Crabgrass is considered a weed but I decided to let it grow in my garden just for ground cover and to prevent erosion while a longer-term grass took hold.  In semi-arid conditions, patches of naked soil get eroded with watering and rain.  Crabgrass can be pulled out by hand and the root system mostly, but not completely, extracted with a hand trowel.

Unknown to me at that time was that bindweed will not expand to areas with deep grass cover, which crabgrass was providing.  Unfortunately, without careful attention, I mistook bindweed for crabgrass and in a few weeks, bindweed was everywhere.  It was only when bindweed strangled a favourite rose plant that I looked into this pest.

Bindweed is a perennial vine that is difficult to control. It can spread rapidly by its creeping roots and by seed. Bindweed can be a major problem in gardens, lawns, and fields and can affect crop yields by up to 40%.

Bindweed crawls over 'naked' soil and then climbs anything vertical it comes across, usually plant stems and strangles them by preventing water and nutrient flows and prevent stem expansion.

A strange empirical observation, not scientifically proven, is that Fica plants reject the strangling and kill the bindweed branch that is climbing them.  There may be other such plants that resist bindweed but the resistance is limited to the climbing branch.

Both bindweed and crabgrass have 'nodes': for crabgrass it is like a junction with a root from where it spreads out in different directions while multiple delicate and thin bindweed stems use the 'node to connect into its more robuse underground root system.

What works for me:

A jab with a hand hoe besides the node and targeted to cut 3-4 inches below the ground will get rid of most crabgrass while it only stops the specific bindweed location for a week or two during spring and summer.  This technique, combined with almost daily scanning for distinct bindweed flowers and any climbing activity has almost eradicated bindweed from about 5000 square feet of garden.

There are a number of ways to control bindweed without using herbicides. Here are a few methods:

• Pulling: Seedlings of bindweed can be easily pulled up by hand. However, once the plant is established, it is more difficult to pull up.  

• Cultivation and Hoeing: Cultivation can help to control bindweed by breaking up its roots. However, this method is not always effective, as bindweed can regrow from even small pieces of root. The technique described in the previous section cuts below the ground and although the root system may be nourished from other 'nodes', regular and thorough practice should eventually deprive the root system of photosynthetic nutrients.

• Mulching: Mulching with black plastic or landscape fabric can help to prevent bindweed from getting sunlight. This will eventually kill the plant but it may take a few weeks to months for this technique to work.

• Competition: Planting competitive crops, such as alfalfa, corn, or sorghum, can help to crowd out bindweed. Bindweed will generally not penetrate high-cut grass.

A few months into the manual bindweed removal experiment, I dare say that some accounts of bindweed being uncontrollable usually recommend some kind of herbicide as the only solution.

If you are looking for a more natural way to control bindweed over a wider area where hand removal is not practical, you can try using a biocontrol agent. Biocontrol agents are living organisms that can be used to control pests. There are a number of biocontrol agents that can be used to control bindweed, such as the nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora.

Controlling bindweed can be a challenge, but it is possible to do without using herbicides. By using the methods listed above, you can keep this pesky weed under control.

Here are some additional tips for controlling bindweed without herbicide:

• Start early: The best time to control bindweed is when it is young. Seedlings are easier to pull up and control than established plants.

• Be persistent: It may take several years to completely control bindweed. Be patient and persistent, and you will eventually be successful.

• Monitor your property: Check your property regularly for signs of bindweed. If you see any new plants, take action immediately to control them.

By following these tips, you can keep bindweed under control and enjoy a weed-free garden.