A few years back, one of our readers reached out to me with a question: “How do you
get rid of this vine in the picture of a lot she was trying to sell?”
Her curiosity got me thinking — does this persistent vine really affect a property’s value?
Yes most of us agree it’s more appealing to visit or buy a property that’s free of difficult weeds and eyesores.
Imagine walking up to a home with beautiful, well-cared-for gardens compared to one where weeds and vines have taken over. For those of us considering selling our homes, regular lawn and garden care really becomes part of our home’s ongoing story — and an important part of its value.
Wild Grapes — also called Riverbank Grapes, Frost Grapes, or by their scientific name Vitis riparia — grow just about everywhere from Texas up to Quebec and from eastern Montana over to Nova Scotia.
Chances are, you’ve spotted these vines somewhere along your own walks or drives. My well-worn copy of the Manual of Woody Plants, written by Michael Dirr, only mentions this plant briefly, but even he seemed to realize its growing importance in our landscapes.
While it’s not technically invasive (it’s native to our region), it still manages to be a bit of a nuisance! One thing I appreciate about this grapevine is its toughness — it can survive frigid temperatures down to -71°F, and its leaves stand up well to mildew and black rot (though the fruit isn’t quite so hardy in humid, wet weather).
Interestingly, for over a century, growers have grafted French grape varieties onto the American rootstock of our own Vitis riparia to help those delicate grapes survive our tough conditions.
So, this “weed” actually has its uses. Is that a win-win for us and the plant? Well, maybe…
A weed, after all, is simply a plant that’s growing where we don’t want it — even if we might find a use for it someday. So if you spot Frost Grapes or Wild Grapes taking over your yard, don’t hesitate to pull them up if they’re not part of your plan.
Just keep in mind, these vines are determined — they can stick around for more than 30 years if left unchecked!
Personally, I tend to favor approaches that use fewer herbicides when I’m tackling stubborn plants. One way you might try is to smother the cut stem after separating it from the rest of the vine.
You can wrap ropes or tape around the base of a tarp to keep it snug over the root. Since wild grapevines need sunlight to thrive, blocking the light is a bit like the solarization process many of us use in our gardens — covering the area with a heavy black tarp or plastic to keep sunlight and water out and starve those pesky weeds.
Just recently, I found myself digging up roots from a stubborn weed I wanted gone. Getting my hands dirty with a little excavation is usually enough to finish off most plants.
After cutting the stem away, I did my best to pull up as many roots as I could find in that patch of soil. If you’re battling wild grapevine, you can use this same hands-on method — it’s simple and effective.
Of course, if you’ve battled poison ivy, you know that sometimes the most reliable way to get rid of a tough vine is with a targeted herbicide — especially in early fall, when plants are drawing nutrients into their roots for winter.
You can cut the vine at its base and carefully paint a bit of your chosen herbicide right onto the cut end. (The Cooperative Extension Service suggests glyphosate, triclopyr, or 2,4-D dicamba for wild grapevine.)
Spraying the leaves during the growing season won’t do much, since the sap has moved down to the stems by then.
One thing I like about this method is how it helps protect your trees and shrubs. As the vine dies off, it gradually loses its grip and falls away, leaving your other plants unharmed.
Keep an eye out for vines that run along the ground, too — they’re sneaky! These can develop anchor roots that let them survive on their own, so you’ll want to pull those up as well when you spot them.
In most cases, I find that organic, hands-on methods are the best way to manage weeds.
But of course, it’s always good to consider your unique situation and choose what works best for you and your garden.
I hope you’ve enjoyed some peaceful time in your garden this weekend. If you run into any garden challenges or just want to share your stories, I’d love to hear from you — just
drop me an email at ericlarson546@yahoo.com.