Morning glories grow breathtakingly quickly: in just 1.5 hours, a shoot tip manages to close a circle of three centimeters. Due to this rapid growth, the climbing plants quickly overgrow fences and occasionally other plants. Even though morning glories bloom very beautifully, this characteristic can make them unpleasant in the garden. You can find out how to successfully combat climbing plants in this article.
How to remove creeper weeds in the garden?
To remove creeping weeds such as field bindweed or bindweed in the garden, you should continuously cut off shoots, pull plants out of the ground and possibly cover affected areas with weed fleece or cardboard. The use of chemical agents or home remedies is not recommended.
The native species of morning glories
The field bindweed mainly thrives on dry, warm meadows and fallow areas, while the field bindweed prefers moist, nitrogen-rich fields and woody hedges. Both species love full sun, but also thrive in partial shade. Growing very quickly, they wind their way up neighboring plants and can massively inhibit their development.
The roots of the creepers can extend up to two meters into the ground, making control extremely difficult. Once they have settled, they spread further and further via rhizomes and shoot buds at the root tips. Moths usually pollinate the pretty flowers. The seeds are then spread by the wind.
Successfully remove the creepers
Since the roots reach so far into the ground, weeding is not very promising. The fine shoots of the climbing plants immediately tear off when subjected to mechanical stress and it becomes extremely difficult to separate the plant parts from other plants. Without patience and perseverance, these survival artists cannot survive.
To combat it, proceed as follows:
- Separate the shoots emerging from the ground throughout the entire gardening year.
- Pull as much of the plants out of the soil as possible with your hands.
After about a year, the nutrients stored in the roots are used up to such an extent that the creepers wither.
Covering the winches with solid cardboard or weed fleece is also promising. Additionally cover these materials with bark mulch so that the oxygen supply is largely cut off.
You should refrain from using chemical agents for ecological reasons. This also applies to home remedies such as s alt or vinegar, as these substances can cause significant damage to neighboring plants.
Tip
Fellow bindweed and field bindweed definitely have their place in ecology. They are valued as a valuable source of food by butterflies, bees and beetles. Since they usually only thrive in a very limited area, it is worth considering simply leaving the beautifully flowering creepers standing and only clearing them once a year.