Vines

[GreeneHunter]

Maybe its me but Vines seem to be everywhere !  I took a trip to NYC today to visit a sick relative and I traveled the NYS Thruway down and the Taconic up and on both sides the trees seemed to be covered with Vines .  On the property (20 + acres) the family owns and I've hunted for 30 plus years I clearly see lots more vine growth than when I was younger !  Anyone else notice this or am I losing it ?

[greg54]

 I have noticed it a lot in WNY and also seems be abundance of poison ivy around. I noticed it on my sisters property I hunt in Niagara County. Try to stay clear of that as I suffered thru bad case of it last year. But the vines are eventually killing the trees and seems to be spreading.

[Trial153]

The poison ivy is prolific this year, I am seeing in places I haven't noticed it before.

[Doc]

_{A lot of vines are destructive, but I have seen wild grape actually bend mature trees over and kill them. They can get huge.}

[growalot]

Last week I had to cut Virgina creeper, grape, and poison ivy out of my road side pines...all three are every where...you know deer eat the poison ivy berries..think birds do to. They are loaded with flowers this year.

[Doc]

That poison ivy can be some pretty devious stuff. For years, I had no reaction to it. As a kid I used to walk barefoot through it and had great fun showing off that fact to anyone that was interested, that I was completely immune. Then about a decade ago, I was hacking on the stuff clearing it out of a tree, and I came up with a couple of little blistered that itched like crazy. Not nice, but no big deal. Last year I got nailed pretty darn good to the point where I went to the dermatologist. Now I pay attention when I see it .... lol. So immunity apparently is not necessarily for always.

[growalot]

same here Doc..but my time hasn't come yet...but I'm careful not to push it.

[greg54]

Last week I had to cut Virgina creeper, grape, and poison ivy out of my road side pines...all three are every where...you know deer eat the poison ivy berries..think birds do to. They are loaded with flowers this year.

What's the best way to kill it Grow? 

[landtracdeerhunter]

Good year for growing vines. I don't remove all the grape vines, as some of my squirrel friendso use them for travel routes. They also serve to feed many wild birds and even deer, with their tasty treats. I also set aside spots for poison ivy as stated previously. I have a few vines, size of my wrist growing up a few trees. Wild Morning Glory are also, kinda nice. Vetch is a deer magnet. Night Shade is one vine, I try to eliminate.

Edited August 9, 2015 by landtracdeerhunter

[growalot]

When I go to kill it I cut The vine a foot or so above the ground..leave some leaf and brush with a strong weed /brush killer...leave cut off vine hang off the ground to keep it from rooting...never burn.

Edited August 9, 2015 by growalot

[growalot]

My night shade is the Bush type of deadly night shade. I work hard at getting rid of that. Fetch stays potato vine goes and in areas grapes can't kill good trees that stays as well...some of my best bedding are grape grow overs

[monkeyman2269]

Just chop them then they will rot and fall

[nyslowhand]

Can't speak about some of the vine plants mentioned, but poison ivy I know about. My property is literally infested with it.

 

Neat to think you're feeding the deer or birds by letting them eat the ivy berries.....But, they are spreading the seeds thru their droppings!

 

By cutting the vines, yes you're killing that part off and possibly saving the host trees. But, really you're propagating growth of the runner root system.

 

In my experience, a good herbicide for brush & ivy is expensive and doesn't go far, dilution ration. It will kill off the ground growth, until the following year when it reappears.

 

You can get small infestations under control by spraying & repeatedly tilling up the runner root system until that eventually dies off. Large infestations of poison ivy are another matter. Cut vines, mow ground growth, be careful with equipment handling, clothing/footwear care and live with it!! Oh yeah - Prednisone is a wonder drug prescribed by the family doctor!

[growalot]

poison ivy never bothered me here for it was always along the ground...it's not until the last few years I have seen it climbing the trees that is a royal PITA...that is the only time I have unexpected con tact with it and when in the pine stands it is nasty to try and even find the root source.

PS..I mentioned deer and birds eat the berries in regard to why there is so much more of it..

If you can't beat it you might as well enjoy the fact it does something good