Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) Weed Management
Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) is derived from the bindweed species and is part of the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae). Field Bindweed have other common names like creeping Jenny, European bindweed, morningglory, perennial morningglory, or smallflowered morningglory. This perennial weed is native to Europe and Asia.
It typically likes to grow up on walls or trellises or it also likes to be a creeping herbaceous perennial weed plant. You will find that they can range from 0.5-2 m in height. Visually you will find that the leaves are spirally with an arrowhead shape. The flowers will be a pale pink or white and have a slightly darker pink stripe.
Flowering Mid-summer when the flowers are a white to pale pink.. Very rapid growth and can overtake a garden or flower bed very quickly. The Field Bindweed likes to typically grow along roadsides, in grasslands and are seen living along streams.
This type of weed is known as a creeping vine and it loves to roll over bare ground or short grass.If it does not have room to span across the soil it will also climb up a vertical surface and this includes stems of other plants and any grasses and reach up to 20 feet. 
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Field Bindweed Growing Characteristics
The plant has both male and female generics and can be found on the same plant. Pollination is provided by flies, bees and if this is not available,it is self-fertile. Field Bindweed will spread typically from its roots and rhizomes and a third way from its buds.
Field Bindweed Has the ability to spread during the strong growing season in spring to mid summer of up to 9 feet (3m). Field Bindweed produces an abundance of seeds in a short period of time.In about a month they forme of up to 550 seeds and have the ability to be viable in the soil for up to 20 years.
Once the seeds are mature the coating on the seed becomes impervious to water. For the survival of the plant the seeds are strong enough to survive soaking, animal and bird digestion, and heat this includes Sun and also dry periods due to low moisture in the soil. The plant can also regenerate from its own root fragments. The Field Bindweed has a perennial root system that is herbicide resistant when it is a normal rate.
Field Bindweed Facts
- How does Field Bindweed grow and spread?
Introduced to new area by seeds spread by birds, water or maneuver. Hard seed coating can remain dormant for 20 years. Once established infestation can spread by roots and rhizomes in its first growing season. Potential of covering an area of 3 m in diameter and can create 25 other plants. Roots possess interior buds and can develop shoots right away or they may remain dormant for later.
- Is Field Bindweed edible?
Field Bindweed seeds are toxic. All part of the plants will have Tropane alkaloids (pseudotropine) that are present. If eaten colic will be a intestinal status which will create gas in the system. As of today there is no Field Bindweed poisoning treatment or any way of diagnosing Bindweed toxicity level.. Animals that may have ingested Field Bindweed may develop chronic colic with signs of weight loss developed directly because of intestinal fibrosis.
- What will kill Field Bindweed?
Cutting the Field Bindweed vine or the shafts completely off at the ground level when it starts to appear and cut back again when it reappears. This will force the Field Bindweed plant to use its own energy reserves to help regrow the cut stems and eventually killing the plant. Field Bindweed prefers full sunlight and using mulch after treatment can help reduce Bindweed problems by discouraging more establishment of new root systems.
- Does roundup control and kill Field Bindweed?
Roundup contains Glyphosate as a strong herbicide and will kill anything green on the plant right down into the roots and shoots system which will then killed the plant. Because of this type of herbicide control you want to protect any other surrounding plants from the herbicide spray, this would also include any drifting spray that might fall on bordering plants.
- Does vinegar kill Field Bindweed?
Vinegar whether it is a household strength or even if you get the much stronger agricultural strength, vinegar is still an acid and will only affect the green leaves that or above the ground that are growing. They will die but you will find that it does not penetrate into the root system, seeds or any of the shoots and will not kill the plant completely and it will grow back.
Control or managing the Field Bindweed
- Manually pulling the weeds by hand and tilling.
- Mulching the plant will slow new shoot growth, makes them easier to pull and exposes them to attacks from insects and fungal. It also helps to control the seeds of the plant.
- Growing other plants especially ones with thorny vines will help take over and shade any sunlight from the plant. Pumpkins, melons and squash are a good choice as well as sunflowers and will help push out the Field Bindweed.
- Landscaping fabric or black plastic mulch will create a weed barrier for the Field Bindweed which will hold back the weed by removing foilage. This will starve the plant and the roots but may take up to several years to control.
- Herbicides that are less toxic and have natural weed control substances may use acetic acid, clove oil, thyme oil, and soap. The acidic acid can be derived from using a vinegar base herbicides and can be used as a post-emergent weed treatment to kill bindweed. Works best when used in combination of full sun.
