A gardener has shared an easy method to get rid of a sneaky plant which could be smothering your flowers. Michael, known as The Mediterranean Gardener on TikTok, warned people about the problems bindweed can cause.
Bindweed is a perennial plant which can become a persistent problem in gardens. It can be recognised by its long twining stems and large white trumpet flowers. It can grow to form a large mass of foliage, choking garden plants, reducing their growth or killing smaller plants entirely.
He said: “Bindweed is a nightmare, especially when it’s coming from your neighbour’s garden.”
Although bindweeds are wild flowers, both hedge and field bindweed appear to display characteristics associated with weeds. According to the Royal Horticultural Society, bindweed will compete with other plants for moisture, nutrients, space and light.
The plant’s stem can even smother other plants thanks to their deep, extensive roots, which makes them particularly tricky to get rid of. Bindweed can spread throughout gardens when new plants or soil containing root fragments are introduced.
Once bindweed fragments are introduced to soil, the roots can spread quickly. They can also be spread through composting the roots or accidentally chopping them when digging the plants up.
While it’s not imperative that you remove bindweed from your garden, it can cause a bit of bother if left untreated. Michael asserted that you don’t need harsh or toxic chemicals to help remove the bindweeds.
He explained that the reason you never see bindweed sprawled across lawns is because mowing makes the plant weaker. However, if you’re finding pesky bindweed flowers pop up along your garden border, Michael said to apply the same idea for removing them.
Simply untangle the plant from the others, before pulling the bindweed out of the ground slowly. You want to make sure you take out as much of the root as possible.
The aim is to weaken the plant. Once you’ve removed the bindweed, dispose of it – but not in your compost bin.
The RHS also recommended deadheading the plants before it has a chance to produce seeds; fork out any seeds, which most likely appear in spring and autumn; or lift the border plants, clear the ground and replant.
