How to Kill Morning Glory Weeds on the Lawn

Recognize bindweed by its morning glory flower.

Morning glory, field bindweed and creeping Jenny are all the same weed, scientifically known as Convolvulus arvensis. This cousin of the ornamental morning glory is a perennial broadleaf weed that self-seeds profusely and has a long taproot that also sends new plant shoots through the ground regularly. For these reasons, eliminating morning glory is a challenge, but not impossible. Use both cultural, biological and chemical controls to banish this uninvited guest from your lawn.

Things You'll Need

• Lawn mower
• Trashcan
• Bindweed mites
• Herbicide

Instructions

1. Mow the lawn to the maximum height recommended for the species, keeping it dense and leaving no room for other vegetation to grow.

2. Hand pull morning glory weeds as soon as they sprout, before their roots become established. Discard them in the trash to eliminate the possibility any fragment will root again.

3. Release bindweed mites on the lawn. They feed on and damage morning glory weeds, but leave other vegetation unharmed. Contact your local cooperative extension office about ordering a supply in your area. See Resources for the "Request-a-Bug" program offered by the Colorado Department of Agriculture.

4. Spray your lawn in the fall with an herbicide that contains the chemical trimec if morning glory weeds are present. Apply glyphosate directly to the weed when it's in full bloom in autumn, as another chemical alternative. Before using either herbicide, read the manufacturer's instructions for the application details on the brand you selected. Verify that the formula is safe for use on your species of grass.

References

• Utah State University Cooperative Extension: Weed Control
• National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service: Field Bindweed Control Alternatives
• Utah State University Cooperative Extension: FAQ
• North Dakota Department of Agriculture: Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)
• Michigan State University: Organic Noxious Weed Management--Field Bindweed, Convolvulus arvensis

Resources

• Colorado Department of Agriculture: Request-a-Bug