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Mystery weed

GrajeanGrajean Posts: 429
in Problem solving
I have just found a strange weed choking a rose. It had wound around the stems and produced pods like peas. 9 long thin leaves on stem. Sorry no picture. Any ideas?
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Posts

  • LynLyn Posts: 22,865
    edited July 2018
    Bindweed? Is it like this although this doesn’t have pods. 

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391
    One of the vetches?

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • GrajeanGrajean Posts: 429
    Yes, I have just looked at some pics and it is that. Is it a harmful weed ?
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,555
    Are you sure because it looks like convolvulous to me.
  • GrajeanGrajean Posts: 429
    Sure its vetch. The picture was posted by Lyn!
  • ZeroZero1ZeroZero1 Posts: 577
    Bindweed is a real problem. Beautiful flowers but will overpower your whole border if left alone. The problem is it is rampant nad if you simply pull it out, the roots regrow. The roots are easily snapped (they are white like spaggetti) and each piece regrows the next year.
    My advice, never left it flower, everytime you see it deal with it immediately be either digging out the whole root, or, as I do, apply a little hormonal weedkiller (glyphosphate) and let that get to the roots before yankng it out. 
  • FireFire Posts: 17,352
    Lyn posted a picture of bindweed. Quite different from vetch. No seed pods.

    Bindweed:


    Vetch:






  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391
    edited July 2018
    Vetches are annuals, so collect the seed pods if you don't want it growing back under the roses next year.  If it had purple flowers similar to the photo Fire posted, it is likely Bush vetch (Vicia sepium) - info here:

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • GrajeanGrajean Posts: 429
    That's the one Bob. Thanks for pics Fire.
  • FireFire Posts: 17,352
    Vetch is a type of native pea that is often grown as green manure as it enriches the soil with nitrogen. Is it a widespread problem in your garden?
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