On 14/01/2013 17:38, Daz wrote:

Hi,

Im Daz and Im new to the site, been gardening since I was 15, but im
mainly a plantsman first, and gardener second. ie I like to do the easy
pretty parts, and let someone else do the hard work.

Anyway, I have a problem with Bindweed.

When I first moved to my house, the entire back garden was gravelled, so
no weeds, grass etc.

I had the gravel removed and planted up most of the garden, it is now
jam packed with plants, but im starting to have a problem with
bindweed.

I have a large border filled with Hemerocallis, Iris, Gunnera, Giant
Scabious and Acanthus, which bulges by mid summer, however it is being
taken over by bindweed, it is literally in every and around everything,
also starting to get buttercups popping up everywhere in some areas.

I start spraying systemic weedkiller onto the bindweed early in the
season, but it seems to have little effect, and by mid summer the plants
are covered in it, I can no longer spray at that time due to the amount
of plants I have.

I have chip barked the area deeply, but it makes no difference.

As plants will start coming into growth within the next few months, I
just wanted to know if there is a better way of ridding myself of this
weed, its driving me insane and is ruining my huge collection of day
lilies.

I was thinking of collecting my old newspapers, wetting this and
wrapping around the plants as they start to come into growth, then cover
the rest of the bare area in newspaper, then chip barking again, but
wonder if this will do any good?

Thanks for any advice.

Daz

I'd avoid the Jam jar method and the poly bag.
Mix a solution of Brushwood killer (SBK, with a touch of washing up
liquid added, literally 2 or 3 drips are enough. then with a rubber
glove on one hand with a woollen glove over it, wet the glove and run
your hand along the stems of bindweed, make sure that the Brushwood
killer isn't dripping off the glove.
Do this in the evening when the sun has gone down and there is no wind.
Make sure that the damp stems don't touch any other plants.