Morning glory can be a beautiful addition to any garden when planted intentionally. However, an uninvited morning glory infestation quickly becomes a nuisance as the vines spread rapidly and choke out desired plants. If uncontrolled, morning glory will take over your yard and garden areas quicker than you might think.
The good news is that with persistence and the right techniques you can get morning glory under control and even eliminate it from your landscape. Here are the most effective ways to get rid of morning glory for good.
Identifying Morning Glory
The term “morning glory” commonly refers to two different types of vines:
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Ipomoea – Annual flowering vines grown as ornamentals from seed packets. These have colorful funnel-shaped blooms and heart-shaped leaves. Popular varieties include Heavenly Blue Grandpa Ott, and Scarlett O’Hara.
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Bindweed – Invasive perennial vines, including field bindweed and hedge bindweed. These have small white or pink flowers and arrowhead-shaped leaves. They spread aggressively from deep roots and are considered noxious weeds in many areas.
While both can be problematic if uncontrolled, this article focuses on eliminating bindweed types of morning glory. Their rapid growth habit and deep root systems make them especially challenging to remove.
Manual Removal Methods
Digging up and getting rid of morning glory vines by hand works, but it takes a lot of work. For best results, use these techniques:
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Hand pull young seedlings in early spring before plants become established. Remove all root portions.
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Remove mature vines carefully from buildings or host plants, then pull up the whole root system. Dig deep with a hoe or fork to get all the roots.
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Plan to hand-pull the plant at least once every two to three weeks for at least three years to use up all of its root reserves.
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After pulling, immediately dispose of all plant parts. Don’t compostlive roots as they can re-sprout. Burning or soaking in water helps prevent regrowth.
Smothering With Mulch
Smothering morning glory under mulch is an eco-friendly control option. The steps include:
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Cover areas thoroughly with 2-3 inches of mulch or a combo of cardboard and mulch to block sunlight.
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Extend the mulch out 2+ feet beyond where vines are visible to cover wandering underground roots and runners.
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Leave covered for 1-5 years depending on severity of infestation. Check regularly for escapes.
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Replant area densely with competitive groundcover plants once morning glory is dead to prevent regrowth.
Applying Herbicides
Herbicides provide quicker morning glory control compared to manual removal alone. Recommended products include:
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Systemic herbicides containing glyphosate or triclopyr. Spray foliage thoroughly during active growth. Will take multiple applications.
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Soil-applied pre-emergent herbicides like dichlobenil or oryzalin to kill seeds and seedlings early. Combine with foliar sprays.
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Always follow label directions carefully. Avoid drift onto desired plants. Wear protective equipment like gloves and eyewear.
Combining Methods
The most effective approach for completely eliminating morning glory combines multiple control tactics over time, for example:
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Years 1-2: Frequent manual removal, pre-emergent herbicides in spring, mulching infested areas.
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Years 3+: Spot treat regrowth with systemic herbicide. Maintain dense competitive groundcover.
Be vigilant about monitoring for new seedlings or regrowth. Consistency is key when battling tenacious morning glory infestations.
Preventing Future Invasions
Once eliminated, several proactive steps can help prevent morning glory from taking hold again:
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Maintain healthy landscape plants and turfgrass to limit bare areas where weeds could establish.
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Use pre-emergent herbicides properly in spring to stop seeds from sprouting. Reapply as directed.
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Install physical weed barriers like landscape fabric along fences and edges.
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Pull young seedlings promptly before they develop deep roots.
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Avoid spreading roots and runners by tilling or disturbing established plants.
Know When to Call in Reinforcements
If you’ve battled morning glory for years without success, don’t despair. Seek professional help from your local garden center or lawn care experts. The right chemicals combined with specialized equipment can beat back the toughest infestations. Sometimes it pays to call in the pros when dealing with noxious weedy vines like bindweed.
While eliminating morning glory completely takes time and dedication, it is possible with persistence. Follow these tips to reclaim your landscape from invasive morning glories and keep them from returning. The effort is well worth it to get rid of these troublesome vines once and for all!
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Q&A – How do you kill morning glories?
FAQ
How do I permanently get rid of morning glories?
You can cut the vines down to a few inches above the soil, then paint the cut ends with herbicide. The plant will draw in the herbicide, very effectively killing it to the root tips. This is much more effective than simply spraying, and reduces the amount of herbicide needed considerably.
What kills morning glory in lawns?
Applying proper herbicides in the late winter and early spring is a good first approach. Morning Glory Weed can’t grow in areas with healthy smother crops like turf and other dense grasses. So can areas with enough shade and water. Remember that the better your lawn is, the less likely it is that you will see any weeds.
Is morning glory hard to get rid of?
Morning glory is tough to eradicate. A: There is no way to get them out in one fell swoop. Morning glory seeds can remain viable in the soil for 50 years. So the only way to deal with them is to pull or kill the seedlings every year before they flower to avoid depositing more in the soil seed bank.
What is the best treatment for morning glory?
Systemic herbicides such as Roundup, 2,4-D and dicamba are more effective than digging and pulling because they kill the roots.
How do you get rid of Morning Glories?
Follow these steps to get rid of morning glories that you didn’t plant or that have grown where you don’t want them to: Step 1: Pull up the whole vine, including as many roots as you can. Morning glory roots can grow incredibly deep, so you may not be able to get all of them.
How to get rid of wild morning glory?
How to Get Rid of Wild Morning Glory. It doesn’t have to be just morning glory. Any weed or vine type of plant (weed) that is growing in your landscaping or flower beds that is causing problems can be eliminated without a great deal of difficulty. You’ll also get email updates and special offers from Backyard Growers.
How do you get rid of Morning Glory weeds?
Pinch the heads off of any morning glories peeking out of the soil to prevent the sun from providing the majority of the energy that feeds into the plant. Do not pull morning glory weeds up from the roots. Although it sounds counter-intuitive, pulling the roots creates new, more numerous fibrous roots.
When should I remove morning glories?
If you notice new morning glory vines starting to grow among the desirable plants, pull them out as soon as you see them. Use caution when digging around mature morning glories. Bindweed easily grows from fragments of roots or runners.
Is there a silver lining to getting rid of Morning Glory?
There is a silver lining to getting rid of this plant. A fungus-like plant pathogen that attacks it – called Albugo ipomoeae-pandurata or White Rust – causes leaf and stem lesions that will inhibit growth and control the spread of the plant. When it comes to controlling your morning glory, you have some options.
How long does it take to get rid of Morning Glory?
It may take a few years of hard work to completely beat back a morning glory infestation. Baby plants can regenerate from root fragments in just a few weeks, so check frequently for new growth after treating an area. Check local regulations for disposing of weeds. Leaving dead weeds in place is often the best approach.