How to Get Rid of Vines in Hedges

The vines you planted to grow over an arbor or fence in your landscape are intended to be rapid growers, but they can quickly invade a neighboring hedge and other landscape features. The additional foliage in the hedge might provide an interesting contrast, but vines entangle themselves in hedges, breaking branches, smothering roots and competing for water and nutrients. Some invasive vines originate outside the landscape; vines such as poison ivy and poison oak cause allergic reactions with symptoms including rashes and itching. Getting rid of vines is often a gradual process, but it can restore health and fullness to smothered hedges.

  1. 1.

    Wear protective clothing such as gardening gloves, long sleeves, pants and closed toes shoes to prevent skin irritation from prickly and poisonous vines.

  2. 2.

    Trace the infesting vines from the hedge back to their place of origin in the soil. There may be several vines growing throughout the hedge.

  3. 3.

    Cut the vines at ground level with hand pruning shears, leaving enough length above the soil to grip each vine.

  4. 4.

    Pull the vines from the from bottom of the hedge by hand. Pull slowly and carefully to remove as much of the vine as possible without damaging the hedge.

  5. 5.

    Separate intertwining vines by hand to ease removal of the infesting vines. Cut through the vines to separate the length into several sections, especially in areas of extreme entanglement.

  6. 6.

    Pull the vines from the hedges, starting at the bottom of the hedge and working to the top. Grasp the vine firmly while pulling the vine outward and upward. Keep your hand on the vine close to the hedge until the vine is fully removed so it doesn't become entangled again.

  7. 7.

    Cut vines that are wrapped around branches and stems with hand pruning shears, then unwrap the vines from branches. Make as many cuts as neccessary to remove the vine. While pulling on vines is often enough to free them, pulling can put unnecessary strain on the hedge.

  8. 8.

    Dig up the vine root system from the soil with a shovel or small trowel, but you must be careful not to disturb the hedge roots. The roots may spread for several feet and are usually not very deep. The vine may come back if only a small bit of root remains in the soil, so you must be thorough in your efforts. You can also paint the cut ends of the vines with a concentrated glyphosate herbicide, which is then drawn into the roots through the cut. Take extreme precaution so the herbicide doesn't get on the hedge or any surrounding plants that you wish to keep.

  9. 9.

    Place poisonous vines and roots in a garbage bag and discard the bag with your regular garbage. Place non-poisonous vines onto a compost pile for recycling. In order to reduce the risk of spreading poisonous and invasive vine species, you may also wish to spray the foliage with a glyphosate herbicide to ensure the plant is completely dead before discarding. Make sure the vine is separated from any plants you wish to keep before applying herbicide.

  10. 10.

    Cover the vine root area with a thick layer of mulch, about 4 to 6 inches deep to help suppress new growth. Do not apply the mulch directly against the main stems and trunks of hedge plants.

  11. 11.

    Monitor the hedge regularly for new vine growth and pull out the new vines at the root immediately. Vines are incredibly vigorous and persistent growers, so it often takes repeated efforts to completely eradicate vines from hedges.