Can I remove Russian Vine from a hedge?
Phil Coombs
a Russian Vine (mile-a-minute plant) that has managed to get very well
established in one of my hedges. The hedge in question is about 60 years
old and is made up of a mixture of yew, privet, laurel and hawthorn.
Unfortunately the vine has established itself in a section approx 20 ft long
and is beginning to take over. I fear for the rest of the hedge which is
about 60 ft long in all. It appears to be spreading sideways in both
directions. Removal of the hedge is out of the question.
Do these wretched things self seed? Of course, it could have been planted
by a previous neighbour. It definitely was not planted by me.
Any experience on dealing with this kind of problem would be gratefully
received.
Dick Harrison
I have a similar problem with a 10-year-old plant (which, to my shame, I
planted). In a few years, it had completely covered an adjacent 30-foot tall
fir tree. When flowering, it was quite pretty. Last month, however, the tree
fell over (doing no damage, luckily). The Russian Vine had killed it! The
vine continues to flourish.
I believe it spreads from the spreading roots (rather like bindweed). My
plant actually no longer exists where it was planted. What I'm doing is
going all around the area cutting every stem near the ground. I plan, when
it's more under control, to kill it with something like Tumbleweed. It'll be
a long job, though. If anyone has a better plan, please tell.
The ironic part of this is that my wife now works in a garden centre. Almost
every day, a few of these plants are sold. It's very difficult for her not
to dissuade customers!
--
Regards
Dick
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Phil Coombs <phil.coom...@virgin.net> wrote in message
news:7n5771$jtq$1...@nclient1-gui.server.virgin.net...
Mike Edwardes
<phil.coom...@virgin.net> wrote:
> Can anybody please offer advice on how I might possibly get rid of
> a Russian Vine (mile-a-minute plant) that has managed to get very well
> established in one of my hedges. The hedge in question is about 60 years
> old and is made up of a mixture of yew, privet, laurel and hawthorn.
> Unfortunately the vine has established itself in a section approx 20 ft long
> and is beginning to take over. I fear for the rest of the hedge which is
> about 60 ft long in all. It appears to be spreading sideways in both
> directions. Removal of the hedge is out of the question.
> Do these wretched things self seed? Of course, it could have been planted
> by a previous neighbour. It definitely was not planted by me.
> Any experience on dealing with this kind of problem would be gratefully
> received.
Find where the shoots emerge from the ground and cut them off at this
level. Mark the spot with a stick or a stone. If it reshoots from
this spot, spray the new shoot with brushwood killer (glyphosphate). If
you do this regularly, you can get rid of it. The difficulty is likely
to be identifying shoots in the middle of the hedge base.
Mike.
--
Mike Edwardes Tropicals
http://143.210.172.29/Edwardes/
Karen Tape
>In article <7n5771$jtq$1...@nclient1-gui.server.virgin.net>, Phil Coombs
><phil.coom...@virgin.net> wrote:
>
>> Can anybody please offer advice on how I might possibly get rid of
>> a Russian Vine (mile-a-minute plant) that has managed to get very well
kind of problem would be gratefully
>> received.
Phil,
I removed a russian vine that was growing on a fence in my garden by cutting
of all the top growth and then spraying any new growth with Roundup.
However, because it's growing through a hedge you might be better off doning
a pair of rubber gloves, applying the solution to the gloves and then
touching as much foliage as you can - bruising it first may help. You'll
have to make sure the solution doesn't touch any other plant as it'll kill
them also.
I actually happen to like the plant - provided it is chopped back every two
years we managed to contain it quite successfully!
Hope this helps.
Karen.
>
Karen.Mountford
> In article <7n5771$jtq$1...@nclient1-gui.server.virgin.net>, Phil Coombs
> <phil.coom...@virgin.net> wrote:
>
> > Can anybody please offer advice on how I might possibly get rid of
> > a Russian Vine (mile-a-minute plant) that has managed to get very well
> > established in one of my hedges.
> Find where the shoots emerge from the ground and cut them off at this
> level. Mark the spot with a stick or a stone. If it reshoots from
> this spot, spray the new shoot with brushwood killer (glyphosphate). If
> you do this regularly, you can get rid of it. The difficulty is likely
> to be identifying shoots in the middle of the hedge base.
> Mike.
> --
> Mike Edwardes Tropicals
> http://143.210.172.29/Edwardes/
I did this successfully with one growing through my privet hedge when I moved in.
The hdege in question was pretty bald near the roots though so it wasn't too
difficult. i found bits coming up all over the place for about two years but I
got it all in the end.
Karen (Coastal Suffolk)
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