Vines can be a beautiful addition to a mountain garden. Some vines however are a gardeners worst nightmare. Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), English ivy (Hedera helix), wisteria (Wisteria sinensis), porcelain vine (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata), Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), etc. are non-native invasive plants that can take over landscapes.
Even native vines such as poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans), and green briar (Smilax sp.) can be annoying when they get tangled in your favorite shrubs and trees. Also, reports indicate that forests that were opened up by Hurricane Helene can be overrun with undesirable vines since fallen trees allow more sun into the forest.
English ivy (Hedera helix) is an escaped ornamental vine that has become 'invasive' meaning the plant is harmful to native environments.
Controlling vines in the landscape can be difficult. According to a University of Georgia (UGA) article on controlling greenbriar, "If possible, unravel the...vine from the desirable plant. Remove as little of the vine as possible and be careful not to break any of the stems. Lay the vine on some bare ground or on a piece of plastic. Spray or sponge-apply a 10% solution of glyphosate (approximately 12 ounces of glyphosate per gallon of water, using a product containing at least 41% active glyphosate). Be careful to avoid drift or contact of the spray solution with desirable foliage or bark. Allow the herbicide to stay on the plant for 48 hours and then cut stem back to ground level. If the greenbrier attempts to regrow, spray or wipe a 10% solution of glyphosate on the sprouts when they are 6 to 8 inches high."
Wisteria vine (Wisteria sinensis) is invasive and is very difficult to control. Avoid the plant at all costs.
The UGA article continues, "If the...vine cannot be unraveled from the desirable shrub, cut the vine as close to the ground as possible. Immediately paint concentrated glyphosate on the cut stem. Make sure that the concentrated glyphosate is at least a 41% or greater active ingredient glyphosate. If the plant re-sprouts, sponge on or spray a 10% solution of glyphosate when the sprouts are 6 to 8 inches high."
Other herbicides containing 2-4,D plus triclopyr can be used in both situations above as well. Both methods can be employed to control other proglematic vines in the landscape. Learn more about invasive vines.
