Talkback: Bindweed

Gardeners' World Web User

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gardeners' World Web User

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

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.