Saving a Tree from Invasive Vines

It was a bit difficult to finally figure out that these vines were invasive, and that this tree was still alive, but now it was finally the time to free this tree of its burden.

[@claireaudient]

It is so true that there’s barely any info on invasive (or nuisance native) vines! I live in the south and I’m slowly taking back my yard from invasives

[@jorgebusch7]

Probably because these vines aren’t natives. And they’ve been spread in areas on purpose to destroy mature trees

[@martinvisokey8958]

Once you've got those Vines cut those trees will start growing so much better and what's left in the upper canopy will get blown out by the wind

[@ThereIsNoLord]

It is true. The dead vines in the top will dry out and fall down. No need to make a big production to remove them. Much more important is to apply the correct herbicide to the cut stem (and to do this in the fall) to kill the root system.

[@johnatyoutube]

We just saved an old walnut tree in my community that was holding on for dear life from a very old English ivy invasion that was at least 20 years old using a "ring of life" procedure. The ivy had equally thick vines completely girdling the tree and covering every branch like a big monster. It's amazing how strong trees are that they can hold all that weight. Ivy is the most invasive vine along with kudzu. It's important that we keep them these invasives in check to keep our forests and ecosystems that depend on them alive. Left to their own devices with no checks and balances in our environment, they'll become a mono culture and the ecosystem will collapse. The Northeast is being engulfed by ivy. Our trees and forests and all the plants, animals, insects, and birds that live in the forest are depending on us.

[@donmulder8061]

We bought a 4 acre new home in northern va and we have about an acre of thick woods along one edge adjacent to another home. I love the privacy and seeing the wildlife going into the thicket. But I can see that most of the trees are really not tree leaves but just covered in vines and look like big lollipops on he skyline. Currently on day two of cutting vines and wondering if I look silly to the neighbors cutting vines with hedge shears and pulling them down. Now I can see I am on track. I too have vines that are so big they look like trees. Today I was able to pull down vines I cut last week as they have died after being cut. It's nice to see from your video that some of my dead trees may come back. I find it therapeutic.

[@TheHolyMongolEmpire]

Just an fyi, you shouldn’t pull them down. Cut them and treat them and then let the remaining vines above you just rot and fall off. You may damage the tree pulling the vines and or a dead tree limb may come crashing down on your head…

[@Skitdora2010]

You can grow back the privacy with native understory shrubs. Where I am in NY that is witch-hazel, nannyberry viburnum, grey and swamp dogwood, American Elderberry, hop hornbeam who all naturally grow as an understory on my lot. They grow right next to the base of the tree and never get too tall, but a few do catch powdery mildew some years on the northern or western facing sides. You will still have wildlife as they eat those nuts and berries. The county extension and state conservation department sells real cheap native plants for environmental conservation starting in January and you pink them up around planting season.

[@nopriors]

@@TheHolyMongolEmpire If they pull easy I pull them. If they don't I leave them. Some will come down easier after they have died out. This is definitely an exercise of patience. They didn't get there overnight and they won't come down overnight.

[@lisaart6773]

Tip on permanently removing vines, add a weed/ stump or brush killer to the freshly cut end. No re growth.

[@ThereIsNoLord]

Not just a tip, and essential step. Failure to use herbicide will cause the roots to spread to other trees, and be much more difficult to kill.

[@emilymarie9796]

I had the same conundrum when I noticed the trees in my area getting absolutely destroyed by vines. I eventually identified the vines as japanese honeysuckle and wow.. this plant is the DEVIL. It has taken over the native ground cover, grows up grasses and brambles, and strangles the trees in addition to shading them out and grows even in the winter... Seems like nobody else has noticed what's happening and how unhealthy the patch of forest really is. Thanks for sharing your experience and for helping a tree friend out!

[@natetritt8644]

Literally the same thing just happened to me yesterday! I was walking through my normal forest path and noticed how many vines were everywhere almost choking the trees out. I want start working on managing them because the Forest should be a lot healthier looking since its relatively untouched. I'm in mid Ohio. I am about to start the process of identifying and removing. One of the vines is actually just wrapping around the base of this young tree and its taking it over. The war begins.

[@TK-setophaga]

The Japanese Honeysuckle vine is incredibly fast growing and is a problem. I agree that it doesn't get the cautionary attention we need. I just keep cutting the big vines. Grape vines are good for nature though.

[@acidbubblebath77]

@@natetritt8644 Best of luck to you. I have been at war with these vines plus Tree of Heaven, Multiflora Rose, Greenbriars, Poison Ivy, Honeysuckle, heaps of trash left behind by the previous property owners, and thick colonies of Japanese Stiltgrass for almost 7 months now. All of the growth, trash, and severely damaged and dead trees have all been cleared, but now I am pulling the roots left behind or spraying concentrated glyphosate on the especially thick stumps of vines. Plus, I have to clear out all the rocks and grind the tree stumps left behind by hours and hours of chainsawing. I probably still have several more months to go before the area is ready for grass seed and whatever else. It is all worth it though when you see how much progress you make and how much better your property will look, not to mention that this kind of work will increase your property value. Best of luck! EDIT: Of all the plants I mentioned, nothing is as treacherous and repugnant as Oriental Bittersweet.

[@acidbubblebath77]

@@TK-setophaga Honeysuckle is a pain in the ass. The biggest problem I had with it was spending hours and hours removing that crap from my chain linked fence. Honeysuckle seems to especially love growing on fences.

[@dwbrow3]

Bypass loppers and a Corona Razortooth pruning saw is a lot less work than an handsaw and machete. Makes it go pretty fast.

[@TheHolyMongolEmpire]

Great video, also you should do David Cross impersonations.

[@bishopp14]

Omg, you're right, I hear it!

[@brianredban9393]

I live in Connecticut and started noticing the vines on the side of the road a year ago. All the sudden they are killing everything. They are wiping out so many trees. Most people are so busy they don't even notice them.

[@GreatFalls18u]

1. Proper clothes. 2. Chainsaw. 3. Don't discriminate, cut the water hogging heavy vines before they strangle or pull the tops out of your trees. 4. Not a big user of Roundup but a few drops using the Hack & Squirt method in late summer will mean you only have to do it once.

[@bonesracin3255]

I had 2 hot fires on a stump of a vine. It laughed at it. Im not giving up lol

[@nopriors]

To a degree some of these invasives were controlled my natural burns. Since I have moved to rural GA I am surprised by the number of folks who do controlled burns to manage their woods.

[@jeffsomers28]

I had a memorable day years ago when I was 15 or 16 clearing an acre of vines on our property. Machete, hatchet and axe were my only tools. Very satisfying to see the trees thrive afterwards. Cut head height and then at ground leaving air gap.

[@johnnottahcal5725]

Great information! Sweet. I was trying to ID invasives too. Sharpening machete. 😊👍

[@Charlotte_breathes_fire]

This was satisfying, ty. I hope the tree is thriving.

[@larnettewalker7076]

I'm 5 days into gathering water from a vine. Good water. I forage. But I had not researched finding water from vines. A day or so later while clearing a fence row of what appeared to be dried vines, I upset several water vines. I noted that they dripped water. I decided to do research observation on the vines. I collected several bottles of drinkable water each day. I did not cut a section out of the vines. I think that is not necessary to gather water from the vine.

[@heatherrichter1893]

What about a follow-up video, so we can see how it looks now... Thanks

[@emilien.8327]

It looks nice like a braided vine but it's invasive to my Pecan tree on the back of the house we have bought the property recently! We did like you do, the vine is a 10-year-old vine based on what you did in the video. The invasive vine looks spooky. The trees are dwelling places for negative spirits!

[@n0sr3t3p]

the grape vines hitched a ride on the bittersweet. otherwise, they would have a hard time climbing trees without low branches. so it's quasi natural. I'd sacrifice the grape vines to get rid of the bittersweet, without guilt.

[@ThereIsNoLord]

Grape vines will come back. If you kill the roots of the oriental bittersweet, but leave the grape vine roots, it will come back. Grape is also aggressive, but does not girdle a tree the same way oriental bittersweet does.

[@moharak]

Two words. Electric Chainsaw. Nice video though. I think another variable to consider when eliminating vines is the quality of the tree you are trying to protect. If its a large quality tree then get the vines off, grape included. Leave the native vines on less valuable lumber or trees beyond saving. Old grape vines on large trees can be beautiful but man, they are no doubt heavy as hell when laden with water.

[@ZackZane]

Few points: don’t touch that bittersweet juice - you can have a reaction to it simile to poison ivy. Get a Silky Foldable saw to cut those thicker bittersweet wines. Makes the job much easier.

[@Stdagger]

Eh, no reason to worry about an allergic reaction to something I've been exposed to so frequently. Also I'm not sure a folding saw would do much better; every folding saw I've had experience with made tradeoffs for portability without any improvements in effectiveness. I might be wrong since people do like folding saws but I just don't see the appeal over a traditional hand saw when portability isn't of issue.

[@evel3367]

If you don’t like the idea of the silky folding saw, just snag a traditional pruning saw, they don’t bind like a saw made for construction, and they make really quick work of those thick vines. It’s what I use at work and what most arborists go with. They’re mad sharp and very effective

[@Jared-mp6qt]

When the moterbikes came it sounded like something bad was gonna happen while he was cutting.

[@steved5023]

I use a mini 6 inch electric chain saw. Really gets trees healthy again

[@mr.boniato6402]

Why are you counting the rings?.. doesn't those type of vines grow between 3-5 meters per year?

[@Stdagger]

3-5 meters per year would be the growth-rate in length/height. In general, counting rings is one of the more definitive ways to tell a woody plant's age if possible. Age estimates based on height and diameter are just that: estimates. Plant growth rate is highly variable due to growing conditions, and it's not uncommon to have outlier individuals that grow like crazy or barely grow at all.

[@williaml8474]

I found part of a vine cut off 15 ft up. At ground level it was like 6" diameter. Cut 90%, got a lot of it from ground level and had to split it for the stove. Counted the rings, roughly and got to 45. Ha.

[@darleneniclow5331]

Buying one.of those mini saws would work great on cutting those vines quick.

[@blakespower]

maybe it survived hurricane force winds because of all the vines, but I do think trees look better without all the vines especially ones on the side of the road

[@wolley2012]

Looks like a cottonwood.

[@Stdagger]

You would be correct, got around to properly identifying the tree last year. Slightly outside of it's reported natural range so had to be very sure.

[@thomasburns6559]

Sounds like he has done hid due diligence. Once 1 suggestion, CHAIN SAW. He is eather

[@thomasburns6559]

Oops! studying botany or learned off internet. Environmental consideration is commendable. he did suggest a saw . At the beginning he stated about his neighbors, Here's my idea. His land! Will improve the condition of his property. Hopefully the neighbors can understand that a little bit of noise will be temporary. Area cleaned and maintained will be here way after we are long forgotten about. Long one TCB

[@jerrylansbury9558]

Pathfinder II works great for all vines....and trees. When using it..... just take care and try not to get much Pathfinder II on trees that you wont to keep. It will kill them. But it takes a bit more to kill a tree. Use a small squirt bottle....from a lawn care center.

[@kenltron]

Ugh. Spending a lot of time cutting the invasive bittersweet, which had destroyed the plants that used to provide privacy for my backyard. I pulled lots of orange root, chipped everything and hauled it to the dump. Am using Triclopyr on vine stumps and trying it on some of the live vine foliage. I pull smaller vines when I see them. They are everywhere, so it will be a forever thing. The worst is over, though. Now replanting with extra lilac, forsythia, and rhodo from elsewhere on the property.

[@ThereIsNoLord]

So you are replacing one exotic invasive with others. Seems irresponsible.

[@kenltron]

@@ThereIsNoLord Lilacs, forsythia, and rhodos are already there, don't kill tree canopies, fill in where needed, don't spread as much, and are easier to control (don't need chemicals).

[@ThereIsNoLord]

@@kenltron And they also support zero insects (forsythia spreads a lot), and basically these non-native plants destroy ecosystems. So before you undertake with these projects about which you know little, you should educate yourself. And by all means, you shouldn't put yourself in a position of advising others. If you don't understand that natural areas should be rid of non-native plants, you simply should not be engaging in any kind of land management.

[@ThereIsNoLord]

@@kenltron I would also add that there are native rhododendrons, but you are likely buying Asian ones from big box stores. Native ones are difficult to source.

[@jeffkiesner9971]

Definitely a Cottonwood tree 👍

[@CreativPret]

Nice video, I would use WORX 20V Cordless Reciprocating Saw JigSaw WX550L.5 to save time and energy. 👍🏻

[@trevorcapper4488]

Chinkepin and loquat oak trees can have aspen like leaves

[@djcrazy8578]

follow the vine to the root!!

[@victorvek5227]

So you just leave them there?

[@Stdagger]

Typically yes at this stage, especially with vines this large it wouldn't be very feasible. Depends on the vine and the type of tree, but when they're big like this removing them would usually do more damage to the tree than if they just fell apart due to decay over time. Smaller vines of this species should be removed from trees with thinner bark IMO because they host a fungus that can damage the bark of the tree where the two touch and can kill a branch in that way.

[@augustheat]

@@Stdagger i live in front of a sump and noticed what LOOKS to be this same type of vine absolutly murdering all the trees. I started cutting the vines also. how ling do you think the vines will take to start decaying? id love more foliage to try and grow back

[@ThereIsNoLord]

@@augustheat Please check with your County Extension office, so they can tell you how do this property and effectively for the long run. Don't rely on this video as providing any type of expertise.

[@joequillun7790]

@@ThereIsNoLord You're right in that this video says nothing about removing them from the tree. It's a tutorial on identifying, and the history of his vines. Good thing I didn't waste 13 mins. watching. just skipping.

[@justagirlinatree1324]

Bless you from the trees

[@jorjashannonrisinger1475]

EXCELLENT‼️ 😊 THANKS TEXAS GRL 🇨🇱🇺🇸

[@webbsmedley8546]

This work should not be done with sandles and without gloves.

[@augustheat]

11:32 is that poison ivy?!? hope your careful out there with no gloves.

[@williaml8474]

I think poison ivy is a thinner stalk, reddish, and hairy. English ivy is hairy too but runs bigger and gray.

[@bogneyman3658]

My profession I cut the head off the snakes.

[@Kaktus965]

You need power tools. Or are those too invasive? 😂

[@Stdagger]

I considered using a chainsaw but the risk of injury was far too high. The space was very confined and the heavy vines were liable to shift around when cut. Especially since these vines are relatively soft, it was a risk not worth taking. If you want to see me struggle with a hand saw when I should've used a chainsaw check out my determining the age of a fallen tree video 😂

[@drewmenzies3673]

@@Stdagger try a reciprocating saw with a “Diablo” brand pruning blade. Cheaper and safer. Not as powerful as a chainsaw, but it’s more than enough for vines and small branches. I just did this in my back yard and it’s super effective and quick.

[@bogneyman3658]

My profession I cut the head off the snake.

[@evanspark1510]

watching you work is like watching paint dry!!

[@joequillun7790]

These vines are an extreme nuisance. Video shows how to cut them with a saw, and lobbers, but not how to get them down. I choke mine with a strap, and yank them out with my truck. (Depending on size, and location.)

[@williaml8474]

I would wait for say 2 years after cutting before doing some careful tugs, better to let them drop on own.

[@RoscoeDaMule]

chainsaw.

[@traveltip1427]

Use chainsaw

[@KenJames9911]

5:10 I counted 45 rings...

[@jorgebusch7]

Sorry if I missed it but what is your area/location?

[@Stdagger]

At the time of this video, northern New Jersey