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Dodder weed control and management is of paramount importance to many commercial crop growers. A parasitic annual weed, dodder (Cuscuta species) afflicts many crops, ornamentals, and native plants virtually decimating them. How to get rid of dodder is an ongoing quest for the commercial farmer and may be of interest to the home gardener as well.
Dodder weed has thin, twining stems either pale green, yellow, or bright orange in color. It is either leafless or with tiny, triangular leaves. The weed bares cream-colored bell-shaped blooms containing a seed capsule with two to three seeds. The rootless seedlings have a limited ability to photosynthesize and rely on the host plant to provide them with energy. A dodder seedling can live five to ten days without a host but will soon die. As the dodder weed grows, it continually reattaches itself to its host and sends out shoots to attach to nearby hosts as well creating a dense mass of intertwined stems. Seeds are generally dispersed via the movement of soil and equipment or in dirt clinging to shoes and tires, or in infested plant material that is being transported. The seed germinates at or near the soil surface in the spring when temps reach 60 degrees F. (15 C.). Upon emergence, the seedling is dependent upon carbohydrates stored in the seed until they attach to a host. Once attached, dodder plant extracts nutrients and water from the host, predisposing the host to disease and insect invasion, affecting fruit set and yield, and even killing off the host.
As previously mentioned, dodder is a parasitic weed. It emerges as a rootless shoot that must attach itself to a host within a few days. It embeds its suckers, or haustoria, into the stem of the host plant, literally sucking the life out of the host. If left unchecked, dodder can form large colonies of several feet (1 m.) across and wipe out such crops as:
Dodder is in the Cuscutaceae family, although it is sometimes included in the family Convolulaceae or morning glory family. More than 150 species of dodder occur across the globe, but it is most prevalent in the Americas. With such variety, it can be found in almost any landscape, including salty marshes, mud flats, or ponds. Some species thrive in weed fields living off of such plants as bindweed, lambsquarters, and pigweed. Japanese dodder, C. japonica, a native of Asia, has recently been found parasitizing California citrus groves, along with ornamental shrubs, annuals, perennials, native oaks, and willows.
The beach morning glory (Ipomoea imperati) is a beautiful flowering vine that thrives in coastal environments. However, it can become infected by dodder, a parasitic plant that wraps around the host and saps nutrients. Dodder can seriously damage or even kill beach morning glory if left unchecked. Luckily, there are several effective methods to remove dodder and restore the health of your beach morning glory plant.
Identifying Dodder on Beach Morning Glory
The first step is learning to identify dodder. Look for these signs:
- Thin, yellow, orange or red stringy vines twisting around stems and leaves
- Lack of chlorophyll giving dodder a distinct color from the host plant
- Small white or pink dodder flowers amidst the beach morning glory blooms
Dodder vines can blend in at first but become obvious as they multiply and cover the host plant. Catching infestations early makes dodder easier to remove.
Manual Removal of Dodder Vines
Manually unwinding and detaching the dodder vines from the beach morning glory plant is an effective removal method.
- Wear gloves to protect your hands
- Gently unwind the parasite from the host plant’s stems and leaves
- Completely remove all dodder vines and dispose of them in sealed bags
- Check regularly for new vine growth and remove immediately
For light infestations manual removal prevents dodder from gaining a foothold and sucks nutrients from the beach morning glory. It also limits spreading dodder to other plants.
Pruning Heavily Infested Areas
If dodder has covered large sections of your beach morning glory, pruning is needed to remove the infested parts.
- Sterilize pruning tools in alcohol to prevent disease spread
- Identify and cut away stems and leaves blanketed in dodder vines
- Remove and bag up the pruned material
- Monitor for new dodder growth and prune again if needed
Pruning gives the beach morning glory a chance to recover by removing the most affected areas. But it is stressful for the plant so prune judiciously.
Herbicide Application as a Last Resort
For severe stubborn infestations apply a glyphosate herbicide directly onto the dodder as a last resort.
- Read and follow all herbicide label instructions carefully
- Shield other plants from accidental contact using barriers
- Spot treat only the dodder vines, avoiding the beach morning glory
- Monitor effectiveness and reapply if necessary
Herbicides come with risks, so all other options should be exhausted first. Use them sparingly and with extreme caution to avoid harming the beach morning glory or other plants.
Preventing Reinfestation of Dodder
Dodder management requires diligence to prevent recurring infestations.
- Inspect plants routinely for new dodder growth
- Maintain beach morning glory health with adequate sunlight, water and fertilizer
- Introduce dodder-resistant companion plants like grasses and lilies
- Apply mulch around plants to inhibit dodder germination
Keeping beach morning glory in optimal health helps it resist and recover from dodder. Good horticultural practices go hand in hand with monitoring for and removing dodder regrowth.
Left uncontrolled, dodder can destroy beach morning glory plants. But several techniques like manual removal, pruning, herbicide use, and prevention can manage dodder and restore plant health. Identify dodder early and take a systematic approach combining these methods. With persistence, you can eliminate dodder and enjoy thriving, beautiful beach morning glory once again.
How to Get Rid of Dodder
If you live in California where the invasive Japanese dodder has infiltrated itself, you need to contact your county agricultural commissioner or local extension office for assistance in identification and help with control. The rapid spread of this weed has it under an eradication program in California. Otherwise, you are most likely dealing with native dodder weed and efforts to control this weed require a systematic approach involving multiple methods. Dodder weed control requires immediate attention before the invasion is out of control. Dodder control methods will incorporate control of the current populations, prevention of seed production, and suppression of new seedlings. You can also remove host plants and replant with those plants proven to be inhospitable to dodder weed such as grasses, lilies, crucifers, legumes, or transplanted trees or shrubs. Remove small infestations of dodder by hand and manage large ones with mowing, pruning, burning, or spraying herbicides to thwart seed production. Prune host plants 1/8 to 14 inch (5 mm. to 36 cm.) below the point of attachment. Be mindful of equipment and clothing when moving from infested to uninfected areas, as the seeds may cling to them and be transported. Chemical control is not usually necessary for dodder management in the home garden. Hand removal and pruning are usually sufficient to control the weed. In areas of large infestations, a pre-emergent herbicide may be used followed up by close mowing, burning, or spot removal of afflicted host plants.
Q&A – How do I get rid of this morning glory so I can plant bulbs? I have sprayed and it returned.
Is there a silver lining to getting rid of Morning Glory?
There is a silver lining to getting rid of this plant. A fungus-like plant pathogen that attacks it – called Albugo ipomoeae-pandurata or White Rust – causes leaf and stem lesions that will inhibit growth and control the spread of the plant. When it comes to controlling your morning glory, you have some options.
How do you get rid of Morning Glories?
If you need to get rid of morning glories that you didn’t plant or that have sprouted where you don’t want them to, then follow these tips: Step 1: Pull up the entire vine, including as many of the roots as you can. Morning glory roots can grow incredibly deep, so you may not be able to get all of them.
How do you get rid of Morning Glory weeds?
By far the easiest method, is prevention, though. Most people plant morning glory without knowing its invasive tendencies. Let’s take a look at each aspect of management and control. It is recommended to dig up the soil well in autumn and spring in order to loosen the ground, get all the roots of the weed and remove them.
How do you get rid of dodder weed?
You can also remove host plants and replant with those plants proven to be inhospitable to dodder weed such as grasses, lilies, crucifers , legumes, or transplanted trees or shrubs. Remove small infestations of dodder by hand and manage large ones with mowing, pruning, burning, or spraying herbicides to thwart seed production.