Leave it to this garden beauty to mislead you with its charms. Although they can be a gorgeous landscaping feature, wild morning glories can easily strangle the life out of your garden. Also known as field bindweed, this unruly vine can be found in temperate climates around the US. Here are some ways you can control it.
This European native primarily spreads by underground roots and rhizome stems. If the tiniest bit of root matter is left in the ground, new seedlings will spring right back up. Wild morning glories open new flowers every morning; they fade by mid-afternoon. The leftover shriveled bloom carries a few seeds that are spread when it drops off from the vine.
You can cut wild morning glory vines out of the ground, but it can take up to two years of effort to remove them completely. Although they can be temporarily contained by underground barriers, their deep roots and invasive vines usually trump this strategy. For faster results, use a Roundup® Brand Weed & Grass Killer on affected areas. Be careful to spot-treat only the unwanted weeds to avoid harming your turf or garden plants.
This fast-spreading weed can be recognized easily by its twisted stems and white trumpet-like flowers. The dark green leaves are triangular and point outward from the stem. The vines begin to flower in April and last until the first frost of winter. Wild morning glory taproots can reach depths of 20 feet, depending on the moisture content of the soil.
