Bindweed Removal - Ask Extension
Is there any way to get rid of wild morning glory? I have it in a planting bed and now it is in the lawn. I have tried pulling it by the roots, diggin...
Knowledgebase
Bindweed Removal #877341
Asked July 15, 2024, 3:25 PM EDT
Is there any way to get rid of wild morning glory? I have it in a planting bed and now it is in the lawn. I have tried pulling it by the roots, digging out the crowns, and spraying round-up. I really don't want it to creep further into my yard.
Lane County Oregon
Expert Response
As you have seen, this is a very persistant plant.
The best way to get rid of bindweed is to cut it off at soil level. Don't bother pulling it up; it will just sprout wherever you tore the roots, and it is virtually impossible to get all the roots out. Roots can go 20 ft. deep. By continually cutting it off at ground level, and doing it as soon as you possibly can, you will eventually starve the plant (since it will be unable to photosynthesize), and it will die. Be patient! You may have to do this many times, but it will eventually do the trick. Roundup is not very effective as the plant is resistant and also the herbicide cannot affect the huge network of roots.
This URL is a very complete study of this weed. It also highlighted the complexity of the problem. Excluding light completely helps greatly, but the seeds already in the soil tend to persist. Sorry for the bad news.
https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7462.html
The best way to get rid of bindweed is to cut it off at soil level. Don't bother pulling it up; it will just sprout wherever you tore the roots, and it is virtually impossible to get all the roots out. Roots can go 20 ft. deep. By continually cutting it off at ground level, and doing it as soon as you possibly can, you will eventually starve the plant (since it will be unable to photosynthesize), and it will die. Be patient! You may have to do this many times, but it will eventually do the trick. Roundup is not very effective as the plant is resistant and also the herbicide cannot affect the huge network of roots.
This URL is a very complete study of this weed. It also highlighted the complexity of the problem. Excluding light completely helps greatly, but the seeds already in the soil tend to persist. Sorry for the bad news.
https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7462.html
Thank you for the information on that nasty bindweed. I will start cutting!
Candace Ford
From: ask=<personal data hidden> <ask=<personal data hidden>> on behalf of Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>>
Sent: Thursday, July 18, 2024 2:50 PM
To: Candace M Ford <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: Bindweed Removal (#0147259)
Sent: Thursday, July 18, 2024 2:50 PM
To: Candace M Ford <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: Bindweed Removal (#0147259)
Good luck!
