Trumpet Vine in Lawn

If it is trumpet vine I do have a way to get rid of the plant. If the vines have been there awhile you may have to deal with ungerminated seeds as they come up even if you do take out the growing plant(s).

You have to be very careful with this stuff but does it work (and it does work on bindweed if you are patient enough to apply it to each cut stem).

I believe one can buy this in Kansas in the RTU (ready to use) form only. The product is called Tordon (specifically "Tordon RTU" the other forms are restricted use only). This product is a very concentrated form of one of the chemicals that Chelsey recommended plus another ingredient that makes the chemical translocate very quickly throughout the plant and down into the root system.

You want to be very careful with this stuff around other plants root zones! and only apply a drop to a fresh cut vine at each place it comes out from the ground. Yes just a drop to the cut usually does it. You may want to get a foam brush that you dip into the chemical and use it to apply to the cut so you dont over apply it. Do NOT spray it.

I would not recommend using it if near water (ponds or streams).

You probably will only find it at Ag chem supply places outside of the city. Farmers use it to treat hard to remove trees growing up in fence lines (usually one application does it). The chemical is also used in forestry to remove "junk" trees.

Rather than trumpet vine, you may have field bindweed invading the lawn. Check the photo and description of Trumpet Vine compared to that of Field Bindweed. My neighbors are having a terrible time keeping bindweed from taking over their lawn.

You are definitely right on the weeds being tough to pull. A 1940’s study found that at the six-leaf stage, bindweed produces enough energy to start strengthening its root system. For best results, get the bindweed pulled before the plant produces more than six leaves. That's easier said than done though.

The best product for homeowners to use for management of field bindweed in turf is a combination herbicide that contains dicamba. Examples of herbicides are Trimec, Weed-B-Gon, and Weed-Out. Even though these are the best available products, bindweed is a fighter and the results can often be disappointing.

Chelsey Wasem
Horticulture Agent