Bindweed is a type of wildflower but it can cause havoc in your garden
For keen gardeners, staying alert to weeds and pests is crucial. One seemingly harmless culprit is bindweed – technically a wildflower – but it can wreak havoc.
These plants have sprawling roots and can effectively “strangle” neighbouring plants in your garden, eventually killing them off. Due to how deep their roots go, getting rid of them is tricky, and even when removed successfully, they’re capable of growing back.
Gardening expert Simon Akeroyd took to social media warning that discovering bindweed in your garden can be a “nightmare”. Nevertheless, he shared a technique to eliminate them permanently.
Bindweed battles other plants for water and sunlight – and their extensive root systems give them a major edge, reports the Express. He warned it will “spread rapidly” without proper control, making swift action essential.
Here’s the approach to take when you spot bindweed in your garden. One of the most worrying things about bindweed is its rapid growth rate, making removal vital if you want to protect your garden.
The first step requires pulling up the weeds, making certain the complete root system comes out. Simon explained: “Every last bit of the root needs to be removed from the soil.”
Yet once extracted, never put it straight into your compost bin. Even after being pulled up, bindweed roots remain capable of sprouting from compost and taking over your garden.
Instead, lay a large piece of chicken wire over your compost heap and place the fresh bindweed roots on top of it. If you let them dry out for several weeks, they’ll die and be unable to grow any further.
This simple step – putting the bindweed on chicken wire rather than directly onto a compost pile – can prevent the weed from returning. Only once the bindweed has fully dried out should you add it to your compost, as this ensures there’s no longer any danger of it potentially regrowing.
He also warned against throwing bindweed in the bin, saying: “And it’s not good for the landfill. But you can dry out the roots in the sun for a few weeks until the bindweed roots have completely dessicated and then add it back to the compost.
“Bindweed root shouldn’t regrow if it has been dried out completely. I’ve built myself a drying rack for this purpose, which I also use for drying my onions.”