Bindweed has cropped up in my rose bed and other areas of the garden dedicated to flowers and shrubs. This stuff has serious roots so pulling it up almost always leaves just enough root for it to reappear. Last year I just gave up and it swamped roses, boxwood, peonies. It could give kudzu a run for aggressive spreading. This year, I've been pulling the sneaky little baby vines that snuggle round the base of my roses, preventing me from zapping them with Roundup. Every day I rip them out. I don't even attempt the root any more. Next day, more are back. Got to admire its tenacity. Any other solutions beside this constant warfare or should I just surrender.

-- karen eileen dewitt (karen.e.dewitt@abc.com), May 12, 2000