Old Man's Beard

Options

1. Cut down and paint stump (all year round): Weed Weapon Invade Gel. – It is best to apply the gel immediately after cutting (within 15 seconds) – so cut paint, cut paint…..etc. Apply to both the root stump and cut running up into the rest of the vine.
2. Cut vines at waist height (summer-autumn) and spray foliage below: Weed Weapon Extra Strength – for best results ensure full coverage. Follow up 2 weeks later to check that slashed stems have not re-sprouted, if they have do 1 or 2.
3. Hand pull, dig out roots (all year round). Dispose of roots at a refuse transfer station or bury deeply.

Large areas

• Weed Weapon Extra Strength should be sprayed on large areas* of bindweed, taking care not to spray desirable plants. Weed Weapon Extra Strength is a systemic herbicide and will kill right down to roots. Well-established bindweed like convolvulus may take several treatments to kill all root systems and rhizomes or spot treat as below.

*Cut vines at waist height (summer-autumn) and spray foliage below; the more of the weed that is sprayed the better the control will be.

Spot painting

• Creeping and spreading weeds can be controlled without risk to surrounding plants and without digging out difficult root systems using Kiwicare Weed Weapon Invade Gel. You may want to cut the weed back leaving only a few (at least 20) leaves at the bottom close to the roots, in this case also treat cut ends.
• Paint as many leaves as possible on both the upper and lower surfaces with a good coat of Weed Weapon Invade Gel. Rhizomatous, grass and single location weeds can also be spot treated by painting brushing gel over leave surfaces. Leave weeds to absorb and trans-locate herbicide into roots.
• Ensure treated leaves do not contact desirable plants. Death of weeds may take over 14 days.
• Spot treatments can be carried out at any time but work best during vigorous growth in spring and autumn. Do not use when rain is due within 12 hours. If new growth is seen, re-treat the new growth.

Preventing growth

• Weed Weapon Preventer can be used in areas where weeds have been cleared to prevent germination of seeds and growth of bulbs in the soil. This is useful when areas have been cleared for planting.

• More on how to get rid of woody vines

• The Latin name of Old Man's Beard is Clematis vitalba.