Has anyone used this biological control for bindweed?

[ellenrr]

It is called bindweed gall mite.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bindweed_gall_mite

and sup'd to feed on bindweed - which is taking over my garden in spite of my daily attempts to control it.

Besides the fact that it is not available in my state - it is available, according to another list I'm on, in only 4 states - I am always cautious about introducing something to my garden environment which might have unintended consequences.

So wonder if anyone has any experience with this.

thanks.

[beac]

1. Have you tried vinegar?

If it's mixed in with your garden, as it sounds like it is, you might want to just paint the vinegar onto the leaves instead of spraying it.

Or, you can just start calling it "Morning Glory" and pretend it's part of your planned garden. ;)

[ellenrr]

3. I've decided to stop growing anything EXCEPT bindweed -

then when people ask me what I'm growing, I will say bindweed. And they will say, my you certainly are a successful gardener! :)

[beac]

6. .

:rofl:

"And the Bindweed Grower of the Year Award goes to..."

[ellenrr]

9. I used to think that MIchelle Bachmann was the spawn of the devil

now I know it is bindweed that is the spawn of the devil!

or maybe the devil and bindweed bred, and M.B. is the result.

[beac]

2. Killing time tonight, I Googled "organic control of bindweed"--

Among the many hits, including an ELEVEN YEARS OLD and still going thread on gardenweb, I found this:
http://www.organicdatabank.info/databank-newmain-239/healthy-lawns/129-your-natural-lawn-and-weed-control/642-natural-bindweed-control-in-lawn.html

mentions vinegar ("industrial strength")
corn gluten?
citrus?

I hope someone also responds about the mites. They sound interesting, but I share your wariness of introducing foreigners into your ecosystem.

[ellenrr]

4. Interesting that the link you gave says that bindweed does not grow in mineral rich soil

I have 3 plots, my 1st plot is the oldest (been gardening there for 10 years) and it is the most tended to - ie - lots of compost, other amendments. I have very little bindweed there. I have the most in my 2nd and esp 3rd plot, which are less amended.

Also the 3rd plot is next to a terrible gardener (I am in a community garden) who will not keep his weeds down. So I wonder how much comes from him. Altho I have some weeds which I know come from him, He does not have a lot of bindweed.

thanks for the links, I'm going to look for that gardenweed thread. I can well imagine that in 10 years I will still be battling this. ERG!

I should be more positive. Some people say, if you keep clipping it, eventually you are rid of it....

And clipping it above the surface is sup'd to be better than pulling it up, altho I don't see why.

[beac]

5. Another good link:

http://www.pmac.net/bindweed.htm

I tried to find the gardenweb thread again, but couldn't. It was mostly people arguing about using/not using Round Up-- which I assume you have no interest in, being an organic gardener. RU = :scared:

[ellenrr]

8. I did search gardenweb and found gazillions of threads about bindweed,

overwhelming.
I did read part of the one about RU -
and altho I understand that an otherwise organic gardener might resort to RU, no way I will. That I even entertained the thought for about 10 seconds shows how desparate bindweed makes one. I'd sooner stop gardening, or start again in another place. It is just not in me to touch that stuff after what it does to our earth and to the amphibians.
I thot about posting this article to that thread:
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2011/09/tests-find-roundup-weed-killer-widespread-in-water-air.html

but then I thot, nah - people are going to do what they're going to do.

I see yr point about clipping vs tearing. makes sense. It's more work to clip than to rip, but I will start clipping and see how that goes. Right now my strategy is to go every day and clip. I am on the offensive. Bindweed vs human!
We humans are sup'd to be so smart but we are driven to distraction by this skinny ugly splindly weed.

will check that link.

[beac]

10. Good luck! Keep us posted on your battle. Death (organically, of course!) to bindweed!!! n/t

[beac]

7. Also read that clipping is better than pulling.

I think it's because pulling encourages branching underneath the surface (b/c it's almost impossible to get the whole root) and clipping off all the above-ground leaves eventually starves the roots (no photosynthesis.)

I am always amazed at the variation in plants' "will to live"-- we've had almost NO rain for 6 weeks and yet the weeds are thriving. Another example, some plants will root happily if you just stick a cutting in the ground (salvias, dianthus, some zinnias, moss rose, basil, etc) and some need so much tending and pampering that it's hard to imagine how they ever grew wild.

[WhiteTara]

11. I've decided to do battle against lespedisia

a plant brought in during the 60s and it is taking over the natives. I'm going to mow and burn this year and next, full strength vinegar.

[XemaSab]

12. Vinegar will acidify your soil

Use it VERY sparingly.