How to get rid of this weed?

Mikkigirl
by Mikkigirl
This vine weed is choking out our hedges and taking over some of the yard. Is there any way to kill it without killing what's left of the hedge?
  34 answers
  • FRED RIGGS FRED RIGGS on Jun 03, 2017

    Find the root base, cut it there and untangle it from the bushes . Dig out the roots, or go to an independent garden store for their help, They are professionals that deal with that sort of problem. Take them a sample, please.

    • Lori Lori on Oct 29, 2023

      That vine is DETRIMENTAL to trees & such ! It wraps around a tree then grows bark on it to look just like the tree! It DOES IN FACT SUFFOCATE WHATEVER IT WRAPS AROUND & KILLS IT ! The vine is very hard to pull out of the ground & very hard to cut as well ! The ONLY thing that worked after trying so many different ways as people suggested, was to pour a little bit of gas down into the ground if or when you find where it's coming from ! Good luck !

  • Donna Szabo Donna Szabo on Jun 03, 2017

    Roundup makes a weedkiller that can be used around ornamentals. I've used it and so far no casualties.

    • See 2 previous
    • Driscoll James Driscoll James on Aug 11, 2018

      Roundup is now known to cause, that's CAUSE cancer, the big "C".

  • Julanne Sharrow Julanne Sharrow on Jun 03, 2017

    This is Virginia Creeper....just pull the roots. I have tried to transplant...impossible!

    • Gail Salminen Gail Salminen on Jun 03, 2017

      I agree it does look like creeping Virginia. Hard to get rid of - but if you do untangle it and get down to ground level there is a chance. May need to use round up on it as it comes up again - be careful of getting it on the hedge - may need to protect around the area around it - maybe create a cone of some sort - plastic or news paper.

      this may go on for a few years


  • Pam Walker Pam Walker on Jun 03, 2017

    Round-up kills everything!! Just spray it & leave it till it all turns brown & dies & then just dig or rake it up.

  • Cheryl Cheryl on Jun 03, 2017

    The biggest plant in the picture looks like poison ivy and Roundup for poison ivy will work.


    • See 3 previous
    • Penny Pirog Mercadante Penny Pirog Mercadante on Jun 05, 2017

      It's Virginia Creeper. not toxic...........not poison ivy......I used to dig it out at the center root....in some places it makes a good ground cover....

  • Jacalyn Jacalyn on Jun 03, 2017

    I agree with Julianne. It looks like Virginia creeper. It is prolific! I would try to get it out by the roots. Not easy, but I hate adding more nasty chemicals, like Round-up to the Earth. Good luck!

  • Cgb24640016 Cgb24640016 on Jun 03, 2017

    Leaves of 3 would be poison ivy or oak; that is Virginia Creeper. Look under the bushes for the beginning of the vine, cut it, than paint the cut with Roundup (glyphosate).

    • See 2 previous
    • Driscoll James Driscoll James on Aug 11, 2018

      O I had exACTly the same experience. Right down to wiping the sweat from my sunglasses slipping off my nose. Had to go to the doctor. Virginia Creeper. It so is toxic. Home Depot is selling it now!! Do you believe that?!

  • Judy Judy on Jun 03, 2017

    This weed is a real stinker. BE SURE YOU HAVE GLOVES ON, for your protection. You must get it by the roots, and make sure you get them all. Check all your bushes in the area, for this one creeps so fast, and up the branches, very fast. Watch this daily, in case it comes back, from not all the roots - any roots you leave will result into more plants. Take care, and if more questions, ask a person in this dept., at a hardware store. Best wishes, J.

  • Mikkigirl Mikkigirl on Jun 03, 2017

    Thank you all for your help!

  • Carole Carole on Jun 03, 2017

    I am stunned that so many are recommending Monsanto's Roundup (glyphosate). Yes, it will kill anything it lands on. It kills people too. It is cancer causing according to the World Health Organization. It is banned in many countries. It is the main reason for GMOs -To make the plants immune to the glyphosate so they can spray the crap out of the crops. We all have this sinister chemical in our bodies now. At least Cgbunnell's suggestion of painting it on the cut is a little less invasive. I personally would never buy any Roundup product.

    • See 6 previous
    • Cherie Cherie on Jun 14, 2017

      Does it matter if it works if it also kills YOU!

  • KAREN KAREN on Jun 03, 2017

    Thank you for this also,,, I too would not use roundup,, do a google search for a natural weed killer, many receipes out there,,,

  • Edwin Schuh Edwin Schuh on Jun 03, 2017

    Most of the time I just keep it cut off for a season and it will die. The problem is if there are seeds it will come back. just weed wack it or mow the area and it will eventually be controlled. works the same for poison ivy.

  • Eileen Donlon Eileen Donlon on Jun 03, 2017

    I use vinegar on the weeds I pour it straight from the bottle. It takes a day or two to see the results. Good luck.



  • Brenda Brenda on Jun 03, 2017

    It is sumac be careful not to touch with bare skin as it can leave a same rash as poison ivy

    • See 1 previous
    • Jim Jim on Jun 03, 2017

      Let us be correct here there is Sumac and Poison Sumac the father north and west you go the less you will encounter poison Sumac. I include the following:

      Know the regions where poison sumac can grow. Unlike its relatives, poison ivy and poison oak, poison sumac is restricted to a fairly small area of the world. If you are outside the following areas, your chance of encountering poison sumac is almost zero:[12]

      Ontario, Quebec, and other eastern provinces of Canada

      Minnesota, Wisconsin, and all U.S. states east of them, including all of New England

      Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and all U.S. states east of them, including all of the South

      Texas, and all states east of it along the southern U.S. border, including Florida.

      sounds like a lot but is really isn't.

  • Kdblaisdell Kdblaisdell on Jun 03, 2017

    Bayer Brush Killer. It takes about a week to work but kills the entire plant. It's worked wonders on my property.

  • Shawn VanDoren Shawn VanDoren on Jun 03, 2017

    The methods above may work well but if you do see any new plants coming up just continue to cut back just under ground level. If there are no leaves the plant cannot photosynthesize and the root will eventually use its stored energy and die. I am a Master Gardener and don't recommend spray but google IPM for help in your area (integrated pest management) and start by using the least toxic method first and move to more toxic remedies as a last resort.

  • Larry Schaller Sr Larry Schaller Sr on Jun 03, 2017

    Carole is so right about Roundup. This stuff does so much damage it's hard to know where to start.Just google "glyphosate and autism". If you have kids or ever want them that will scare your pants off. Most countries have had the good sense to outlaw it, but big money seems to run us....


  • Florent Florent on Jun 03, 2017

    You can use bleach with syringe. Pick at the lowest the plant you want to get rid of. Inject bleach slowly. It will burn either upper part as groud part definitly. A more "natural" way is to use withe vinegar and salt mixed together. But it works a bit less efficiently : some plant seems to die, but grow again afterwards...

  • Sherrie Sherrie on Jun 04, 2017

    We bought a brush killer to get rid of it, it is bad here. I had a rental that the renters didn't get it under control and by the time I saw the back yard it had choked out tree's attacked it self To my sheds and out buildings causing damage and hard as heck to get rid of and the only way we finally got it under control was to spray it and to re seed the yard.

  • Tcooper9 Tcooper9 on Jun 04, 2017

    In NY we call it tree foil and yes, it's a bear to get rid of.


  • Eloise Eloise on Jun 04, 2017

    If his has been posted already, I apologize. I saw this on Hometalk just today. It's a bit labor intensive, but certainly looks like it would work for any invasive weed. http://www.hometalk.com/diy/outdoor/pest-repeller/how-i-eliminated-goutweed-in-my-front-garden-29236280

    • Katrina Katrina on Jun 04, 2017

      This is Great! Thanks! This will not work on Virginia Creeper. Just weeds.

  • Katrina Katrina on Jun 04, 2017

    This *IS* Virginia Creeper.

    This plant is known as a tap root. You can cut it off where you see it and "pull the roots" however, the main plant can be 20 or more feet away. Just like Burdock.

    Once it creeps into your garden you will never get rid of it.

    There are ways to spot treat, but you need to get it before it leafs out.

    I have had success in the past with a specific type of Roundup, but that was 5 years ago and I no longer poison.

    • See 2 previous
    • Katrina Katrina on Jun 11, 2017

      Okay..

      1st) Dig down 8-16 inches for small stems and double the depth for any stem over an inch.

      Make sure to dig out around a measurement that's twice the diameter of the stem.

      2nd) Back fill, packing tightly, with Epsom Salt.

      3rd) Cover with plastic. Preferably black plastic. Weight the spot down and wait.

      This works on Burdock as well.


      If you see a vine, there will be a larger plant nearby.

      Just remember to wear your rose gloves!

  • Brenda Brenda on Jun 04, 2017

    My friend who has a masters in horticulture and land management from Michigan State tells me all sumac should be considered poison as increased levels of CO2 in atmosphere are causing species of sumac and p, ivy to mutate and spread like wildfire

  • Jobyn Jobyn on Jun 04, 2017

    Round up doesn't just kill plants, it kills bees, butterflies, birds who eat the earth worms and important insects in our environment. I would suggest you spray it on yourself and see what the effects are. Find an organic or natural way which have been recommended, and make a choice beneficial to our world and environment. Btw, Monsanto has been bought by bayer

    • See 2 previous
    • Cherie Cherie on Jun 14, 2017

      So glad to know that there are other informed gardeners out there who aren't spraying Round-Up because Monsanto says it's fine!!! Keep spreading the word!

  • LR LR on Jun 05, 2017

    this is not sumac, it isVIRGINIA CREEPER. JUST PULL IT UP

    • Cherie Cherie on Jun 14, 2017

      You are correct!!!! Have done this for 24 years now and I had it growing up my oak trees and hanging down to the ground!!! It is definitely VIRGINIA CREEPER!!!

  • Lottie Lottie on Jun 05, 2017

    I have it on side of property. Can't find ends. it goes on forever and so many vine. it's impossible to get rid of it. No close neighbors to help. Just vacant land

  • Ellis Ellis on Jun 05, 2017

    Rather than spraying Roundup, pull all the weed you can out of the bushes. The base parts of the vine weed, that last little bit that you can't pull out, can be "painted" with a cheap foam paintbrush dipped in Roundup. That way, only the weed itself is touched, and there are no spray droplets to land indiscriminately.

  • Stephanie Mitchell Stephanie Mitchell on Jun 05, 2017

    Please do not use Roundup or any other man made weed killer. It not only kills the plant but also the bees and other useful bugs. I would use a good homemade deterrent like what it in Jerry Baker's Books. His ideas have always worked for me.


  • Kathryn Kiser Kathryn Kiser on Jun 06, 2017

    Get a tiny bottle of roundup concentrate. Use a tiny cheap water color brush and paint a few leaves here and there. Don't Ever spray the stuff. It will kill trees. My mother's trick for weeding. Will take a few days to look sick, but it won't kill everything around it.  .

  • Katrina Katrina on Jun 07, 2017

    So sorry for the delay. I will be home tomorrow and will respond ASAP!

    • See 1 previous
    • Katrina Katrina on Jun 15, 2017

      Cherie, I did respond. I NEVER USE ROUNDUP!!!!!!

      As a healthcare professional I can personally vouch that ROUNDUP is toxic.

      As an old-fashioned hippy I can personally vouch that ROUNDUP kills your land. Even the paint brush method.

      Cherie, about a dozen comments up I describe my Epsom salt method. 😄

  • Katrina Katrina on Jun 22, 2017

    Once again, THIS IS NOT SUMAC and also - DO NOT USE ROUNDUP. Not even with a paintbrush or sprayer..

    DO NOT USE ROUNDUP!!

    SAVE THE BEES! SAVE THE BIRDS! SAVE YOURSELF! SAVE YOUR LAND!

  • Bridgett Delaune Lewis Bridgett Delaune Lewis on Apr 12, 2019

    After 3 episodes of bad, bad, bad rashes, I found out I was highly allergic to the Virginia Creeper. Big argument with a botanist about Virginia Creeper not causing the rash, the 3rd time I started pulling it out and the 3rd set of horrible itchy blisters lasting weeks, I accidentaly wiped sweat off my brow with the back of my glove, my face swelled up, setting off a 4 month treatment of steriods to clear it up. The vine is back almost twice as bad. I just tried cutting it off at the roots and don't know how I am going to get rid of it.

    So don't use Roundup, I can't bring myself to buy even. Vinegar, ok I'm going to try that next. Wish I could afford a yard man to pull it out.

  • Matt Matt on May 12, 2020

    This an interesting discussion that somewhat applies to my situation. I have two acres that I have allowed to go natural to support wildlife. VC has invaded the field and spreads underneath the grasses and wildflowers that I want to grow. There have to be hundreds of yards of vines there now with thousands of leaves starting to pop up. I can appreciate the desire to not use glyphosate but I can't see how that can be avoided. Wide spread spraying is not an option with the amount of milkweed, clover and other things I want to keep. I have a backpack sprayer with the sprayer set on the coarsest spray and will attempt to spray every leaf individually. Obviously this could kill a few other things under the leaves but I don't think I have another choice at this point. This could take weeks but we'll see how it goes!

  • James McLaughlin James McLaughlin on Jan 16, 2021

    Vinger and dish soap and baking soda