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Wild, out of control weed vine!
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Posted by not_a_good_gardener Zone4 - Iowa (My Page) on Sat, Jul 24, 04 at 18:09
| I've got a crazy vine growing all over my acreage. It grows up trees (especially any kind of evergreen), all over my shed, and all along my fence line (with corn on the other side).
Is this kudzu? It pulls easily and almost seems sticky. It shoots out little curly suckers that attach to anything in its path!
What's the best way to control this? Pull, or is there a spray (preferably organic/earth friendly) that will attack it, and kill it dead! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Wild, out of control weed vine!
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| Does it have heart shaped leaves and get a white flower? That could be bindweed. Or Wild Buckwheat..which is also a vining weed. I don't know if there is an effective organic solution to either of these. It is difficult to control with Roundup. If you want to go organic, the best bet may be pulling, and NEVER letting it go to seed. |
Here is a link that might be useful: ISU
RE: Wild, out of control weed vine!
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| Of course it can't be kudzu. Won't grow anywhere near your far north. Not bind weed either - it has no tendrils and climbs by wrapping its stem around things. My best guess is what we call a cucumber vine or wild cucumber vine. Don't remember the color of the flowers, but the seed pod is an oval green prickly looking thing. Really grows fast and has the "itchy" bristles all over the stem and leaves, just like vegetable cuccumber. Also has tendrils. Rick |
RE: Wild, out of control weed vine!
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| Does it look a little like poison ivy, only with 5 leaves instead of 3? I have a lot of that stuff, but have never figured out what it is. I've also seen it growing all over the place at the Omaha zoo. |
RE: Wild, out of control weed vine!
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| Maybe it's Virginia Creeper? That will be one of the first things to change color in the fall... DO the tendrils form adhesive suckers and attach to walls, trees, etc? |
RE: Wild, out of control weed vine!
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| I wasn't sure if you were adressing me or not, GardenGirl, but it would've been rude of me to ignore you if you were. I'll have to go out and look at it again-it's clear out on the other side of the driveway growing up an old outhouse and farm building. That's what makes me think it was planted on purpose-that, and the fact that they have it at the zoo. I know it has this great big rock-like root. Come to think of it, I think it does change color in the fall. I've always meant to take a piece to a garden center, but beings it's so far out of the way of the car, I always forget :-( I'll make myself a note and do that this Friday. |
RE: Wild, out of control weed vine!
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| I was wondering if it was what the original poster was inquiring about and also maybe what you were describing. I have seen Virginia Creeper growing up the walls on buildings at Iowa State, and if I remember right, I have seen it at the Zoo in Omaha. It is nearly everywhere! It also grows out in our pastures - up trees and along fences. It is pretty, but I also know it is considered to some to be a parasite and undesireable. I guess it is in the eye of the beholder, LOL I did try to bring a start of it up to my house and it died...brown thumb I guess!!! Check out the link. I bet you do have VC |
Here is a link that might be useful: virginia creeper
RE: Wild, out of control weed vine!
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| It is that! Thanks :-) Well, at least now I know that it isn't some weird vine thing trying to eat the outhouse :-) I actually kind of like the looks of it, and since it is so out of the way, I'll leave it where it's at. Now that I like it and want it, it will probably die...LOL |
RE: Wild, out of control weed vine!
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| Dear Nota....One thing that has curly tendrils and climbs all over evergreens and sheds, etc is wild grape. I have it growing way up to the top of several large evergreens..it really goes. Check and see if it has little clusters of little tiny grapes now...and notice the type of leaf..describe it well and you will find an answer. |
RE: Wild, out of control weed vine!
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| Wild grapes make the best grape jelly!!! It's the most beautiful deep dark purple and it tastes wonderful!!! I love to have them on the farm for just that very reason. ;) Diann
IA Z5a |
RE: Wild, out of control weed vine!
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| I've got wild buckwheat vine everywhere. Didn't know it was a weed one year and thought ooh thas pretty looks like ivy...NOT! Can't get rid of it...it's as bad as creeping charlie. |
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