West Seattle Blog...

WSB Forum » Open Discussion

1. r26
   Member Profile

   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convolvulus

   It is my arch nemesis.

   Anyone have any ideas? I really can't use round-up with a dog & 2 kids running around.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

2. cjboffoli
   Member Profile

   

   In some parts of the country they use bindweed mites which are a pest from Europe that only eats bindweed. Hydrolyzed Corn protein/organic corn gluten is also a very effective, natural weed killer. You might also try a spray bottle full of cheap gin.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

3. herongrrrl
   Member Profile

   r26, you have my profound sympathies. That stuff is from another planet, I swear. I have spent entire weekends doing nothing but digging it out only to have it resprout a week later.

   I am very dedicated to natural methods of handling pest species, but have to say I never found a successful one to deal with bindweed. My compromise, which seems to work pretty well, is to use Roundup (shudder) but do it by painting individual leaves of the plant with the poison. This kills the plant but doesn't get in the soil or on any other plants nearby. It's labor intensive, but certainly no more so than trying to dig it all up.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

4. WSMom
   Member Profile

   

   My wonderful neighbor with nearly 70 years of gardening experience once told me to just continue to pull out weeds consistently, that weeds will eventually give up and die if they're pulled out of the ground enough. For many years I have had a real hard time with horsetail weeds, they are now mostly eradicated through constant weekly weeding during the spring and summer. She says that if the root isn't fed by the stem and leaf it will die just like any other plant. Her advice has worked for me. Good luck with the convolvulus.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

5. WSMom
   Member Profile

   

   I should also mention, in 2001 I used Roundup selectively on each weed. I was told to use a paintbrush and wipe a small amount on each weed first thing in the morning of a very warm day (85 plus). I didn't feel good about doing it, but it did give me a chance to get ahead of the weed and have been able to keep the horsetail at bay ever since through hand pulling.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

6. jwws
   Member Profile

   

   r26,

   Although I also agree with WSMom, try some white distilled vinegar directly on the plants - it's worked for me with my neighbor's encroaching weeds! Good luck!

   Posted 2 years ago #         

7. r26
   Member Profile

   I think I'll just DRINK the gin & then I won't care... :)
   Thanks all!

   Posted 2 years ago #         

8. The Velvet Bulldog
   Member Profile

   Here is some very general bindweed removal info: http://www.pesticide.org/bindweed.html

   Posted 2 years ago #         

9. carrieann
   Member Profile

   

   Thanks for asking this. I've been doing a lot of yard work in the past few months, and this stuff is evil. I pull it up (seems to come out rather easily, which I suppose is one plus) and I swear it's back within a couple of days. It's wrapped around other plants, the fence, gutter downspouts, anything it can touch.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

10. cjboffoli
    Member Profile

    

    No matter how carefully you apply Roundup you are introducing chemical pesticide into the soil and there is the potential that some of it is going to wash out into the already fragile Sound.

    Posted 2 years ago #         

11. DM
    Member Profile

    I've always thought that if we could harness the growing energy of the bindweed (or ****ing morning glory as I fondly refer to it) we could eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels.

    I don't like using round-up. The only method I've found that is some what successful is to approach it like a meditation: quiet your mind, don't be in a hurry, gingerly loosen up the soil with a gardening fork and then lightly tug on the vine and ease the vine and root out of the dirt without snapping it. Patience. As soon as you feel impatient, step away from the vines. Never weed when you are hungry, angry, lonely or tired!

    I'm trying to convince myself....

    I'm feeling punchy after being in the sun all morning, weeding. I need a mad dog or Englishman to come over and finish up.

    Posted 2 years ago #         

12. hammerhead
    Member Profile

    

    thanks for all the info on morning glory it as taken over my "compost" pile. but again it crawls in the fence from my neighbors. i will use some of the ideas

    Posted 2 years ago #         

13. MrJT
    Member Profile

    

    On the upside, we are using the neighbors’ bindweed to eradicate their trees that are going to block our view in a couple of years.

    Posted 2 years ago #         

14. JanS
    Member Profile

    

    nice upside, Mr. JT. - hehehe. I actually have a tattoo that is a morning glory vine, flowers, tendrils, a little fairy sitting on one of the leaves...I think the flowers are beautiful, but they sure do take over everything, huh...

    Posted 2 years ago #         

15. Mike D.
    Member Profile

    For me, growing-season after growing-season pulling of bindweed/morning glory as it comes out of the soil has been successful at eradicating the stuff. It has taken nearly five years, but very little rears its ugly head. You have to stay on it every few days. Don't let the nasty plant beat you!

    http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/animalsandplants/noxious-weeds/weed-identification/field-bindweed.aspx

    Posted 2 years ago #         

16. Crowe
    Member Profile

    

    Agree with r26. Vinegar works wonders. . Elbow grease and vinegar.

    Posted 2 years ago #         

17. JoB
    Member Profile

    the only remedy mentioned here that i haven't tried is gin...

    i wasn't able to get rid of it in the last house and i am not able to get rid of it in this one either...

    i have to say tho.. of all the weeds threatening to overtake this yard.. morning glory is the prettiest...

    Posted 2 years ago #         

RSS feed for this topic

Reply

You must log in to post.