What is the Nuisance Weed Hedge Bindweed (Calystegia Sepium)? 

Hedge bindweed, also known as Calystegia sepium and wild morning glory, is a typical weed that grows in any type of ground, including gardens, fields, and by the sides of roads. The perennial vine is a major issue for both farmers and homeowners due to its aggressive growth habits and capacity to suffocate other plants. Hedge bindweed is attractive and may appear harmless due to its delicate white or pink flowers, but it is challenging to manage due to its extensive underground stems and deep roots. The biology and traits of hedge bindweed will be discussed in this article, along with practical techniques for limiting and preventing its spread.

Green Leaf Remediation Knotweed Services are experts in locating and eliminating other invasive plants and weeds that are found in the UK. The use of herbicide treatments depends on the vegetation on and around your property, and our qualified team advise you on this.

Contact us at 0117 321 7799 or 01269 591651 or 07531 142316 and we can carry out a full site assessment for you if you are worried you have hedge bindweed present at your business or home. 

What does Hedge Bindweed look like? 

A delicate-looking plant, hedge bindweed has tiny, trumpet-shaped flowers that are usually white or pink. On the stem, the leaves are arranged alternately and range in length from 2 to 5 cm. Hedge bindweed stems can be either hairy or smooth, and they are typically green or slightly red. 

Why is it confused with Field Bindweed? 

Due to their resemblance in appearance, field and hedge bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) are frequently confused. Both plants are perennial vines with similar-coloured, small trumpet-shaped flowers and leaves. 

The colour of the stem, however, is one of the primary distinctions between the two. Field bindweed stems are usually purplish compared to hedge bindweed stems, which typically have green or slightly reddish stems. The shape of the flowers is another distinction. Field bindweed flowers are more tubular, whereas the flowers of hedge bindweed are more bell-shaped. 

What features distinguish Bindweed from other plants? 

You can recognize hedge bindweed by its main distinguishing features, which include the following: 

Hedge bindweed is a perennial vine, which means it can survive for more than a year. It can be found in gardens, fields, and by the sides of roads and it typically reaches a height of 1-2 meters.  

It has a twining growth habit that causes it to encircle and suffocate other plants by overgrowing. 

Bindweed has a deep and extensive root system that is composed of a taproot and underground stems, or rhizomes, making it challenging to control and eradicate. This invasive plant’s roots have the capacity to generate unrivalled shoot growth. 

It is renowned for its aggressive growth habits, which can suffocate and make it challenging to control other plants. 

Due to its high adaptability, hedge bindweed can withstand a wide range of soil types, climatic variables, and environmental factors. It can grow in poor soil, drought, and heavy shade. 

What is the reproduction process of bindweed?

Seeds, underground stems, roots, and fragmentation are all ways that hedge bindweed reproduces. The plant creates tiny, elongated, brown or black seeds that can survive in the soil for several years before germinating under the right circumstances. Rhizomes, which are underground stems that can grow deep into the ground and sprout new shoots that develop into new plants, are another method by which it reproduces. 

Hedge bindweed can also procreate by establishing roots at the stem nodes, where fresh plants will emerge from the roots. Another way hedge bindweed spreads is through fragmentation, which can occur when a piece of the stem or root breaks off and develops into a new plant. 

Hedge bindweed is challenging to manage and difficult to get rid of due to its capacity for multiple forms of reproduction. Even minor stem or root fragments can develop into new plants, and they can quickly colonize new areas. 

Why is hedge bindweed dangerous? 

The destructive weed, hedge bindweed can have disastrous effects on your property. It is challenging for other plants to compete with the aggressively growing plant for sunlight and nutrients because it can quickly choke out other plants. Because of this, it may be difficult to grow other plants and destroy gardens, fields, and other cultivated areas. 

Additionally, the weed produces seeds and spreads its underground root systems to colonize new areas quickly. It also doesn’t help that the weed is remarkably resilient. It’s capable of withstanding different soil types, climates, and conditions. 

Finally, hedge bindweed can disrupt native plants, which can disrupt the ecosystem and the animals that depend on it, harming natural habitats. 

What are the best ways to control Bindweed? 

There are numerous ways to manage hedge bindweed, including: 

Removing it by hand?

Hedge bindweed can be effectively controlled by routinely pulling or digging up the plants, but it’s crucial to get rid of as much of the root system as you can to stop regrowth. Small infestations are best treated with this technique, but it is not always successful as it is a very arduous weed.

Using herbicides 

Hedge bindweed can be controlled by a number of herbicides, including glyphosate and dicamba. To ensure maximum effectiveness, you must use the herbicide as directed by the manufacturer and at the correct time. 

Biological control 

Some pests, like the bindweed gall mite, can assist in controlling hedge bindweed. However, before utilizing any biological control techniques, you must take into account the potential effects on non-target species and the environment. 

Prevention 

Getting rid of hedge bindweed from the surrounding areas and getting rid of the seeds is one of the best ways to control it. This will also stop it from spreading in the first place. 

Overall, since hedge bindweed is a very resilient and persistent weed, combining the methods frequently yields the best results. It typically takes several years of consistent control work to effectively manage hedge bindweed, so you must be persistent with the control methods and we would suggest you seek professional advice on the best methods to use to effectively eradicate and control it. 

Hedge Bindweed Summary

A hedge bindweed infestation at your property can have serious repercussions and alter the entire appearance of your land or garden. Unfortunately, it has the power to invade, dominate, and transform an entire habitat. However, with the right knowledge and methods, you can keep this invasive species at bay.

 

About Green Leaf Remediation Knotweed

Along with being a Japanese Knotweed Certificated Surveyor (JKCS), we are experts in locating and eliminating other invasive plants and weeds that are present all over the UK. The use of herbicide treatments depends on the vegetation on and around your property, and we will advise you on this.

With years of forestry experience, our NPTC chainsaw operators offer tree services like pollarding, crowning, pruning, and felling.

Our Qualifications & Accreditations

• • • City & Guilds NPTC Level 2
    • Principles of Safe Handling & Application of Pesticides (PA1/PA6)
    • Principles of Safe Handling & Application of Pesticides near water (PA6AW)
    • Herbicide Stem Injection
    • Member of the Property Care Association
    • The Control & Eradication of Japanese Knotweed Surveyor’s Training Course
    • Qualified Technician (PCAQT) in Japanese Knotweed
    • Accredited Surveyor in Japanese Knotweed

We are industry experts in weed, garden, and site management, and we have many years of experience in those fields.

Our team members constantly strive to do a fantastic job and provide the highest level of customer service because the customer is at the centre of everything we do.

Our team is made up of qualified individuals who have the required skills. We only assign them to a position if they possess the necessary training and abilities. 

As long as we don’t break any laws, we will perform any work you ask of us and offer free site evaluations. We can assist you in understanding any pertinent legislation so that you can accomplish your goal and will work with you to do so.

We carry complete professional indemnity and public liability insurance for all of the jobs and projects we work on.

Green Leaf Remediation provides a wide range of expert services. Our customers in the South West give us high marks for professionalism and courtesy. No job is too big or small for us, and we accept both big and small projects, providing you with a realistic and honest solution.  

Whether you require a one-time project or routine maintenance visits, we provide a range of services to meet your needs.

Our team can respond to any inquiries you might have and can schedule a site visit for your residence, place of business, or commercial property.

Don’t wait to get in touch with us; the sooner we visit your property, the sooner we can give you advice on your best options. 

If you think you have hedge bindweed or any other invasive weed, including Japanese knotweed, call us right away at 0117 321 7799 or 01269 591651 or 07531 142316 and we can carry out a full site assessment for you if you are worried you have hedge bindweed present at your business or home. . We can come out and complete a thorough site assessment for you if you are buying land, a business, or a home where they might be present. 

One of our specialists will be able to assess any infestation you may have quickly and recommend the best way to control or remove it using one of our secure and sustainable solutions. A site inspection can be arranged here.

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