How do I get rid of bindweed in a flower garden

Oh dear - we do get asked this a lot. Bindweed is a horrible weed to get rid of. My 'ploy' is to place canes where the strands come up, let the bindweed climb the cane then paint the tips and leaves with a mix of wallpaper paste and weedkiller. This is to make it stay on the bindweed and NOT on precious plants.

Otherwise, if you have an area with no plants, dig, dig and more dig, then put black plastic sheets down to smother any more growth. I expect you know that a tiny piece of root can re-grow.

Thank you will try that

Agree with Spritz, though I've discovered digging it out only works well if you've got really light, dry, sandy soil, when you can pull gently and get out yards of roots. I usually paint or spray the growth on the canes I've put in for it with glyphosphate, but it's a forever job, I'm afraid.

i pull it up when ever i see it. then come august i let it climb up canes and then wearing rubber gloves with cotton gloves overtop i dip my hands in glycophosphate and stroke the leaves. the wk is taken to the underground storage and kills it over winter.

read the method from Bry84 from england on removing bindweed (morning glory family; Liseron in French) here:
it is the best method so far:

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/weeds/msg0222404021598.html

patrick

I'm afraid your link doesn't work - pity, I'd have liked to read it. :-(