kate&kids Posted April 22, 2006 Share Posted April 22, 2006 We have bindweed (also called convululous or withywine) running rampant in our garden. I've tried digging it out for several years but it just cames back slightly worse each year. We garden organically but I'm afraid that I may have to resort to weedkiller. But what can I use with chickens and rabbits free range in the garden or does anyone have a better idea? Looking forward to any replies Kate&kids Primrose on order due 6/5/06 Lavender Mk2 and Rosemary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted April 22, 2006 Share Posted April 22, 2006 We dont have bindweed (we dont have grass ) I typed bindweed into the BBC website and came up with this: Question from Pat Byatt: How can I organically eliminate bindweed from a vegetable plot? Matthew: You have to be very persistent, and keep going through the bed with a fork and picking the roots out. If you leave a tiny piece it will actually re-grow. This mechanical method does work, but it just takes time. Bob: Most bindweeds spread over a really large area, so it's probably coming from beyond the vegetable bed. If so, dig a slit trench round the vegetable bed and line it with plastic to stop it coming back in again. Then keep digging up and removing the roots when you turn it over, but also whenever you see a shoot appear above ground just pull it off, because no plant can survive if you keep taking the leaves away at least twice a week. Persistence is the only way to get rid of it. Nigel: An alternative is to cover areas of soil with black polythene or old carpet for a year, if you can afford to sacrifice bits of your vegetable garden this year. Dig up all the bindweed you can and any other perennial weeds first, and when you take the cover off the soil should be pretty well sterile. You'll need to disturb the soil as soon as you take the polythene off, and you'll be dismayed at the mass of weed seedlings that germinate. That's quite natural, but they're easy to hoe out when young. Do that and you should have a fairly clean bit of soil. ! Then do another part next year. If you want to use chemicals I guess someone will be along to say what is safe for chooks and other animals. Sorry I couldnt be much more help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 22, 2006 Share Posted April 22, 2006 (edited) Mel - thanks for looking that up and it would be helpful if two of them weren't talking a complete load of ******** (not your fault Mel ) Only the Nigel method will work and that's OK if you can afford to take a part of your plot out of cultivation We have lived with bindweed now for 10 years and it just keeps growing - despite picking it twice a week The next way I was going to try was......... Put a stick in the ground by the bindweed and let it grow up. When it is quite well grown (and not strangling your plants either which is good) put a carrier bag around the plant, spray carefully inside the bag with weedkiller and fold the bag in and weigh it down. not exactly Organic - but I was at my wits end with it in this garden - to the extent that we are now moving Edited April 22, 2006 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted April 22, 2006 Share Posted April 22, 2006 .........or, when it is high around the cane, put on some gloves and spray your gloves with killer and rub the leaves through your hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted April 22, 2006 Share Posted April 22, 2006 so i've been found out no green fingers at all (no green grass either!) never had bindweed and I thought "well its on the bbc site so it MUST be true ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley-Jean Posted April 22, 2006 Share Posted April 22, 2006 I would like to add that you must Never, Never, Ever put any bind weed, leaf stem or root onto your compost heap (Same goes for cooch grass) You'll spread it everywhere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Cluck Posted April 24, 2006 Share Posted April 24, 2006 We suffered terrible for years with bindweed - since we have had the chickens (last october) I havent noticed any bindweed anywhere - they are eating it and scratching it up for me. Used to have a big patch of bindweed intwined in some piracantha - could not get to it for the thorns, but this year the chickens have got it all. They are also very good at weeding our paths. The only thing they dont eat for us are the nettles. lyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted April 24, 2006 Share Posted April 24, 2006 We have Bindweed, mares tail, and new for this year Ground Elder, aren't I the lucky one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted April 24, 2006 Share Posted April 24, 2006 Ground Elder is the pits. Learn to love it Trish! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 25, 2006 Share Posted April 25, 2006 Ground elder is quite pretty - if you can contain it Our chickens won't touch the bindweed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley-Jean Posted April 25, 2006 Share Posted April 25, 2006 We used to have a tortoise who almost cleared our garden of bind weed. Sadly he came out of hibernation very early one spring and was killed by a very late hard frost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted April 25, 2006 Share Posted April 25, 2006 Ground elder is quite pretty - if you can contain it Our chickens won't touch the bindweed Do you want to borrow our girls? (we'll loan them to you for some new turf ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 26, 2006 Share Posted April 26, 2006 When I moved here 9 years ago the garden was covered with bindweed. It was everywhere, over all the bushes and plants and also in the grass. I'm quite a fiend with it and ripped it all out regularly. (I have a reputation for it and can't resist doing it wherever I am ) It took about 5 years but now we hardly have any. I worked on the principle that all plants get their energy through photosynthesis and need their leaves to do this. Provided I kept it up, the bindweed was starved because there were never enough leaves above ground. Be persistent! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieW Posted April 26, 2006 Share Posted April 26, 2006 I worked on the principle that all plants get their energy through photosynthesis So did I, so when a friend moved house and was taking out a good quality wool carpet, we laid it in our garden. We now have a very pretty flowery carpet covered with bindweed. I think it originates in our neighbour's garden so there's not much I can do about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 26, 2006 Share Posted April 26, 2006 Just keep ripping it out, on a daily basis. You will eventually control it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red Posted April 26, 2006 Share Posted April 26, 2006 I find a retired father is very good for this sort of job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted April 26, 2006 Share Posted April 26, 2006 Do you hire him out perchance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Man Banned Posted May 29, 2006 Share Posted May 29, 2006 Our chickens won't touch the bindweed Neither will mine - we have been turning all of the garden over over the last few months (very hard work as some of it is solid clay you could spin pots from!) We have obviously missed some little bits of root as expected but as I covered most of the ground with the bark we can tackle the shoots that are now coming through I hate this stuff but we have only had to live with it for two years - the first year we didnt know what it was so it REALLY took hold hence our problems now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 29, 2006 Share Posted May 29, 2006 Just keep ripping it out! On a daily basis if possible - you will eventually gain control! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Man Banned Posted May 29, 2006 Share Posted May 29, 2006 the battle is almost won Next problem is keeping the snails off me veggies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 29, 2006 Share Posted May 29, 2006 the battle is almost won Next problem is keeping the snails off me veggies! The battle may be almost won this week! Next week another campaign will begin - be warned! But remain vigilant and as I said, keep ripping! My chickens fight over snails! I don't think I'll have a problem this year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 29, 2006 Share Posted May 29, 2006 the battle is almost won Next problem is keeping the snails off me veggies! Beer traps - they work for me...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Man Banned Posted May 29, 2006 Share Posted May 29, 2006 Geri absolutely LOVES them, but the poos show it and there are spots on the garden where runny ones ended up - still she gave great amusement when we called her for her plaything! Perhaps we gave her one too many Her little eyes just lit up!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
