Russian Vines?

littlebluefish · Wed May 16, 2007 3:11 pm

We have some russian vine growing over around twenty trees. We're desperate to get rid of it!

Any ideas?

possum · Post: # 57614Post **possum** » Wed May 16, 2007 9:12 pm

cut it off at the base and dig the roots out. The one I killed didn't have much of a root ball and was easy to get out.

littlebluefish · Thu May 17, 2007 12:02 pm

Thanks. Despite cutting it off, it seems to be still growing. It is massive.

We'll keep going with the vinacide.

possum · Post: # 57740Post **possum** » Thu May 17, 2007 9:17 pm

they are not called Russian vines for nothing - alway rushin about growing :)

Cornelian · Post: # 57743Post **Cornelian** » Thu May 17, 2007 9:46 pm

I hadn't ever heard of Russian Vines before this thread came up - I've been doing some googling ... they're terrifying! I think they are one of the better things Australia has managed to keep out. LOL

possum · Post: # 57750Post **possum** » Thu May 17, 2007 10:11 pm

Yes they aren't my idea of a good garden plant.
There is a plant at this place that I am suspicious of being a Russian vine, I haven't seen the flowers yet, but its days may be numbered when I do and also the other two that are still small but have been planted by the previous owners.

littlebluefish · Fri May 18, 2007 7:16 am

Wish ours was small :/ I've never seen anything like it!

The place was owned by someone who was chair bound for the last two years and you can imagine how much it has grown in that time!

ohareward · Post: # 57856Post **ohareward** » Sat May 19, 2007 9:14 am

I found this bit of info on another site.

It would be good to know where it is growing so that I could offer more concise advice. Generally speaking if the plant is growing on its own then spraying over the foliage with either Bio Glyphosate, Scotts Round-Up or Growing Success Deep Root should sort it out a lot. You should treat the plant as soon as possible now as the herbicide gets in via the foliage and that will be dropping in autumn.
Otherwise you could cut the plant down and dig up the roots during the winter period.
Russian vine grows at an alarming rate, about 15 ft per year, so it should never be planted in confined areas.

Robin

littlebluefish · Sat May 19, 2007 9:32 am

ohareward wrote:I found this bit of info on another site.

It would be good to know where it is growing so that I could offer more concise advice. Robin

Oh brilliant! Thanks Robin.

It is growing over around twenty trees, right next to the 'house' that is on the land. (House in brackets because it is going to be knocked down soon)

I'll take a photo today and try and get it up!

Sally

possum · Post: # 57888Post **possum** » Sat May 19, 2007 1:13 pm

littlebluefish wrote:Wish ours was small :/ I've never seen anything like it!

The place was owned by someone who was chair bound for the last two years and you can imagine how much it has grown in that time!

My house before last had the same creature, I pruned it and pruned it and still it grew, only cutting it off at the base worked.

ohareward · Post: # 57928Post **ohareward** » Sun May 20, 2007 3:05 am

Hi Littlebluefish. Sorry to put you wrong on my info.

The stuff from the site was from a bloke that knows about the plant. I copied it as written. Further about what he said, he reckons the best way is to cut it off at the ground and then treat it. It's like brambles here, if you keep cutting it at ground level it puts stress on the plant to keep trying to produce foliage, and then it gives up. It could possibly be a long term job to eradicate it. Best of luck.

Robin

littlebluefish · Sun May 20, 2007 7:46 am

Oh thanks, Robin.

I have got a photo of some of it, to show how bad the problem is.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u240 ... 7_1113.jpg

This is just a few of the trees it covers.

What we have been doing is cutting it off at the ground, and pulling roots as much as we can, as well as pulling the top bit off where possible.