Taming The Morning Glory

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Normally I’m a fan of Ipomoea, normally. I like the ornamental sweet potato vines, the heart shaped leaf morning glories with little blue flowers, and of course I love eating sweet potatoes but this three lobed morning glory has worn out its welcome. It started off inconspicuous enough, just a couple little leaves in the spring gradually twining through the ornamental grasses. In the beginning I thought “that might be pretty to see little flowers appearing between the sharp bladed grasses.” Then I lost track of the morning glory. Not that I didn’t see it. I was aware of it every single day that I passed by it. It grew and I my thoughts changed a little “I’m going to have to reign in that sucker soon.”

But “soon” is a relative term when there is so much else to do.

Then it became this monstronsity and my thoughts were much different and eventually turned into “Your end is NIGH!” It had completely covered the miscanthus grasses planted there, all seven. Not to mention the little Russian sage I planted and the monarda.  Monarda, what monarda, was it even still there?

 

It’s sinuous vines took over everything and were threatening to continue its effort at world domination. Hey MG, have you ever heard of Kudzu? We don’t need another plague of the south!

Alas MG your day has come! While the gardener may not win all battles in the war on weeds he will win the important ones. And so now the morning glory has been laid to rest, in the sun then in the compost bin.

  
 

Morning glories develop a large tap root that was easily pulled out from the rain moistened soil. The best time to weed is right after a rain!

And now the garden is an area in recovery. Below where the morning glory was on the mulch is a mold that after exposure to the sun will dissipate. The grasses can continue their normal growth and I have rediscovered a monarda once lost.

 

A weed let go can be a big chore when grown! 

For more weeds join me for Worst Weed Wednesday on July 29th!

13 thoughts on “Taming The Morning Glory”

  1. I have trouble with field bindweed vining up a clump of zebra grass (Miscanthus zebrinas). I tried pulling it out, but gave up after it retaliated by vining up me!

  2. Dave,

    Be careful putting the MG in the compost bin. It might just revive itself and come back better than ever. I found that the roots chopped with the tiller just spreads them, a 1/2 inch piece of root will make a new plant.

  7. Wheeew, I got tired just watching the demise of the MG. I thought they were supposed to be a good thing. That would change my mind about it.
    Come to think about it I did have some one yr. & it took over the chain link fence. It also came back for a couple yrs. after that.

  8. TC,

    I have no doubt! Those things almost seem sentient sometimes!

    Randy,

    That's a good point. I let it dry out in a wheelbarrow first for it to hopefully die then ran over it a few times with a lawnmower. It may have been better to burn it then add it to the bin!

    Darla,

    Fight the future, prune now!

    Tina,

    That was actually my disappointment. If it had actually bloomed I might have found a redeeming quality in the morning glory. I'll just stick with our favorite blue ones with the heart shaped leaves.

    Nancy,

    "Free at last!" said the monarda.

    Dawn,

    I believe it! Just like people used to plant kudzu, although it's not as bad. I've planted several of another kind and I actually enjoy seeing them twine around our front porch rail.

  11. I love MG and totally appreciate it someone else's garden! It would join forces with the other thugs and take over the garden. Dave i have to pass on tomorrow's meme! ..I am being a naughty patient and pushing my tendonitis beyond what I am supposed to do! gail

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