Zigs New Greenhouse

Aesculus · Nov 13, 2011

ziggy searchfield said: ↑
No manufacturers name on it.

Measures 8' x 6'

Probably have to grow things in pots for the first season, just been digging the bindweed & couch grass roots out.

Will use Clueless1's patent bindweed destruction method, its the only way to be sure.

Nice & warm in there, 22c this afternoon
Click to expand...

What's that then Zigs?

Phil A · Nov 13, 2011

Dave knows his enemy -

#14 clueless1
Jardiner Formidablé

Definitely bindweed, and it is a real fighter. You need to start tackling it asap. Another month and it will be away like mad.

I'm afraid I'm going to have to disagree with the advice about digging it out. ANY piece of root left behind, even a tiny piece, will simply spawn a new plant. Don't try to pull it out while its small either, all that will happen is you'll get two or three new shoots for every one you pull out.

You will need a plentiful supply of glyphosate based weedkiller. I recommend Roundup. Ok, its a bit pricey, but I've tried a number of different brands and found roundup to be most effective. To save money, because you may need more than one spray bottle full over the next few months, you could get one spray bottle of the ready mixed stuff, and a small bottle of Roundup concentrate that you mix with water to refill your spray bottle.

Don't do anything to physically damage the plants. They have to be actively growing for glyphosate to work. Even water them if the ground gets to dry. Water in the evening (in dry weather) and spray with roundup the following morning, ie so that the plant is well watered, but watering doesn't rinse off the roundup. This way, the microscopic pores in the plant's leaves that they use for breathing in CO2 during the day will be open (they close as a defense mechanism if the plant is dehydrating), and that's the route in for the glyphosate. Spraying in the morning means that glyphosate sits on the foliage for hours for the plant to metabolise it, whereas if you spray in the evening then the plants will be in a much less active state and therefore absorb less glyphosate.

Spray at least twice per week. The label probably says once per week, but don't believe it. Twice is the minimum. You need to keep up the pressure on this persistent enemy.

You will also need to hunt it down. If you don't get it all, it will quickly recolonise your garden. Look behind sheds and among long grass, under fence panels etc, zapping it on sight. If it appears to be invading from a neighbour's, have a word with the neighbour to see if you can attack it on their patch too.

Expect it to come back for a while even after you think you've won. If it's been there a while, it will have set seed in previous years. Those seeds will be in your soil, and glyphosate doesn't affect seeds. Keeping the ground watered will help them to germinate, which is what you want because then you can find them and zap them.

Don't plant anything straight into the ground in that patch for at least a few months. Even with a carefully targeted attack, there is always collateral damage, and glyphosate is indiscrimate. Also bindweed has a terrible tendence to send shoots up straight through the roots of your good plants, so that the chances of getting it while its small without getting your good plants is slim.

Good luck. I've fought it and won (at my last house), and for the past couple of weeks have been fighting again at my new house. It is a tough battle, but it can be done. Bindweed is persistent and determined, so to beat it you have to be more persistent and more determined.
Click to expand...

Phil A · Nov 13, 2011

Scrungee said: ↑
I intend using the hot bed method of heating in poly tunnels next spring, but with them raised above the intervening beds so they will benefit from their warmth.

I've found bindweed really suffers once covered by a greenhouse or polytunnel and doesn't take much further effort to weaken/destroy it.
Click to expand...

Nearly understand that first bit Scrunge

Thats good to know about the bindweed

Scrungee · Nov 13, 2011

ziggy searchfield said: ↑
Nearly understand that first bit Scrunge
Click to expand...

What I mean is something like raised 600 x 450 x 450mm total height hot beds at each end of 600mm wide beds, so they will heat not only the 600 x 450mm soil bed on top, but the 600mm wide beds between them below, especially if they have a cloche type cover over the bed, fitted between the raised hot beds at each end.

Phil A · Nov 13, 2011

I'm with you now, tried to picture it but kept coming up with a picture of a staircase by Escher in my head.

Thats usually a bad thing in my case.

Log in or Sign up

Zigs New Greenhouse

Aesculus Bureaucrat 34 (Admin)

Phil A Guest

Phil A Guest

Scrungee Well known for it

Phil A Guest

Happy birthday Zigs

Happy Birthday Zigs!

I need psychiatric help (Zigs)

Happy Birthday Zigs!

Looks like someone needs our Zigs!

Share This Page

Log in or Sign up

Zigs New Greenhouse

Aesculus Bureaucrat 34 (Admin)

Phil A Guest

Phil A Guest

Scrungee Well known for it

Phil A Guest

Happy birthday Zigs

Happy Birthday Zigs!

I need psychiatric help (Zigs)

Happy Birthday Zigs!

Looks like someone needs our Zigs!

Share This Page

Useful Searches