Q: How do I get rid of the bane of my life – bindweed and ground elder – without using chemicals?

A: There are no official figures for how many gardeners wage war against bindweed or ground elder, but I suspect the answer is simply: most of us. I certainly do. Both have found their way into my own garden and, after years of trying to keep them under control, I finally resolved this season to tackle them more strategically. Complete eradication may be optimistic, but even partial success feels like progress.

Modern gardening philosophy leans strongly away from chemical controls, which means relying on physical methods instead. Covering affected ground with cardboard, old carpet or black plastic to exclude light can work surprisingly well, although it often takes many months, sometimes even two years. In established borders this is easier said than done, and usually requires a little cunning, plus the sacrifice or temporary removal of smaller plants.

Another option is the old-fashioned method: digging everything out carefully by hand. The key is removing as much of the underground stem system as possible because every tiny fragment has the ability to regenerate. Gardeners learned this lesson long ago with couch grass, which can produce more than 15,000 viable buds per square metre beneath the soil. Every one has the potential to become a vigorous new plant. Digging or rotavating simply chops the roots into sections, effectively multiplying the problem. Bindweed and ground elder behave in exactly the same way – even the tiniest fragment of root left behind can quickly produce an entirely new colony.

Timing also matters. A plant’s weakest moment is often when it is flowering, having used much of its stored energy. Any attempt at removal during this stage tends to be more effective. Heavy mulching can also help by encouraging plants to stretch upwards in search of light, producing weaker, more manageable growth that is easier to pull out.

Bindweed itself comes in two familiar forms – field and hedge – essentially the smaller and larger versions of the same nuisance. Again, even the smallest white root fragment left behind can restart the battle.

And it does not stop there. Brambles can regenerate from tiny root pieces, arch across borders and root themselves wherever they touch the ground. Spanish bluebells reappear just when you think you have finally won. Gardening, it seems, is often less about victory and more about persistence, but perseverance usually gains ground in the end.

Got a gardening quandary? Drop Ian an email at iantribe@gmail.com

Mexican Feather Grass (Image: Getty Images)

PLANT OF THE MONTH:

Stipa Tenuissima

Also known as Mexican Feather Grass or Pony Tails, this graceful ornamental grass has become a firm favourite in British gardens. Its fine foliage catches the light beautifully, shifting from soft green to warm gold before bleaching elegantly through winter. The movement it brings to borders is unmatched, pairing particularly well with alliums and prairie-style planting. It simply needs cutting back to about 10cm in spring. The only caution is winter wet, as damp roots can lead to rot..

Courgettes (Image: Getty Images)

Garden tasks for July

Keep picking courgettes as frequent harvesting encourages the plant to continue flowering and producing fruit. The same applies to French and runner beans. With tomatoes, some gardeners recommend removing entire ripening trusses to allow the plant to concentrate its energy on developing the remaining fruits.

June Drop should have thinned apples, pears and plums naturally, but it is still worth checking trees are not carrying too much fruit. July is also one of the safest months to prune plum trees, reducing the risk of Silver Leaf disease.

Before going on holiday, ensure your garden has a reliable watering plan in place. Automatic irrigation systems can work very well, although they are not foolproof. Ask someone to check the system occasionally, or better still, water manually.

Overcrowding leads to smaller crops and can weaken next year’s performance.

Ian Tribe is the author of The Plant Kingdom (Hamlyn). He has taught widely, founded the Wisley Series at RHS Garden Wisley, and currently runs monthly gardening workshops in Ryme Intrinseca, as well as writing and broadcasting, with an occasional gardening slot on Radio Solent