Virginia creepers, which are also known as Parthenocissus quinquefolia, is a climbing vine and some of us consider it as ornamental plants or even invasive weeds that can do damage to your garden plants or trees. Virginia creeper vines can grow up to 50 feet high and it is normally being planted in areas that have serious soil erosion issues. However if it is not controlled, the Virginia creepers often escape the area that they are supposed to be planted and crowd out onto nearby plants in your garden. Therefore, gardeners need to always remember to control the growth of the Virginia creepers. If the Virginia creepers is not well control, it can use up all the moisture and nutrients that are meant for your garden’s grass and also other landscape plants.
To contain Virginia creeper, you need:
- Herbicide containing glyphosate
- Shovel
- Garbage bags
- Bypass shears
- Paint brush
- Gloves
- Long sleeved shirt
- Pants
- Mask
Containing Virginia Creeper
How to Contain Virginia Creeper
- The first thing that you need to do is to cut any of the Virginia creeper vines that grows on trees that is 2 inches above the ground.
- Then, you should apply a diluted mixture of 25 percent glyphosate together with 75 percent water in order to cut the portion of the affected vine.
- You must make sure to avoid the tree from being in contact with the herbicide mixture.
- After two to four days, you have to reapply the above mixture again onto the Virginia creeper vines.
- Then, you should apply a diluted mixture of 25 percent glyphosate together with 75 percent water in order to cut the portion of the affected vine.
The Virginia creepers can be identified through its leaves. It has five leaflets that is green in color and tinted with red in its early stage of growth. The leaves will turn to deep red during the fall season and it is normally confused with the Poison Ivy species because you can sometimes find both of them growing besides each other. The difference between both of the species is that the Poison Ivy only has three leaflets along with only a few teeth or even some of them do not has teeth. As for the Virginia creepers, its five leaflets always have teeth on them.
- Next step for you to do is to water the soil surrounding the fences or structures that has been covered with the Virginia creeper vines.
- Take a shovel and push it at least 2 inches away from the base of the affected plant and 6 inches deep into the soil in order to push the entire root system down through the soil.
- Once finished, you have to either throw them away or just burn the debris.
- Take a shovel and push it at least 2 inches away from the base of the affected plant and 6 inches deep into the soil in order to push the entire root system down through the soil.
- Then, you need to prune the Virginia creeper vines that grow away from the designated planting area by using a pair of bypass shears.
- The reason for using the bypass shears is to create 45-degree downward cuts just above a healthy outward growing bud so that you can remove vines.
- The reason for using the bypass shears is to create 45-degree downward cuts just above a healthy outward growing bud so that you can remove vines.
- You can use herbicide that contains glyphosate to spray Virginia creeper plants that grows from your vegetation.
- When you decide to use glyphosate method, you must ensure that you have at least two days of dry weather. This is to allow the chemicals to absorb directly into your plant’s foliage.
- When you decide to use glyphosate method, you must ensure that you have at least two days of dry weather. This is to allow the chemicals to absorb directly into your plant’s foliage.
- Another way you can do is to use a small paintbrush and dip it into the herbicide that contains glyphosate
- Then, paint the Virginia creepers foliage using the small paintbrush.
- By doing this, you would be able to control the plants from growing besides any of the ornamental plants.
Always remember that whenever you want to contain Virginia creeper
- You should ensure for your safety by wearing gloves, long sleeves, long pants and a mask. All of this safety measure is to be used when you are dealing with glyphosate in order to prevent exposure of the chemicals to you.
- Always avoid ripping off your Virginia creeper vines from shrubs or trees. The vines of the Virginia creeper may pull off the bark that in the end can produced an entryway for diseases.
- You would be able to find the Virginia creeper growing on any pine tree or hardwood tree like oaks and hickories as well as over most shrubs. The Virginia creeper is considered as a parasite and will kill off its host plants or tree slowly as it started to grow.
- The Virginia creeper is normally grown as an ornamental plant and also planted as a ground cover plant because it can easily grow in shade where most plant would not be able to grow.
- The plant also has fruit but it is poisonous to humans and you must always make sure that you and your family do not eat the fruit.
- Always be extra careful whenever there are any Virginia creeper’s around your garden because there might be Poison Ivy alongside the plant as both of the plants often grows together.
- Then, paint the Virginia creepers foliage using the small paintbrush.
