If you’ve gardened for even a few weeks in Colorado, you probably have a serious dislike for bindweed. It looks like a miniature version of morning glory that seems like it will take over a garden, lawn, and landscape almost overnight.

This vining and flowering plant starts out growing along the ground until it finds a vertical structure such as a tomato cage, trellis or fence to grab. Then it shoots upward grabbing and wrapping itself around the vertical form as it grows.

Bindweed is a nuisance. In more technical terms, it’s a noxious weed that’s difficult to control. However, thanks to the Colorado Department of Agriculture, you can order a mite you can’t even see that can kill bindweed in your yard.

Get the killer mite

Through the “Request-A-Bug” program available from the Dept. of Ag., homeowners may purchase a biological pest control to deal with bindweed in their veggie gardens and yards. The Insectary imports, rears, establishes and colonizes beneficial organisms to control specific plant and insect problems such as bindweed.

For bindweed, the control is a microscopic mite that homeowners may order from the Request-A-Bug program. Supplies are limited and vary year to year. Consequently, the Insectary may not be able to provide mites for every request per season.

The process begins by submitting a request and when mites are ready for release, a manager contacts the person to collect payment and make sure someone can receive the mites via overnight shipment. The recipient’s package includes a piece of bindweed with mites on it and instructions for how to release them.

The advantages of biological controls include lessening or eliminating the use of pesticides and establishment of useful populations of predatory insects. As with other treatments, more than one control might be required.

Bindweed in lawns

Bindweed will grow in poor soil where other plants cannot grow.

When soil is improved and planted with other plants that spread densely, bindweed may be choked out by the competing plants. In lawn areas, proper fertilization and providing consistent, adequate water builds a healthy lawn that will crowd out bindweed and other undesirables.