10 Ways to Get Rid of Morning Glory – For Good!

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If morning glory is taking over your yard, you know just how stubborn this vine can be.

While its delicate flowers might look lovely at first, it quickly becomes a backyard bully, spreading its tendrils far and wide, choking out other plants. But don’t worry—getting rid of it IS possible, even though it could take several seasons!

Here’s a guide to help you get rid of morning glory for good…

1. Keep Pulling it Out, and Get as Deep as You Need to Go

One way to start tackling morning glory, especially if it’s just started growing, is by rolling up your sleeves and pulling it out by hand. The key here is persistence—check the area weekly and pull out any you see coming up. Pull as much of the root as possible so the roots don’t take hold.

Hand-pulling can work for small areas, but for larger infestations, dig deeper. Morning glory roots can extend quite far underground. The depth and spread of the roots depend on soil conditions and how long the morning glory has been growing there.

To fully get rid the plant, you must remove as much of the root system as possible. Missing even small root pieces can lead to the vine regrowing!

Grab a hoe or shovel and get below the surface to unearth the plant’s roots. You need to dig at least 12-18 inches deep. But if you have a very severe case, it’s better to dig up to 2 feet deep to get all the roots out.

This isn’t a one-time fix, but frequent digging can make a huge difference.

Photo of morning glory vine growing abundantly
The roots of morning glory can be up to 2 feet deep in an established plant.

2. Remove Seed Heads Before They Spread

Once morning glory starts making seed heads, you could get a major reinfestation.

Check the plants weekly and cut off any flowers or seed pods before they have a chance to drop.

 3. Smother the Beast for a Season or More

Starve morning glory of what it loves most—sunlight.

Cover the infested area with a thick layer of mulch, cardboard, or landscape fabric to block the sun. You can even mix these options, say by combining a thick layer of much with landscape fabric.

Here are some cover options and how to use them:

  • Wood Chips or Bark Mulch: Try to get a layer at least 3-4 inches thick. Both cedar and pine bark are excellent wood mulches because they suppress weeds, are durable, and repel insects, while hardwood and eucalyptus are great alternatives because they last long and enrich the soil.
  • Straw or Hay: While straw can be effective, make sure it’s weed-free to avoid introducing new seeds. A 4–6-inch layer can help to block light and discourage regrowth.
  • Compost or Leaf Mold: Applying a thick layer of compost can not only suppress morning glory but also enrich the soil. It’s best to combine it with a second type of mulch on top to make it more effective.
  • Cardboard or Newspaper: These materials can serve as a base layer under mulch. Lay down a few sheets and cover them with 2-3 inches of organic mulch to create a potent barrier.
  • Landscape fabric: Prepare the area by removing existing plants and leveling the soil, then lay the fabric down with overlaps and secure it using staples. For enhanced weed suppression, cover the fabric with a layer of mulch (any option above) and regularly monitor the area for any signs of growth.

The goal is to suffocate the plant by cutting off its energy source. The thicker the cover, the better!

For this to really work, leave the cover in place for at least one growing season, which is usually around 6 to 12 months. This could give enough time to smother the plants and stop new seedlings from coming up.

Some gardeners have told me they leave their cover on for even longer, even up to 2 years! Doing this depletes the plant’s underground root system and stops any regrowth from hidden roots and seeds.

No matter what timeframe you choose, check the cover regularly and make sure it doesn’t get any holes or gaps where morning glory could sneak through. Also check around the edges of the cover, in case the plant starts sneaking out the sides.

After removing the cover, watch for any new shoots, as persistent seeds might still sprout if it hasn’t been long enough.

4.Use the Power of the Sun

If the morning glory is growing in a sunny spot, solarization might be your answer.

Lay clear plastic over the infested area during the hottest months of the year. The sun will heat up the soil under the plastic and basically “cook” the plant and its seeds.

After a few weeks or months, you should have a bare patch of soil ready for new plants.

5. Use the Heat of Steam

I’ve heard of someone steaming morning glory vines, which might seem unconventional but apparently this worked well. It could be worth a try if you already have a garment steamer or steam cleaner.

The theory goes that if you apply steam to the plant’s foliage, you not only damage the leaves but also weaken the root system.

The gardener uses this method in an organic vegetable garden. After steaming, they recommend cutting the vine at the base the next day to ensure it doesn’t bounce back​.

6. Apply Herbicide or Other Solutions

Some gardeners apply strong vinegar solutions mixed with a bit of dish soap to burn the foliage on morning glory, which is a good chemical-free option to try.

This works best on hot, sunny days but be careful to apply the solution only to the morning glory – if you get it on anything else it could kill that too.

For the most stubborn cases, herbicide may be necessary.

A systemic herbicide like glyphosate can kill morning glory all the way down to the roots. But use it carefully and sparingly – target the morning glory directly, and avoid spraying nearby plants.

7. Guide the Plant’s Growth

You could try taking control of where and how the plant grows. Do this by building a twine structure to get the vine to grow up and away from any plants you want to keep.

This makes it easier to isolate, control and remove the morning glory with the methods listed in this blog post, without hurting nearby plants.

 8. Mow to Prevent Spreading

Morning glory can creep along the ground if left unchecked.

If it’s popping up in your lawn or around garden edges, regular mowing can help. By cutting it down before it has a chance to flower, you stop the plant from reseeding and multiplying.

 9. Plant Competitive Ground Cover

One of the best long-term solutions is to outcompete morning glory.

Introduce fast-growing ground cover plants that can take up space and resources, leaving little room for the vine to return. Some options are creeping Jenny, clover, ajuga (bugleweed), sedum, and lamb’s ear.

Choose hardy, low-maintenance varieties that can stand up to the challenge.

10. Monitor and Repeat as Needed

Even after removing morning glory, it’s possible for new growth to pop up from leftover seeds or roots.

Make a habit of checking the area regularly, and as soon as you see any green shoots, remove them immediately. The earlier you catch it, the easier it is to manage.

Eliminating morning glory isn’t a one-time task – it takes patience and persistence. But with a combination of these methods, you’ll eventually get the upper hand. Good luck!

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