Weeds are annoying, but they are part of gardening and fortunately there are harmless methods or means of getting rid of them in most situations - sometimes quicker and less complicated, sometimes not. The field bindweed is one of the more stubborn pests and is a thorn in the side of many people, even though it is actually quite pretty. How can you combat bindweed? Is there a way to remove them naturally?
Bindweed, or field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), are at least not invasive and grow in rather smaller areas, so they don't necessarily have to be a nuisance. If so, they can of course do something. Natural agents as fertilizers, for pest control andagainst weedsare, fortunately, the preferred choice among gardeners these days. That's why we focused on this for today's article. If you want to fight field bindweed, it is usually enough to simply remain consistent and be patient.
Fighting the field bindweed – does it make sense and is necessary?
As already mentioned, field bindweeds do not take up much space or pose a major threat to plants. It produces white-pink flowers that not only look really pretty but are also beneficial to insects. Bees, for example, love to snack on them, so the creeper is actually very useful for a bee-friendly garden. Nevertheless, in some cases it can become annoying, especially when it is aroundCrops such as potatoes, corn and co. wraps. If the morning glories find nothing to climb up, they tend to spread out on the ground and can “infest” the lawn.
What to do about the winds as weeds?
What helps against field bindweed? If you don't necessarily want to remove them completely, but just want to limit your growing area, it's enough to simply cut through the shoots in the summer with a hoe or similar garden tool. Do this as close to the ground as possible. If the bindweed has already wrapped itself around valuable garden plants, you should not pull off the severed shoots afterwards, as this would cause damage to the affected plants. Instead, let them dry out so that they eventually fall off on their own.
Do you want to combat bindweed permanently?
Then a little more patience is required. Since the plant has very deep roots (up to 2 meters), you can assume that simply pulling them out will not be a solution. The twisting shoots are quite thin and will tear quickly if you try this. However, the root remains in the soil, so the plant will soon sprout again. How can you get rid of the bindweed then?
- Chop off the above-ground shoots again and again from the start, throughout the summer.
- The nutrients stored in the root decrease over time.
- At some point the climbing plant no longer has enough strength to sprout again.
- Be patient! It will take a long time for the wind to reach this point, and in most cases the entire season will have to pass.
Alternatively or in addition, you can cover the weeds
At the point where thatWeeds growing out of the ground, lay out cardboard. Also spread bark mulch over it. On the one hand, this prevents sunlight from reaching the climbing plant, which, like all plants, is important for growth. On the other hand, in this way you also disrupt the oxygen supply, so that the plant suffocates.
Why chemical agents are useless against field bindweed
One might think that chemical-based control agents work quickly and effectively, even if they are harmful. But you will be surprised to know that using such means will not necessarily mean that you will invest less time in combating them, as they always have to be applied to each leaf. Pretty tedious, isn't it? For this reason it is not recommended not only from an ecological point of view. It's simply not worth making this compromise, as the winch can also develop resistance over time. Instead, do it as described above.
Fight field bindweed with vinegar
Among other things, vinegar is often touted as the perfect weed killer. And although in most cases it is really effective, you should know that it not only harms the microorganisms in the soil, but may also harm other plants. For this reason it is for the applicationAlso prohibited in the garden. The same applies to salt, by the way.
If you still want to use a specific remedy to get rid of the bindweed naturally, it is better to use hot water that you pour onto the area in which the plant grows. Be careful not to accidentally destroy other garden plants in the process.
