Bindweed

A million apologies guys. I am going to have a load of questions for you all as time goes by.

Will a systemic weedkiller get rid of bindweed? I have turned over the soil in the effected area and removed as many of the roots as I have been able to but I have noticed that a couple of shoots are appearing around the edges mainly against the wall. If I spray them with a systemic weedkiller as soon as they appear, will I eventually rid myself of them, or am I just wasting my money?

 

You need a Translocated Spray, Roundup, is ok but something stronger can sometimes be purchased from your allotment association shop.

I have always said if you keep removing the weeds leaves and stems you will starve the plants in time.

 

Thanks Lad ... I know from my Biology days that if you deprive a plant from absorbing the suns rays that it will find it difficult to survive but, I am also aware of some persistant little blighters who find a new lease of life when you stop spraying!

OK, so 'translocated' spray ... never heard of the animal so a little research is in order. Thanks for the pointer.

 

Translocated means it goes down to the root and kills it stone dead.

I have a degree in Biological Sciences, I loved school biology.

 

Ah, that is what I understood 'systemic' to mean!

Thanks again ... I will go shopping and see what is on offer.

 

Best not to disturb the ground, just spray with Round up, wait a bit, then spray again. Repeat until you are convinced it is dead.

Digging it out is a non-starter. Its very deep rooted and far reaching.

Starving it by regular topping is also a non-starter. Being so deep routed and far reaching, the same roots will supply many top side vines. Some of which will be outside your jurisdiction and they will photosynthesise for the roots in your patch.

Keep the ground moist, health plants metabolise the glyphosate faster, and there may be seeds on the floor which will be unaffected by glyphosate until they germinate, so you want them to germinate on your terms (if you can) rather than lying in wait in dry soil, waiting for you to lower your guard.

 

Paraquat is the best but so strong it is regulated and you must have a special license.

 

Paraquat isn't systemic is it? Doesn't it just kill the stuff it comes into contact with? If I'm right (and I may not be) then it wouldn't be effective against bindweed in the long term, although you'd see visible results much more quickly.

 

Go to top of the class!

It MIGHT maybe work in very long term, but something like Roundup that contains glyphosate a translocating herbicide would work better.

Some info regarding herbicides here >
http://www.weed-killer.net/

It is possible to get rid of bindweed by chopping its head off - I did it in a lawn, but it can take a couple of seasons.

 

I would not be inclined to cut the leaves off, but rather to encourage them to grow - even to the point of giving them a little support to grow up. Then when you have got a good quantity of leaves, stuff then into a polythene bag with Roundup, or any glyphosphate weedkiller. Better still crush the stems first. That way you will have a large surface area through which the glyphosphate can be absorbed. And by having it in a bag, the leaves will be in continuous contact and unaffected by any rain.

On a different note, I understand that the concentrated Paraquat, that gardeners can't get hold of - but I believe farmers can - is very dangerous. Its absorbed through the skin, and I have been told that if you stick your arm in a drum of the stuff - just the skin contact can kill you.

 

Shopping for roundup tomorrow. When the little bleepers pop their leafy heads up I'll spray them.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed.

 

Products containing Glyphosate will do ("generic" products after Roundup Patent finished).

Some say (myself included) that Roundup is better, others disagree!, but Roundup is more expensive. (Personally I think the surfactants [which make it stick to the plant leaves] may be better, and thus I get a better "kill" from Roundup)

Don't get it on any plants you want to keep (or your boots if you are going to walk across a lawn after spraying)

Don't use it if it will rain within 6 hours

Don't expect to see any signs for a week (unless you buy Resolver brand) - it has to get down to the roots before it starts acting. Anything not positively unhappy after two weeks then spray those bits again.

That's the sum-total of what I know on the subject!