pink flowers and looks glorious in full flower on road and rail embankments so perhaps this is why it is more tolerated. i believe this is the time to paint the flowers with a glyphosate solution to get rid of it.

Gardeners' World Web User

12/08/2009 at 12:09

I have both ground elder and bindweed and having tried to garden without successfully getting rid of either I tend towards ground elder being the worst, it goes through grass, and hoggin paths, and in my light soil its roots break more when being pulled up than bind weed. But I still haven't got on top of them, and have to dig up plants every other year to remove the invading roots from their root balls and replant them - consequently I can only garden with tough plants in the first place!

Gardeners' World Web User

13/08/2009 at 20:12

I have bindweed coming through from next door and it "attacks" the rhododendrons. All I do is keep a good eye out for it. From the other neighbour its Mind your own business. Its only a little garden but oh how I'd love neighbours who care!

Gardeners' World Web User

13/08/2009 at 21:38

I have been battling with my neighbour's bindweed for over 40 years - if only my neighbour would do the same! I shall be painting the leaves growing up a wire mesh fence again tomorrow as the weather is forecast to be fine and sunny for at least two more days down here in Hampshire.

Gardeners' World Web User

14/08/2009 at 10:00

We have bindweed here in wiltshire. At the back we have bindweed & horsetail in the front. Both are the bain of our garden. We found that Resolve weedkiller does the job on the bindweed but nothing works no horsetail. Thanks to our wonderful neighbour & an allotment behind us the bindweed comes back again & again.

Gardeners' World Web User

14/08/2009 at 12:21

My neighbours backyard is 60 foot long, and is covered in bindweed. Its all over the ground and fences. Its a nightmare and we are having trouble controlling it. My neighbour dosen't care about her yard so she will not help control it. Any suggestions.

Gardeners' World Web User

15/08/2009 at 11:29

I am a gardener in a park/commons in London and bindweed is one of many weeds we have to deal with on a daily basis. As our park is mainly a wildlife site I try as much as possible to abstain from chemical control. Hence the thing gardeners do is to pull them out,preferably in wet soil conditions, individually and regularly. After all, we should remember that weeding is one of the main tasks of gardening in summer. If it is not bindweed, it's thistle, nettle, etc. There will always be what we classify as weeds but the trick is, I believe, to accept that they are a natural part of a garden (and the countryside) and gardening. If you keep pulling them out regularly, they won't overtake the garden and come autumn you can sit back and relax until the next spring!

Gardeners' World Web User

15/08/2009 at 14:10

Agree with comments re bindweed and put vetch into a similar category here in Derbyshire.

Gardeners' World Web User

15/08/2009 at 15:45

Way to go Green Man. Dont let the weeds get you down, After all the weeding is all part of gardening.

Gardeners' World Web User

28/08/2009 at 02:39

From Canada. I found the cure, to this horrible weed that was taking over my lawn and garden. if you don't mind using chemicals. I hate using them , however felt I did not have a choice in this situation. We had poor quality soil delivered, and got invaded by the bindweed in the lawn and the flower beds. It was everywhere, absolutely terrible.I used the "sandwish bag and Roundup" strategy, that is some roundup in a plastic sandwish bag held around the weed by and elastic. It looked really weird on my lawn, all those little "pony tails". But then it did kill the weeds, and i had less and less,. after 3 years, the bindweed is almost gone, I found only 3 this year that received the same treatment.Part of the lawn got damaged by some Roubdup leeks and I had to reseed some bold spots here and there, but that was not too bad.The beauty of the treatment is that when you treat one weed, yopu actually kill more than one because the roots are all mixed together.

Gardeners' World Web User

03/09/2009 at 20:53

have tried the lot and still get the dreaded bindweed.

Gardeners' World Web User

07/09/2009 at 11:29

Beulah. I'm sure you're not alone. So the battle continues ... it can be won if you really persist!

Gardeners' World Web User

14/10/2009 at 19:34

I used to have a problem in one of the borders but I found just pulling them up rather than digging weakened the plants and I hardly see any now

Gardeners' World Web User

14/12/2009 at 12:32

I have bindweed big time. For example, a fully mature sycamore tree has been covered by it,almost completely, at the end of my garden.I have cut the roots which were at least 4" in diameter at the base of the tree. The surrounding garden is also covered with the menace. How do I eradicate this monster?? Laz.

Gardeners' World Web User

13/06/2010 at 13:46

gosh. we have a rather long garden and is our little haven! We have an arch at the back and have bought some climbing plants (rose, jasmine and celmentis) to grow up it. We LOVE the bindweed! We let it grow in our garden as we love the flowers and effect it has. We do get rid of ones strangeling plants we like but we leave it in places like climbing tree and thickening out bushes. We tried to move some to our arch last year but they died but this year some have re-grown!I have very carefully tried to move some baby ones this year in hope it may take.... Helen

Gardeners' World Web User

17/07/2010 at 07:27

i made a big mistake by mowing a very much over grown flower border now the whole garden has got bind weed i am told the only way to cure this ,is to spray the whole area with RED DIESEL and it is gauranteed to be effective

Gardeners' World Web User

10/09/2010 at 13:39

I have found a far simpler way of eradicating bindweed from this link. http://mcgregorsdaughter.blogspot.com/2008/07/squirrelhaven-method-of-bindweed.html Digging, covering and spraying all have their downsides. It's naive to think that one can dig out all the roots. It's dangerous and fiddly to spray near the plants you want to keep. The drops of weed killer that drips off the leaves invariably hit your plants. It also needs to be done more than once. Covering the bindweed, I've found does not work, even after more than a year, (although I did not spray it), it’s unrealistic on established borders. Although it is painstaking, this method really has to be done only once. Instead of spraying, you need to paint on NEAT concentrate of glysophate to the stump of the main stem near the ground. Uncover the base of the stem, and cut it to ground level. Paint on the neat concentrate onto this stump. Yes, it's small, yes it's back breaking, but it's the only method that I've found that works beyond doubt on one application. I had a run away bindweed and bramble problem but after sifting through my borders one by one this year, I know I will have a bindweed free garden next year!! Good luck to you all.

Gardeners' World Web User

28/11/2011 at 18:39

I agree entirely. It is terrible stuff to get rid of. You may enjoy this article: http://caughtinthemiddleman.wordpress.com/2008/01/25/the-good-life/

Charlie Piechniczek

29/06/2012 at 20:48

Come on manufacturers go back to making Glyphosate gel in bottles with a brush rather than the new round-up applicator.