I’m trying to save this tree on my property line that’s been taken over by porcelain berry. There’s some Asian bittersweet as well but the porcelain berry is about 95%. I chopped all the vines at eye level and at the ground. I know the general advice is to not remove the vines because it can cause more damage. Does that apply here? I’m concerned with how thick of a cover the vines are, even without leaves, and that the tree won’t get enough sun.
by NCBakes
4 Comments
My experience removing other types of vines (grape and sweetbriar) is that they decompose a bit after one or two years and are much easier to pull down without breaking branches. That’s an option if you feel you can wait that long.
Another option is to cut out more vines with the help of your extension ladder.
i would try removing some of the vines, thats an awful lot of mass covering the tree. But go slow so you don’t break everything. Also maybe not do it in winter when branches are the most brittle.
did you treat the cut vines with herbicide? Absolutely necessary to prevent regrowth
Dead vines quickly wither. Snip them a few times with loppers overhead but don’t worry about pulling off.
expect an excited seed bank next year
I’d get a pole saw if removing the vines is a priority for you. Time will do the job to desiccate them more, but a pole saw will help you cut through them more effectively.