How to Remove & Get Rid of Invasive Vines

Removing vines from your garden can be challenging, but luckily, there are many different strategies to get rid of them for good. You can kill invasive vines by cutting them down and removing their root systems or by smothering them with mulch. Vinegar and boiling water are also good, non-toxic options for getting rid of vines. For stubborn, persistent vines, use a systemic herbicide to attack the roots and destroy them permanently!

Easy & Effective Ways to Kill Invasive Vines

Cut back the vines to the ground and dig out the roots with a shovel. Or, cover the vines with a thick layer of cardboard and mulch. Another alternative is to apply a vine and stump killer onto the cut stems or spray the vines with a triclopyr or glyphosate herbicide.

Section 1 of 5:

Manually Removing the Vines

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1
Cover up to protect your skin from the vines. Some species of vines, such as English ivy, may irritate your skin. Protect yourself by wearing thick gardening gloves, a long-sleeved shirt, pants, and closed-toe shoes to cover your skin when you handle vines.^{[1]
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- Proper attire also protects your skin from scratches and bug bites while you work.
2
Cut the vines down to the ground with pruning shears or a saw. Snip the climbing vines as close to the ground as possible to help make removing the roots more manageable. Just use pruning shears or a razor tooth pruning saw to sever the vines, depending on their thickness.^{[2]
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- If the vines are very long and growing up a structure, cut them 1 to 2 feet (30-61 cm) above the ground. Then, make a second cut as close to the ground as possible.
- Place all of the vine cuttings in a trash bag as you work. New plants can easily grow from cut stems, so make sure you bag every cutting.
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3
Pull or dig the base of the vines out of the ground. If the vine is still fairly small, it’s usually easy to track down the roots and pull them out by hand. If the vines are overgrown, use a shovel or trowel to dig at the base of the stem. Then, lift the shovel to pull up the root system.^{[3]
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- Remove all of the underground structures from the vine, including any bulbs and tubers, to effectively kill it.
- Wait to remove the vines’ roots until the spring. The soil is usually more moist and soft, which gives you better access to the root system.
4
Pry away vines attached to trees or buildings with a flat tool. To avoid damage to any trees, buildings, or fences that the vines are clinging to, gently insert a screwdriver, crowbar, or similar tool between each stem and the surface. Then, slowly pull the vine up and away.^{[4]
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- Work in small sections to help avoid damaging the structure the vines are attached to.
- If you are removing vines from a tree, pull them off slowly to avoid damaging the tree's bark.
- As another option, let the vines dry and decompose while they’re still attached to the structure before you pull them off. This strategy can help lessen any potential damage.
5
Mow down vines growing on the ground for an easy alternative. If you’re dealing with groundcover vines instead of climbing vines, use a gas-powered lawn mower that is powerful enough to cut through the stems instead of just rolling over them. This removes the vines’ leaves, which drains the root system and helps keep it from regrowing.^{[5]
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- Repeatedly mow the vines 3 to 4 times a year to kill any plants that resprout.
- Electric or rotary mowers are more likely to run over vines rather than cut through them.
- If you want to reduce the hard labor of killing vines, this is the best option to try, though it will take regular and repeated mowing for it to be effective.
6
Place the vines in a trash bag and dispose of them in your trashcan. The stems, roots, leaves, and any other leftover pieces of the vine can easily re-root into the ground. Make sure to pick up all of the cuttings you made and place them in a trash bag. Then, throw the bag away in your regular trash bin.^{[6]
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- Do not compost the vine cuttings, as this can cause them to re-root into the ground as well.

Section 2 of 5:

Killing the Vines with Sheet Mulching

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1
Cut the vines down to ground level. If the vines are climbing on structures in your yard, use pruning shears or a pruning saw to sever the stems just above the ground. If they’re growing on the ground, mow over them with a powerful mower.^{[7]
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- Carefully pry off any vines growing on trees, buildings, or fences after severing the stem at ground level.
- Place the vine cuttings in a trash bag and dispose of it in your trashcan to prevent the vine pieces from rooting in your yard.
2
Cover the cut stems with several layers of cardboard and mulch. Place 2 to 3 layers of cardboard over the area where the vines grow. Then, add a 3 to 5-inch (7.6-12.7 cm) thick layer of leaf or wood chip mulch. Build up another layer of cardboard and mulch until the total covering is between 6 to 12 inches (15-30 cm) thick.^{[8]
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- Covering the vines prevents them from getting the light, water, and air they need to survive.
- If you don’t have mulch, use other organic materials like grass cuttings, tree bark, old newspaper, or dead leaves. Using organic materials is crucial to ensure that they decompose into the soil after killing the vines.
- Alternatively, cover the vines with tarp or plastic sheeting. Sheeting also robs the plant of oxygen and builds up intense heat, which helps kill off the vines.
3
Keep the sheet mulch over the vines for at least 2 years. Vines are hardy plants that may regrow even when they’re covered with sheet mulch. Keep the covering over the vines for at least 2 growing seasons to help ensure the vines are completely dead.^{[9]
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- The sheet mulch will naturally decompose with time. When the covering starts to thin out, add another layer of cardboard and mulch to keep it between 6 to 12 inches (15-30 cm) thick.

Section 3 of 5:

Applying a Vine Killer Herbicide

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1
Cut large vines and treat the stems with a vine and stump killer. Larger, well-established vines often grow intertwined with other plants or attach themselves to buildings or trees. Cut these vines close to the ground with a pruning saw or shears, leaving a 3–5 inches (7.6–12.7 cm) stump. Then, apply an undiluted triclopyr herbicide, like a vine and stump killer, directly to the freshly cut stem.^{[10]
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- The herbicide transfers from the stump down to the roots. It typically kills the vine within 1 to 2 weeks.
- This method is a great alternative to spraying an herbicide on the vines. Applying a vine and stump killer directly onto the stems keeps other nearby plants from being exposed to the herbicide.
- Warning: Wear gloves, long-sleeved clothing, goggles, and a respirator mask when applying any herbicide. Exposure to herbicides can cause skin irritation, headache, dizziness, and nausea.^{[11]
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Use a triclopyr herbicide to kill thick, woody vines. Systemic herbicides enter the vines' circulatory system through their leaves and then kill off their roots. Use a triclopyr herbicide, the strongest type of systemic herbicide, to kill vines that are strong and thick. Simply follow the instructions on the herbicide to spray and kill the vines.^{[12]
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- Find triclopyr herbicide at a local garden center or hardware store.
- Warning: Apply spray-type herbicides on a still, dry day to lessen the chances of the herbicide getting on other nearby plants.
3
Use a glyphosate herbicide to tackle weed-like, herbaceous vines. Herbaceous vines are not as durable as woody vines and can be killed with a milder systemic herbicide, like Roundup. Follow the instructions on the glyphosate herbicide to apply it to the vines’ leaves. Like triclopyr, glyphosate travels through the plant’s circulatory system and kills the roots.^{[13]
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- Please note: The WHO considers glyphosate to be a probable human carcinogen.^{[14]
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  Research source} Its use is prohibited in some states and countries. Please check your local laws and use caution when handling this chemical.
4
Spray isolated vine leaves with a systemic herbicide. If you are killing vines on the ground or on a building that are not touching other plants, spray them with herbicide. Apply enough herbicide to completely wet the foliage of the vine. Just avoid dousing the leaves so that herbicide seeps onto the ground, as this can damage the soil and the roots of nearby plants.^{[15]
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- Do not spray vines growing on trees or other plants.
- It may take several weeks or months to kill the vines, depending on their thickness and how developed their root system is.
- Multiple applications of herbicide may be necessary to completely kill the vines.
5
Cover your other plants with plastic bags while you spray. Protect your garden from vine-killing chemicals by covering them completely with thick plastic sheets. To protect their roots, cover the soil with plastic sheets. Simply place large rocks, bricks, or stakes on the plastic to keep it in place.^{[16]
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- Remove the plastic 2 to 3 hours after applying the herbicide.

Section 4 of 5:

Using Non-Toxic Solutions to Kill Vines

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1
Spray the vines with a vinegar mixture. Fill a spray bottle or garden sprayer with a mixture of 80% water and 20% white vinegar. Then, douse the vines with the mixture. Check their condition after 2 to 3 days and pull out any dead vines.^{[17]
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- The acetic acid in vinegar breaks down the plant’s cell membranes, killing them on contact.
- Repeatedly apply the vinegar solution as necessary to completely kill the vines.
- Apply the vinegar carefully to avoid spraying other plants with the mixture.
2
Pour boiling water onto the root crown of the vines. Cut away the bulk of the surface vines with pruning shears. Then, use a shovel or trowel to dig into the ground until you reach the vine’s roots. Simply pour 3–4 cups (0.71–0.95 L) of boiling water directly onto the top of the root system, where the roots meet the base of the plant.^{[18]
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- Boiling water is typically most effective on newly growing vines.
- Throw away the vine cuttings in a trash bag and place the bag in your trash can.

Section 5 of 5:

How to Keep the Vines from Coming Back

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Repeatedly apply your removal method until the vines stop growing. Vines are invasive, quick growers that aren’t usually killed with 1 single treatment, whether you dig out the roots, cover them with sheet mulch or apply an herbicide. It can take several years of regular treatment to kill them completely.^{[19]
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- Check on the vines every few weeks after applying your first treatment. Whenever you see new vines sprouting, apply your removal method.

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How do I kill thorn bushes?

Lauren Kurtz
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Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.

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You can dig the bushes out by roots or you can spray them with an herbicide.

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I have wild grape vines that are invading my lawn, driveway, and trees. What do you recommend?

Lauren Kurtz
Professional Gardener
Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.

Lauren Kurtz

Professional Gardener

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Spraying with an herbicide is a good way to kill plants. Glyphosate is a good place to start.

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I've just moved into an abandoned house. It was left abandoned for five years, and the vines are pretty deep into the ground. How would I go about removing these the fastest way possible?

Community Answer

Cut the vines to the ground before clearing them since some vines have special pads that they attach to structures, which can cause damage to buildings if simply ripped off. They must be allowed to die before you attempt to remove them. Removing vines can be very labour intensive.

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If you have the space, get a goat to graze on the vines. Goats naturally graze on weeds and other invasive plants, getting rid of them fairly quickly.^{[20]
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Vines are typically easier to kill when they initially sprout. So, kill the vines as soon as you notice them growing to prevent them from invading your yard.

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Clean your tools with rubbing alcohol after using them to prevent diseases and pests from infecting your plants.

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Warnings

Put on protective clothing when using herbicides, as exposure to the chemicals can cause skin irritation, headache, dizziness, and nausea. Make sure to wear gloves, long-sleeved clothing, goggles, and a respirator mask.^{[21]
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Remove and wash all of your clothing in a separate load immediately after applying herbicides.

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