[Kimberley04]

Hi, 

I have a LOT of this weed root on my plot and was wondering if anyone could identify it and tell me how best to tackle it ??

[fatbelly]

That looks like the Bindweed roots that I have got on my plot. 

[shokkyy]

Looks a bit like perennial nettle.

[monkeywobbler]

It's flippin' bindweed! We've had a perennial (aha, geddit), problem on our plot with the stinkin stuff. Every time we dig over our plot we find it, and I don't like using chemicals, so I just pull it up. We've actually had quite good success with the "find it, kill it" approach (we burn it).
It takes a while and you'll never totally get rid of it because even a tiny little bit of root will turn into a fully fledged triffid in the time it takes for you to make a cup of tea. However, our plot is manageable now, after a few years 

[Kimberley04]

Right, so are we saying adding a few bucketloads of this to my compost heap WASN'T such a good idea ??

 

[monkeywobbler]

Oh no, you didn't?!

[Salmo]

Too b****y right

 

[penninehillbilly]

Ooops 

[BabbyAnn]

Right, so are we saying adding a few bucketloads of this to my compost heap WASN'T such a good idea ??

 

     I've had my plot 6 years and every year I dig loads out and it's still around albeit in smaller numbers than before.  Covering it over doesn't seem to work - it simply grows along the surface until it reaches light, and where the cover has been down for nearly 3 years, I couldn't believe it when I saw the roots were still viable!  For the past couple of years I've also out of desparation been hammering it with weedkiller - single strength glyphosate has no effect, double strength partial, mixed with Weedol and it seems to be working but its a slow process.

[TheSpartacat]

Right, so are we saying adding a few bucketloads of this to my compost heap WASN'T such a good idea ??

 

ohhhhh dear.
They will happily grow and infest your compost heap. Even a tiny bit can grow a new plant
You can rot em in a bucket of water, other than that- bindweed is horribly persistent

[Babstreefern]

Definitely bindweed.  You only have to leave a teensy weensy bit in, and it will grow.  Awful stuff

[JohnB47]

At least the roots are nice and obvious.

Just try not to break them up too much when digging.

It does get better with perserverance but otherwise it's just something to get used to.

[andy135]

Right, so are we saying adding a few bucketloads of this to my compost heap WASN'T such a good idea ??

 

I would save your compost heap for bonfire night..............! 

[shokkyy]

At least bindweed has got pretty flowers though, more than I can say for the ground elder and ground ivy that infests my garden. It's a lot easier to pull up too.

[kippers garden]

When i first took over my plot in June 2005 i dug out loads of couch grass, bind weeds, thistle, nettles, dock and practically every other perrennial weed you can think of.  Everything went into a really large compost heap made of 12 pallets and was covered (sides and top) for 4 1/2 years...it made the most wonderful compost that i used on my plot (it had no sign of any roots left in it) .

So there is hope for your compost if you cover it and leave for a few years.