----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, December 29, 2003 4:08
PM
Subject: Convolvulus arvensis -- oh lucky
day!
We moved to a new house this
summer, partly for increased garden space. Got a great bargain -- and
about a 10 by 15 meter patch of bindweed. I thought that, for the first
time in my gardening life, I might do something non-organic. I guess I
should have investigated this further before purchasing, because now that it's
winter and I have time to look things up on the net I see that apparently even
herbicides don't work on this stuff.
Has anyone had any success
with any technique at all? Hand-digging seems utterly impractical.
I've tried black plastic before, with no success after three years of
continuous coverage. I'm considering having a guy with a backhoe dig up
the soil in that area and take it away to use for fill (hopefully somewhere
very deep, and under a concrete slab). This could be expensive,
though.
I expect to be eternally grateful for any
suggestions,
-- Susannah
Dear Susannah,
You can control this
plant. It just takes a few years. Wait until it
comes up out of dormancy in the late spring, and
hit it with concentrated round-up. Hit it again every time it shows its
pretty
face. It will take a few years, but eventually it
will give up.
Good luck, Tim
Kalman
