Morning glories – these perennial plants give many gardeners stomachaches and headaches. Why? Because they are among the most stubborn weeds. Their urge to spread and their will to survive are not to be trifled with.
How do you control morning glory weeds?
To combat morning glory weeds such as field bindweed or field bindweed, you should dig up affected plants and their roots and cover them. Regular checks are necessary to prevent further spread. However, complete removal is usually difficult.
Morning glories reproduce via root shoots and runners
These plants have an extremely remarkable reproduction mechanism. In addition to their seeds, they reproduce via their roots. On the one hand, they form runners that allow them to reach far in width. On the other hand, root shoots contribute to the spread. If you don't completely remove all the root parts when destroying these plants, you will probably find them again soon.
Grand glories deprive other plants of nutrients
If morning glories grow in vegetable beds, perennial beds or anywhere else where you specifically cultivate plants, you can rob them of the nutrients in the soil. With the help of their numerous roots, they easily manage to establish themselves alongside other plants.
Morning glories entwine around other plants, weakening them
With their tendrils, these plants wind around other objects and also plants in their environment. They are unyielding and cheeky. If such a bindweed has taken hold in your bed, it can be difficult to remove its tendrils from the other plants.
Distinguish between field bindweed and fence bindweed
Many gardeners confuse the field bindweed with the field bindweed and vice versa. Here are those of their features that you cannot miss:
- Blindweed has pink to bluish funnel flowers
- Fence bindweed has bright white funnel flowers
- Blindweed has elongated, arrow-shaped leaves
- Window has rounded, rather heart-shaped leaves
- Bindweed flowers are larger than those of field bindweed
- Blindweed is mainly found in fields
How do you fight this weed?
Since the properties of field bindweed and bindweed are similar in terms of reproduction and spread, the control methods are also similar. The most effective way to combat fence bindweed is to dig it up and cover it with foil. This also applies to the field bindweed.
Tip
Morning glories are considered weeds. But they don't have to be fought rigorously. As a rule, the fight is completely unsuccessful because these plants somehow survive