Getting Rid of Morning Glory

Morning Glory, also known by the name Bindweed, or by the scientific name Convolvulus arvensis is one of those very interesting plants that seems to fill the role of both flower and weed. Simply put, it is a weed to those who do not like it, and a flowering vine to those who do. Frankly it doesn't really matter if you view it as a weed or the most beautiful plant under the sun. The reason for this is that if you are not careful with this particularly aggressive plant, you can find it killing off all your other plants in a relatively short amount of time. Use these steps to help either get rid of your Morning Glory, or to keep it in check.

• Homemade sprays. While there are some commercial herbicides that you can use to help keep Morning Glory under control, you can also save a little bit of money by utilizing some ingredients that you already have in the house. The more effective recipes call for you to create a mixture out of alcohol, vinegar, garlic, and pepper. However, since there is such a wide range in the recipes, you will simply have to experiment a little bit with the proportions to see what works best for you.
• Remove the roots. Perhaps the best way to keep Bindweed under control is to completely remove it from the equation. The most effective way to do this is to actually remove the plant from the ground by digging up the roots. The best (and most opportune) time to do this is during the early spring when the plant first begins to crop up. Keep an eye out though, since this plant can have roots that are up to 40 feet long, you need to be sure that you remove all of the roots. If you don't you can easily find yourself struggling all year long with the plant.
• Properly dispose of the plant. Never, never, throw any Morning Glory that you are disposing of away into your compost pile; this is simply a matter of proper prevention. Bindweed can live very effectively in your composting pile, and then when you spread the compost around later on, you will end up spreading the weed around as well.
• Contact an expert. Pretty much the only way that you can really deal with Morning Glory is to either keep it in check (with sprays and by cutting the vines) or to remove it. If you think that you have a particularly nasty or overly large infestation of the vine you may need to get some help. The reason for this is simply that the amount of physical work can be too much for the average home gardener. In situations where you find that the work is too much for you, do not hesitate to call in an expert.