Go to battle with bindweed and learn how to get rid of bindweed organically using cardboard and mulch.
Bindweed spreads through its root system and via seed; therefore, catching it as soon as it appears will make your life easier. But even if bindweed has already spread throughout your garden, you don’t have to resort to herbicides. It takes real work to use nonchemical methods to banish established hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium), but if you’re willing to put in the effort, it’s possible.
Begin by smothering the plant. Cut it back to the ground with pruners or a string trimmer, then cover what remains with a double layer of overlapping corrugated, plain brown cardboard. Overlap the edges by at least 6 inches. Because bindweed’s roots can spread widely, cover more of the earth than you think is required. Then, top the cardboard with at least 2 feet of mulch. This will prevent the plant from photosynthesizing, which will eventually kill it.
If you prefer, you can use a weighed-down UV-resistant tarp instead. The tarp will heat the earth more than cardboard does, perhaps killing the roots faster. Keep the tarp in place for at least a few weeks. A few months is better.
Next, dig out every bit of the roots you can get to with a garden fork, which is less likely to break up roots than a shovel. Bear in mind that established bindweed can have roots that go 9 feet deep into the soil, which is why I recommend smothering first. Repeat applications of cardboard and mulch (or tarping) will be required, and it can take several years for the plant to finally run out of energy and die. If this plan tempts you to try herbicides, bear in mind that even those will require many applications.
Continued vigilance is necessary. Watch carefully for new plants and remove them promptly to prevent their spread.
Originally published in the June/July 2026 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS and regularly vetted for accuracy.
