Control Those Weeds: Field Bindweed

For the most part I will be referring to weeds found in the Midwest because that’s where I live and these are the ones I’m most familiar with. The majority of the information comes from various extension services and contacts that I have made in the 15 years that I have been a Master Gardener. This does not mean that some of these weeds are not found in other regions of the U.S. I hope this information helps you to eliminate every gardener’s enemy, the lowly weed.

I am particularly familiar with field bindweed; it has given me fits while trying to eradicate it. It is very aggressive and grows with alarming speed. I have seen it grow underneath landscape fabric for some 60-70 feet and emerge into the sunlight to continue its growth.

It has invaded a boxwood hedge and has been almost impossible to get rid of.

Field bindweed, Convolvulus arvensis, sometimes called wild morning glory, is native to many areas of Asia and Europe.  It is believed to have been brought to Virginia in 1739, mixed in with some farm and garden seeds.  Bindweed soon spread to the rest of the country, covering all of the eastern U.S. by the early 1800s, and invading the midwestern and plains states by the late 1800s.  It is now one of the most difficult noxious weeds to control, and has been labeled as one of the 10 most serious weeds in the world. It is in 48 of the 50 states.

Field bindweed is one of the most persistent and difficult-to-control weeds in landscapes and agricultural crops. It has a vigorous root and rhizome system that makes it almost impossible to control with cultivation between desirable plants. Field bindweed is a hardy perennial; it spreads from an extensive rootstock and from seed. Most parts of the bindweed roots and rhizomes can produce buds that will create new roots and shoots.

Field Bindweed Stems

Bindweed intertwines and topples native species. It competes with other species for sunlight, moisture, and nutrients.

Mature field bindweed plants have arrowhead-shaped leaves that can be 1/2 to 2 inches long, depending on environmental conditions. Mature leaves at the base of the stem are larger than the young leaves at the stem terminal. The flowers are trumpet shaped, white to pink, and 1 to 1 1/2 inches wide.

Bindweeed Leaves	Bindweed Flowers

Field bindweed is a prostrate plant unless it climbs on an object for support. It often is found growing on upright plants, such as shrubs or grapevines, with its stems and leaves entwined throughout the plant and the flowers exposed to the light.  Under warm and moist conditions, leaves are larger and vines more robust than under drought conditions.

Control of field bindweed isn’t easy, and it can’t be accomplished with a single treatment or in a single season. Effective control requires prevention of seed production, reduction of stored carbohydrates by deep tillage of the root system, competition for light from other plants, and constant vigilance in removing top growth. Application of herbicides, which reduce bindweed growth and kill germinating seedlings, can also be part of an integrated pest management program.

Seedlings of field bindweed are easy to control with cultivation, but only for about 3 to 4 weeks after germination. After that, perennial buds are formed, and successful control is much more difficult. Cultivation or hoeing has been partially effective in reducing established stands of field bindweed. Cultivate about every 2 to 3 weeks and repeat whenever necessary. In conjunction with cultivation, withholding water to dry the site might help to reduce the perennial population in a summer season, assuming the roots have not tapped into deep moisture.

Herbicides have been relatively effective for suppression of bindweed, but have not been very effective for eradication. If herbicides are used, supplementing them with appropriate preventive and cultural controls has the most success in eradication.

For herbicide use near other desirable plants or in the lawn, look for 2, 4-D, dicamba, trifluralin, and oryzalin as active ingredients. The ideal time for herbicide application is early fall, when the plant tends to take up more of the product as it is storing nutrients for winter.

You can defeat this pesky weed, but it will take time and a lot of effort to get it under control.