It all started back in the summer of 2013 when I asked Eliza over at Happy Simply Living for some advice...
Any guesses yet?
She wrote a very well researched and thoughtful post in response to my question, and ever since I've been on the hunt for these...
I know by now the suspense is killing you, so here it is!
Yes! A little bag full of bindweed!!!
Folks, this isn't just your garden variety bindweed (yuk, yuk) this is bindweed that is infested with microscopic mites which, in theory, eat the stuff and keep it "under control".
Let's just say that tracking these little suckers down was not easy. After Eliza mentioned the mites in her post, I went on a hunt and found a place on the Colorado State University Extension website where you could request the mites. So I filled out the form and waited... and waited, and waited, and waited...
After a year had passed with no response, I tried again, but still nothing...
Then last week out of the blue, I got a call from the State Agriculture Department saying that they now had some mites if I was still interested.
I'm so excited!!!
OK, truth is, I'm not expecting miracles. They're supposed to "control" bindweed, not eliminate it. But let's just say that since I shun herbicides, and am a tad bit lazy about dealing with the stuff the old fashioned way, weed management is (ahem) not exactly my strong suit, so there will be no shortage of food for them here at chez kitty!
I have to wait until this evening when it cools off a bit to "release" them, and apparently it takes a while for them to form a "breeding colony" so I'm doubtful that I'll see much difference right off the bat. But hey, I figure it's worth a shot, and I don't really have much to lose. I mean, in theory, they only eat bindweed...
So wish me luck... Anybody out there ever used bindweed mites before?
p.s. Here are some links if anybody want more info on bindweed, or the mites.
p.p.s. So Rachel just pointed out that there are actually two different plants known as bindweed! Who knew? Thanks, Rachel! The kind I'm dealing with is known as "field bindweed" or Convovulus arvensis. I grabbed a sprig and shot a few photos for reference
The other kind (which apparently is what Rachel has) is hedge bindweed or Calystegia sepium. It has bigger leaves and flowers and, in my experience at least, is more spindly with thinner stems. I've had some of this in my garden too, but I didn't know its name, and it was much easier to deal with than the field bindweed. Here are a few photos I snagged from the interwebs:
Everything I've read about the mites says that they are used for the control of field bindweed. I'm not sure if that means that they are ineffective against hedge bindweed, or if it's just that field bindweed is considered an invasive, noxious weed, so there's more interest in using biological agents to control it.
Anyhow, if you're considering the mites, you might want to be sure you've got the field bindweed and/or do some research to see if they work on the other variety too.
And here's some more info on the mites - it looks like they require a fairly dry environment in order to survive.
I am very excited about this. We have struggled with bindweed here since we moved in. We have pulled, smothered with cardboard, used herbicides to no avail. It ate our vegetable garden one year. I will be very curious to see if these mites work.
ReplyDeleteBTW, did you know that bindweed can roots up to 30' deep?
30 feet?!? No wonder I haven't been able to make any progress! I'll be sure to post an update - it will be really wonderful if this works.
DeleteWith as long as it took for you to get the mites, maybe we should just all get on the list now!
ReplyDeleteMaybe you'll have better luck than I did in getting a speedy response! :-)
DeleteI've never heard of bindweed and had to Google it. But I'm thrilled to say that bindweed is one weed that ISN'T growing in our yard!
ReplyDeleteMy hubby is at a conference with fellow biologists--they had a conversation the other night about how none of their yards looked good because they avoid herbicides. Some of them had neighbors who complained about how their dandelions were infesting the neighbor's yards. I'm sure some of our neighbors have had the same complaint about us, but they have been polite enough not to make a big deal out of it (although right now our yard is looking better than those on either side of us--at least we mow our weeds periodically!). I tend to feel a little torn--truthfully, I love the look of a well-groomed lawn, but I'm also concerned about the chemical overload that often comes with it (and, like you, I'm not an enthusiastic weeder).
I never thought to explain what bindweed is - it's ubiquitous here, and you are sooo lucky that you don't have any! It's a menace! I think it really thrives in hot dry climates.
DeleteI don't worry too much about dandelions - at least you can make them go away by pulling them - bindweed and thistles are the big problems here. Thistles at least only have a 2 year lifespan - but if you let one of those suckers go to seek you're sunk, and oh... the stickers!
It is interesting that biologists - who are in a position to know the facts - are actively avoiding herbicides. My understanding is that most of them (the herbicides, not the biologists) are chock full of estrogen mimicking chemicals - and it just seems like a bad idea to fill our environment with any more of those!
Oh, thistles! Another unsolvable problem here. I wish the deer liked them as well as the day lilies.
DeleteI need to take my scissors out to the alley and chop off the heads of all the thistles growing up and down the block before they can go to seed and spread their evil spawn throughout the neighborhood!
DeleteI was just looking up information on the mites. My yard doesn't have any bindweed somehow, but my next door neighbor has been battling it for years, and I had it take over the last two places I lived. I haven't been able to find out on the internet if you can use the mite in California, and have been too lazy to call my county ag department (or whoever it is I need to call) to find out. I hope it works for you.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if they are available in California or not. I did some Googling and it's apparently quite complicated with permits and all. The agriculture department has forms for me to fill out - I sorta feel like I'm part of a grand experiment or something!
DeleteAnyhow, the place to contact would be the closest "Agricultural Extension" - these are generally research departments associated with a university, but not always. Here's a link to the University of California Extension - they might not be the one you want, but they can probably point you in the right direction. http://ucanr.edu/
And you're very lucky that you don't have bindweed... it's REALLY hard to get rid of!
I'm puzzled by your photo of bindweed - the leaves look much smaller than the plant I know by that name. On looking it up, I've learned that two very similar looking plants aren't even the same genus. The bigger one with pure white trumpet flowers is Calystegia sepium, whereas the smaller one with pink-striped flowers is Convolvulus arvensis. I actually really like the flowers of convolvulus, but it's the big one that's currently throttling much of my garden.
ReplyDeletePS I just saw your PS. It is convolvulus arvensis that you're talking about! Now I'm even more confused - I assumed it must be a different plant with the same name. The leaves in that photo don't look anywhere near an inch long.
Hmmm... interesting. I had no idea there were different plants called bindweed. So I did some research... The stuff I'm dealing with is definitely the Convolvulus arvensis or field bindweed - sound like you've got the other kind, also called hedge bindweed.
DeleteI think some of the confusion is because once infested with the mites - like the stuff pictured in the paper bag - the leaves shrivel up and turn into little lumps, apparently called "galls."
I don't know if the mites are at all effective against the Calystegia sepium - everything they've sent me refers to "field bindweed" or Convolvulus arvensis.
Anyhow, thanks for pointing this out. I'm gonna go update the post with some more info and pictures just so I don't confuse anyone else who stumbles upon this post!
Ah, that explains it! The leaves are shriveled up, which is why they look so small. Thanks for the update. I find it amusing that hedge bindweed is considered less invasive than... well, than just about anything. Round here, it's every bit as much of a thug as what you're dealing with.
DeleteThe roots are deep - I've only dug about three feet down, and haven't got to the bottom of the well-established patch. They're also very brittle and plants can regrow from just a tiny bit of root. This makes it really difficult to eradicate because little bits break off when you're digging and then you have a new plant.
I guess the difference is down to climate. In my experience, Calystegia sepium has thicker stems, too, which might mean that it's better adapted to our climate here.
I think you're probably right - I'm willing to bet that climate is the key ingredient.
DeleteThe field bindweed is very suited to hot dry climates, and I think the reason they're so concerned about it is that it's not native to this area, but it's choking out much of the native vegetation.
The few sprigs of the hedge bindweed that I've found came out easily and didn't grow back - sounds like that's not, ahem, exactly your experience with the stuff! Good luck controlling it. :-)
That's fascinating. I had never heard of bindweed mites - hope they work for you! I get bindweed in my garden and I quite fancy little mites controlling it, rather than me spending time weeding!
ReplyDeleteI'm keeping my fingers crossed because NOTHING else has worked. Not weeding, not herbicides, not jumping up and down and cursing, not prayer... :-)
DeleteI've never heard of bindweed or bindweed mites. I'm sure it's because I don't have to deal with it, but I think it's kind of pretty. I hope the mites work out for you. I don't think they'd stand a chance here, since it seems to be monsoon season.
ReplyDeleteConsider yourself lucky! And I suppose it is sorta pretty, at least until it chokes out everything else! :-)
Delete