How do you tell the difference between Bindweed & Knotweed?
They’re both a problem for gardens but only one can cause permanent damage to your house and garden. Bindweed is not strong enough to support its own weight and, as its name suggests, needs to bind itself to other plants – whereas knotweed will grow over other plants.
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Bindweed or to use its Latin name convolvulus is unsightly and pervasive as it climbs and twists it’s way anyway throughout the garden. Also known as mile a minute, as once it gets going it will thrive easily. It fools you with its pretty white trumpet shaped flowers but make no mistake the only thing these trumpets herald is doom for ordinary plants, shrubs and trees. The long green tentacles will climb, cling and suffocate.
It will take some time and effort but you can win the war. Bindweed has to be removed right down to the roots as even a tiny shoot will reproduce again. Chopping it back just creates multiple offshoots and the plant will soon grow back with even more tentacles. Pulling at the leaves and vines doesn’t work, they’re tough and springy and you just end up losing your temper when they put up a fight and you’re left covered in debris and plant sap.
The tried and tested method is to cut back to the roots then remove them. To be absolutely certain you’ve eradicated the plant for good you must kill the roots completely. Digging them up might be time consuming but it’s the best non-chemical method that works. Many gardening forums and blogs have excellent advice on managing bindweed and its eradication. One recommendation is using boiling water. Soak the roots once you’ve cleared the bulk of the plant.
Asian or Japanese Knotweed is the real threat to your home and property. In the Winter it will die back below ground but come the summer months it can grow up to 4 inches a day. The stems stand up straight opposed to Bindweed which has soft stems. Knotweed was originally introduced to this country by the Victorians as an ornamental plant.
When they found out it was fast growing and tough they thought it was a good idea to plant in and around railway banks to strengthen them. The spread of the plant can be attributed to the mass of underground roots they produce. Any roots left in soil will continue to grow so as earth was moved for road and building construction so went the plant. Knotweed is massively pervasive and strong enough to grow through concrete so can damage garden decking and patios. It will also attack buildings so if you find it around your property act quickly before the problem starts.