BINDWEED AND THE BIG TWIST
Twisted vines on a tree in Manchaug
When the spring flowers have finished in June, the bindweed comes and takes over. I have spent every year of my gardening life fending off the bindweed (which I often call “strangle weed”). It lives, as far as I can tell, everywhere. It is the most intense, durable, determined plant on earth and I don’t know anyone who has successfully done it. Even when you think you’ve gotten it all, it will sneak back.
Lest we forget that human wires twist, too!
There’s also wild grape-vine, Jimsonweed, Virginia creeper and others I can’t name offhand. We’ve got them all.
Photo: Garry Armstrong – Here the battle between bindweed, an insanely enthusiastic forsythia , and wild grape-vine. The war never ends.
I don’t have the energy to fight it as much these days, so usually by the end of the summer, it has taken over. But all of them die when winter comes. Each year, it’s a new battle.
Antique tractor under Virginia Creeper? We’ve got that, too!
Virginia creeper at least turns to brilliant colors in fall
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MrsA… fourth picture down, is the one you refer to as wild grape vine?? That’s pokeweed. It’s poisonous, medicinal, and edible if prepped property. Heard of poke sallet?
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I thought that was Jimsonweed. I know it’s got a variety of uses — all our local weeds and wild things do albeit many are poisonous too. You mean the one with the bright purple berries yes?
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Bah! Bindweed!
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I know, right?
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I know bindweed as convolvulus, with its white flowers. I have a little battle with it every year when it wants to choke my buddleia, but I am still a little ahead. It returns every year and all I can do is constantly cut it back
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It NEVER gives up. Once it arrives, it is always waiting.
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Just the words bind weed strikes fear. Ours has pretty little sneaky flowers.
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And they smell pretty, too. Sneaky.
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Really?! Did not know
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We used to call it wild honeysuckle — until it tried to strangle us in our sleep.
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Now that is scary. The blackberry chased me across the lawn last year! I swear!
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Reminds me of the Flanders and Swann song “The Honeysuckle and the Bindweed”
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They are really the same plant … just one give you a hint of control and the other one, if you don’t watch it, it will bind you to your bed while you sleep.
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I’ve actually never seen any of the ones you mentioned. Growing up, our yard had a willow in it. They can be a nightmare as they seek out waterpipes and strangle them. The city was after us forever to cut it down, but it was a huge and very spectacular tree. We didn’t, but then we never had problems with it either!
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As long as it isn’t near your well or your pipes. We had an orange tree take over the pipes in Jerusalem and that was a very serious, major mess!
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Yikes. I didn’t know orange trees had that kind of root system.
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All fruit trees are permanently seeking water. Actually MOST trees planted near pipes are going to make trouble. Roots want water and you’d be astounded at how powerful those roots are.
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So the city told us. We finally moved, the willow stayed! lol. I love how elegant they are and when they swish in the wind, it’s like a diaphanous gown. Especially when the moonlight strikes. 🙂
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Yes, but they are best when they live by a pond or river where they can get the water without disrupting your plumbing.
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True enough!
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Well at least your pics are pretty . . . .just saying
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I fight the lonely battle of bindweed every year. It just hasn’t come up yet. But it will. It always does.
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Great comparison – the wires and the weeds.
Leslie
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The wires are a LOT easier to untangle!
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I bet!
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