Knowledgebase

Will a vinegar/soap/salt solution kill bindweed? #267677

Asked August 04, 2015, 11:47 PM EDT

I have bindweed taking over areas of my back yard. I use a vinegar/soap/salt solution on other weeds. Will it kill, or at least control, bindweed? Would horticultural vinegar be better for this purpose?

New Castle County Delaware

Expert Response

The short answer is 'no."  The solution you're using--vinegar/soap/salt might kill a new small weed, or kill the top growth of a weed, but does not kill the roots. Field bindweed is a tough one to eradicate once it's gotten a foothold.  Pulling it out doesn't work, because you won't be able to pull all the roots out, and new plants will come up from those.  One thing you can do is cover the affected area with a weed barrier, eg. black plastic, and cover it with a thin layer of organic mulch to hold it in place.  However, this will kill everything under it.

Chemical options include: Landscape areas: glyphosate (e.g., Roundup)

Bare-ground areas:
•glyphosate (Roundup)
•products containing 2,4-D (Barrage, Formula 40, Opt-Amine, Weedar 64)
•triclopyr (Garlon, Turflon, Pathfinder, Access, Brush-B-Gon, Confront, Crossbow)

Turf areas
•products containing 2,4-D (Barrage, Formula 40, Opt-Amine, Weedar 64)
•triclopyr (Garlon, Turflon, Pathfinder, Access, Brush-B-Gon, Confront, Crossbow)

Alice Slusher Replied August 05, 2015, 12:22 AM EDT

Loading ...