For Release May 23, 2004

Bothersome Bindweed

AGRI-VIEWS
by Chuck Otte, Geary County Extension Agent

Around 1870, immigrants from the Ukraine landed in central Kansas. They brought with them bags of Turkey Red Wheat. And in those bags of Turkey Red Wheat there were seeds of another plant, namely field bindweed. Whether the story is true or not, field bindweed did arrive in the United States 130 years ago and has spread very well throughout the country.

Field bindweed is a deep rooted perennial vine that grows equally well in all types of soils and all locations that receive moderate to full sun. In one growing season, a new plant can develop a root system that goes four feet deep and out ten feet. In a couple of growing seasons, it can develop roots to a depth of 18 to 20 feet and extend out about the same distance. When hot dry weather arrives, an established field bindweed plant is well equipped to out compete almost anything else.

Most field bindweed plants that we are dealing with are established plants. The new shoots start emerging in mid April. The vines can quickly shoot out to several feet in length in just a matter of weeks. The vines are very content to just grow across the ground, but if they encounter a fence, a plant or even a rock outcrop, they'll climb and twist right up them without hesitation.

By late May the first blossoms, white to pinkish trumpet shaped flowers, are seen and under good conditions it will continue to bloom well into August, producing mature seed even as it is blooming. The plant will continue to grow into the fall until temperatures start dropping below 20 degrees, usually in November. The plant only spreads by seed, clipped vines can not re-root and continue growing.

There is no way to control field bindweed with a single action. Because of its extensive root system, persistence is a necessity. In lawns, pastures and waste areas, away from sensitive plants 2,4-D, dicamba and picloram can be used effectively. Many of the broadleaf lawn weed control products provide good control of field bindweed, if used properly. Early in the season, up until about bloom time, the plant is busy sending food and energy up out of the root system. Once it starts blooming, and especially in the fall, the plant is busy sending food down to the roots. You can treat anytime it starts blooming, but control is better with fall treatments and your best control comes from combinations of treatments.

In gardens the best herbicide option is to carefully pull one foot or longer vines away from desirable plants and then spray the vines with glyphosate (i.e., Roundup or a similar product). Whenever new vines come up, let them get about a foot long before you spray them. Eventually you'll see stunted little vines instead of long healthy vines, just keep spraying them, and eventually, in a couple of years, you can control it.

Field bindweed can also be controlled by tillage. The key is timing of the tillage. Hoe or clip the vines as far below the ground as you can. Then start watching the area every day. Once a new vine appears above ground, start counting. Fourteen to seventeen days after new vine emergence, the root reserves reach their lowest point and then start increasing, rapidly. So if you constantly clip at about 16 days after new vine emergence, you can eventually run the plant out of food. Bindweed is a tough weed, but persistence can pay off!

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