Bind weed in raised bed

[andyblr]

Hello,

I've recently moved into a new house with raised beds, when I arrived the beds obviously hadn't been used for at least a couple of years so were full of weeds. I've been pulling new growth out every day or two and have got most of the weeds under control, however the bind weed is still a real problem.

Can anyone suggest a way of controlling the bind weed please? I already have vegetables in the bed which are doing pretty well considering so am a little wary of using a chemical killer.

Any help would be fantastic.
Andy

[salome2001]

there is nothing for it except digging up every piece and trying to get the the root fragment each time. Consider nuking it with glyphosate after the growing season finishes. I have an allotment with 20 raised beds and a greenhouse full of the stuff so i feel your pain.

[Bigmallly]

Welcome to the vine Andy, I have the same problem but not major, just try and keep on top of it and remove as much as you can without disturbing your veggies.

[Jeanied]

I agree with Bigmallly on this one, Andy. If you keep pulling your bindweed out, it finally loses its strength and gives up. You would never get rid of it by digging out as the main root system can run metres down. Just don't let it take hold, that is the main rule. I know this from bitter experience!

And welcome to the vine!

[salome2001]

it is also a LOT easier to remove if you keep removing it when it is only inches high

[taff]

^ what they said.

I have some in one bed, it was originally in 5 isolated patches about 4 years ago. Each year I pull up the bits as they get long enough to grasp. This makes it fork into a few different ends, but I pull them up too. I've now got 2 isolated patches that come up occasionally. It takes time, but it does work. I mulch as well, so they have to grow through that too.

[Hans Mum]

When i 1st got my plot it was smothered in the stuff & you just have to keep pulling it out, you can also stick some canes in every so often & let it grown up those a bit, then I got a weedkiller you painted on the leaves which did weaken it off enough to pull great long lengths out (which oddly I found very satisfying). You have to be viligent with it though.

[Chef_uk]

Mines gone down in the second year so manual labour will work. Doubt i'll ever get rid of it completely but manageable levels is fine by me.

[Two_Sheds]

you can also stick some canes in every so often & let it grown up those a bit, then I got a weedkiller you painted on the leaves

Instead of spraying or painting the weedkiller on, you can uncoil the caned growth and dip it in a bath (shallow tray? jamjar?) of systemic weedkiller (if that's the method you decide on). It avoids getting the stuff all over the place, and only where you want it


I have it in the school garden, it's really vigorous ~ the roots are really thick compared to the ones I get on the lotty ~ but I'm just pulling it out as it appears. We won't use weedkillers in the areas where children or wildlife are

[donnakebab]

My allotment backs on to a railway line and the bindweed grows through from there which is good in a way as I can see it coming. I just keep pulling out what I find then bag and bin it. My neighbours plot has quite a bit popping up where he put chipping and a shed so I'm going to pull that up too before it comes my way.

[arpoet]

When i see some poking up i get out my flame weed wand and vent my anger out it it. Like the others say, once it gets hold its a nightmare.
Roger

[dominic10]

I use a systemic weedkiller on bindweed. A tip I was given was to cut down a plastic lemonade bottle and place it over the bindweed. You can then spray the bindweed by spraying into the bottle without damaging anything nearby. There is bindweed all over my new plot and although I try to weed out most weeds by hand or by hoeing I really really hate the stuff and it seems to take hold very quickly.

[bearded bloke]

Assuming that you are not wanting to spray it off then as the others say manually pulling it up is the only practical option.
Go tomorrow & pull up every bit you can find,from then on you should apply some science to the job & pull up all visible growth between the fourth & eighth day (each time note it on a calender so that it can be done again in the mentioned time frame ).
Agri-chemical companies research shows that for the first eight days of (above ground) growth the root system uses very large amounts of energy to create the first three leaves,how ever after the eighth day the energy taken in from the leaves is greater than that needed to create further leaves,if you do however want to spray it off then from the aforementioned you will see that the optimum would be from the ninth day onwards,best time is evening dew point,best method is a very light dusting (to mimic dew fall).

[taff]

duly noted...does this apply only to bindweed?

[bearded bloke]

Which bit Taff ? if you mean glyphosates (roundup,etc) .. the best time to apply &/or the best application method,then yes a fine mist at evening dew point IS the optimum time & method