The Vines That Bind

May 29, 2026 by Kristen De Lay Posted in Community, Environment Leave a comment

The Vines That Bind

Our neighbor Kristen De Lay, an expert gardener and environmental advocate, is a respected authority on our local ecology. It’s a good time of year to review what she has told up about an invasive plant in our neighborhood – field bindweed. It’s too pretty. Nice little white flowers, and green arrowhead-shaped leaves crawling on the ground and twining their alluring strands around other plants, into fences, and deviously plotting to take over the world. Fighting them seems to be a losing battle.

This is an excerpt from an article she wrote in 2020 about field bindweed, Myrtle spurge, and cheatgrass. This excerpt is just about bindweed. It’s timely and just as true as it was then. Even though bindweed has pretty white flowers and looks nice as a ground cover, it doesn’t belong here. It’s invasive. It’s tempting to let go and enjoy it, and pretend it doesn’t matter. I defer to Kristen’s knowledge and wisdom on these questions. Here’s the expert opinion.

By Kristen De Lay

Invasive species of plants can be trees, vines, perennials and even grasses that are not native to our region. They don’t have natural predators (animals or bugs) that help control them, are resistant to disease and are able to spread at an alarming rate…. field bindweed is considered to be a noxious weed by the Colorado Department of Agriculture.

Why Should I be Concerned?

The primary reason we should be concerned is because these species take up space normally occupied by native plants or they are stronger and take over the plants. This displacement reduces food sources and habitats of our native bugs and animals, essentially adding to their decline.

Field Bindweed

Field bindweed is rampant in our neighborhood and it is really hard to control. Their root systems can grow up to 20 feet deep into our yards and their seeds are viable for 40 years! Here’s a great bindweed resource where I gathered this data from the Colorado Dept. of Agriculture.

In my yard, I try hard not to use herbicides like Roundup; however I did use it on this. But, it didn’t work! The bindweed kept coming back. In my research, I have consistently read that pulling it when you see it, over and over and over again is the best way to eradicate it from your yard. It’s blooming now (June), so I’m regularly out hunting for it in my yard. If you can pull it before it develops its long root systems, it’s also a great win. Here’s a picture of what it looks like as a baby.

[In 2023] Last summer, I actually tried the bindweed mites that only eat bindweed, helping to biologically control the plant. I purchased the mites through the Colorado Department of Agriculture and received several strands of mite covered bindweed where I was instructed to wrap them around my existing bindweed, in a small area of my yard. It’s too early to say if it has worked, as it can take 2-3 years (yes, years!) to see if they make a difference. That’s a long time, but my bindweed isn’t likely to disappear any other way. Learn more about how to order your own mites by visiting the Colorado Department of Agriculture website. You have to order well in advance (probably a year) and they are shipped in a cooler. Once you receive them, you’ll need to quickly apply them to your own bindweed. The bugs are so tiny that you really can’t see them. I think I only paid about $35 or so, if you’re up for the experiment and have a great amount of patience. Note: If you go this route, don’t also spray the bindweed area with herbicides, as you’d probably kill the bugs. [Update, 2024: I can’t tell if they have done anything.]

Be an Advocate for Removal

Jefferson County Invasive Species Management has some great educational information related to all noxious and invasive species around our area. I highly recommend that you utilize them when you have questions related to weeds. They have a lot of great information and really care about our area. Another great resource is the Colorado Weed Management Association.

Kristen De Lay is an avid gardener with a special interest in native plants and creating wildlife habitats. She is a member and volunteer for the Colorado Native Plant Society and also participates in our Sustainable Southern Gables group. She and her family have lived in Southern Gables since 2016.