Bindweed should I use weed killer / vinegar/ cover ?

[imgoinginsaneinthemembrane]

I have taken over an allotment plot and it is covered in bindweed. Not something I've ever had in my garden. It regrows in a week. I have dug some of the beds and covered them in plastic, but it is growing out the sides already as the wood is rotten and the beds failing apart. I sprayed a little weed killer today on these edges, but I've not used it before and it stunk. I usually take my toddler and dog there so I'm not keen on this long term. Any suggestions on what to do? Will vinegar work or effect the soil?

I had an allotment covered in bindweed. I slowly dug a patch at a time going down a spade deep, and pulled out every bit of white root that I could find. Last year was the first year but there’s definitely only a small amount this year so I just dig it up as I see it.

If you want to use weedkiller then the usually way is to allow is to grow up a cane and then out the foliage in a plastic bag and then spray it. The weed killer is absorbed the the leaves and transfer it down to the roots.

Alternatively you could try the no dig method where you cover with card and then 6 inches of compost. I think this is an expensive way of dealing with it. Our allotment neighbour has tried this so it will be interesting to compare at the end of this year.

We had this when we moved in here, honestly digging it up and removing all traces of the weeds are the only way.

Keep digging, don't rotovate. The method above with the plastic bag works...but you probably need to do both. Then after getting up as much as possible....try no dig.

It’s a war not a battle. I think to make weedkiller work you’d need to spray off the whole area - not sure how you feel about that - and the damn stuff would still creep back. Vinegar is very bad for the soil - just because it’s a ‘natural’ substance doesn't mean it’s benign. So one really good dig to start with, then keep pulling it out and digging up roots. If you soil is nice and friable it can be quite satisfying to dig up following along the shoots.

I've only managed to clear with the dig it all out method, but luckily it doesn't go too deep and once you clear a section, go back over the following week to catch the runners.

I have zero budget, luckily so no chance of hiring a rotivator, although my patch neighbour, we are semi detached, suggested I should. Made me laugh as his plot is nearly as bad. Maybe that's his plan.

Interesting on the cardboard, but I would need to buy the compost. The soil isn't too bad it has obviously had stuff added in the past as we are in a clay area, it just the bindweed, oh and endless rhubarbs, I'm assuming they spread themselves too, as surely not anybody would plant 50 rhubarbs . They are very hard to dig out as the root goes down forever, I have been gifting them on if I can get them out in a reasonable condition.

It doesn't need to be covered in compost, just several layers of cardboard with a few bricks holding them down will do, on areas you aren't ready to cultivate. Cover most of it, and work on the rest. Uncover a bit as you get on top of the rest.

The area where the rhubarb is will be hard to clear, because it will live in the rhubarb roots. I'd leave that till last, just keeping it from getting worse while you pull and eat the rhubarb (freezes really well and with no prep, by the way).

I want someone to train slugs to eat bindweed and nothing else (except maybe ground elder.) But until then, we have to keep digging.

And burn what you pull out, don't put it in compost!

Systematic weed killer like round up mixed with corn starch or wallpaper paste so it sticks to the plant. Coat the above ground growth with it and then tuck into a plastic bag so the weed killer doesn’t touch anything you want to keep. Reapply two weeks later if needed.
Normal household vinager is only around 5% acetic acid so won’t touch much above small surface weeds. horticultural Strength vinager is around 20% and is just as dangerous as using commercial weed killers. It can cause burns and damage eyes on contact and that is before we get into what environmental damage it can cause.

@EBearhug

I want someone to train slugs to eat bindweed and nothing else (except maybe ground elder.) But until then, we have to keep digging.

That would genius

If you want to use weedkiller then the usually way is to allow is to grow up a cane and then out the foliage in a plastic bag and then spray it. The weed killer is absorbed the the leaves and transfer it down to the roots. That works very effectively with glyphosate, a systemic weedkiller, but that's been banned in Europe and I think is being withdrawn here.

I don't know whether there are any systemic weedkillers available to the gardener that aren't glyphosate (Round up)

And burn what you pull out, don't put it in compost! Above ground green stems won't re-root and can go into compost. White bits - leave out on a sunny path until they are well and truly dried and dead, and then they can be composted. If they're worried about emissions from wood burning stoves I think as gardeners we should be avoiding bonfires.

I've dug over a lot and sprayed some resolva weed killer between the pavers. I picked up it last night on only sprayed a few sprouts of bindweed. I'm surprised how much it still smelt when I popped by this morning, but never used anything more than an occasional slug pellet before. I actually found a massive bindweed plant in the compost heap I've inherited, so I sprayed that too 😬 They already look brown despite some rain in the night, let's hope it's gone into the roots.

I'm in the UK and this says contains Glyphosate. Very stinky, not going to be using it often. I've also picked up some plastic to cover some beds once weeded. I won't be able to plant up everything this year and be on mission bindweed.

DON'T use weedkiller especially the one above it kills wildlife stone dead.
I had a garden chocka full of bindweed and sorted it in 6 months - you just pull up every bit above the soil as soon as you see it and it gradually kills the roots from lack of sunlight.
Yes you can use weedkillers but the bindweed grows back again in less than a month.

Plastic won't kill bindweed either - it grows underneath and when you lift it up it is a mass of anaemic roots right there on the surface ready to burst out into bloom.

Honestly whoever said gardening was a relaxing hobby had obviously never done battle with bindweed, it is my nemesis

Glyphosate is a systemic- it's absorbed into the plant and affects their growth mechanisms. So it usually takes 2-3 weeks before you see any sign that it's working.

@Shehasadiamondinthesky

Plastic won't kill bindweed either - it grows underneath and when you lift it up it is a mass of anaemic roots right there on the surface ready to burst out into bloom.

@Shehasadiamondinthesky

Nooooooo break it to me gently. I've only just found out what it is and I have deep hate for the bindweed. Maybe it's why the plot was given up.

I used to have a lot of bindweed (and even more ground elder) in my garden. It took ages, but I just kept digging it up every week. Over time there is far, far less of it and what does come is weaker. It only comes through in part of one bed now. By being alert to it, I can gently pull it and still get all the root.

My nemesis is green alkanet. I really need to get out digging this weekend before it flowers.

The other day in Wilko I noticed roundup have a new product without glyphosate called roundup naturals.
www.wilko.com/en-uk/roundup-naturals-weedkiller-1l/p/0489454

Not tried it yet but think I might have a go with the weeds between the gaps on the patio. I will report back on the results but I doubt it would do much against bind weed.

@Proudboomer

The other day in Wilko I noticed roundup have a new product without glyphosate called roundup naturals. www.wilko.com/en-uk/roundup-naturals-weedkiller-1l/p/0489454

Not tried it yet but think I might have a go with the weeds between the gaps on the patio. I will report back on the results but I doubt it would do much against bind weed.

It contains pelargonium acid (derived from pelargonium plants) as is a fairly new weed killer by Neudorff: www.amazon.co.uk/Neudorff-Superfast-Lasting-Weedkiller-750ML/dp/B071CDSNCB/ref=sr_1_2?hvlocphy=1007135&hvnetw=g&keywords=neudorff+weedfree+plus&hvadid=335940802731&qid=1620397560&dchild=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwytOEBhD5ARIsANnRjVjqrxtufbcdHdpGYHbRTxc9QmvFeiqT-tLbLwLIwPct0XSFQeWVf3UaAvrLEALw_wcB&hydadcr=5944_1758465&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=kwd-765238583036&adgrpid=71253535361&hvrand=3072767521104165216&sr=8-2 which also claims to kill marestail. (It does, up to a point). So it seems weedkillers are undergoing a small revolution!

Sorry for the long link!

Should read Pelargonic acid!

@EBearhug

I want someone to train slugs to eat bindweed and nothing else (except maybe ground elder.) But until then, we have to keep digging.

I've often thought this! It would be nice if the slugs could be trained to eat herb Robert and green alkanet while they're at it.

Since the council reduced verge cutting to once a year, the verge a couple of doors along has become a massive alkanet farm. I'm minded to strim it before it sets seed, but the man who lives there never answers the door and it seems a bit rude to do it without asking.