Russian/Japanese Vine problem

How do I kill it forever and has anybody got a machete I can borrow. 10 years I've been having this battle and I want it gone once and for all.

Have you tried a systemic weedkiller?

If you're organic, you'll just have to dig it out, making sure you don't leave any tiny bits in, cos they'll root.

I'm not sure about Japanese Vine, as Idon't know what that is, But the Russian Vine looks lovely when it's in blossom, carcrash. I have it growing over an old tin shed mixed in with Virginia Creeper (another thug) and at the moment they look perfect together. I just cut it back after it's finished flowering and then it shoots up again in the spring.

The only blot is that it's also grown into a tree in someone else's garden and although it brightens it up a bit, I'm not sure that they really want it there

It's not called 'mile a minute' for nothing, is it? Fortunately I've never had to deal with it, but I know my mum had some problems with it on her allotment.

I'd go with Hayley's advice - if you can get back to the main root, cut it right back and dig out as much of the root system as you can. If it's rooted in a few places then you'll need to get in and get all of those roots out too. After that keep a close eye on it and as soon as anything green appears, hack it back and get any of the associated roots out. Eventually it will die, it'll take some time though - it's horrible stuff I remember reading somewhere that someone dealt with it cutting it right back and getting the roots out, but then also covering the main root with a piece of old carpet (weighed down with rocks or gravel). They had to leave in place for a year but it did solve the problem. Might be worth a go..

If you want to use chemicals, then there is also some advice here on one way to go about it. Good luck

I cannot get to the roots due to it growing between 2 walls. I'll take some pictures later for you to see what I'm having to deal with

Could it possible to train it up a couple of canes, then treat it with systemic from there, I think I read in one of the garden mags this could be a way to treat it, it if roots were inaccessable

The comments don't seem applicable to Russian Vine. You're not talking about Japanese Knotweed are you?

I've never known anyone have that much of a problem with Russian Vine, it's usually only coming from a single root ... it doesn't root along its length like V. Creeper or even that rubifolium stuff which is a damnable thug and anyone found selling it should be severely punished!

I was definitely thinking of Russian Vine - it is pretty when it's in flower but it does go crazy very quickly. The link I gave in my post above seems to suggest that it can be a problem for a lot of people... you've been lucky to keep yours in line Ruby!

I did notice when I googled for that link yesterday that the common name 'russian vine' gets applied randomly to a lot of troublesome climbers, it can make things very confusing.

I wasn't think of Japanese knotweed... argh, if I had to have one or the another, I'd much rather have the Russian Vine than the evil, evil knotweed!

EDIT: There's another link here that discusses removing Russian vine when you can't quite get to the root carcrash.. the general idea seems to be to cut it back as far as possible and apply weedkiller to the cut ends, like Hayley suggests

I was definitely thinking of Russian Vine - it is pretty when it's in flower but it does go crazy very quickly. The link I gave in my post above seems to suggest that it can be a problem for a lot of people... you've been lucky to keep yours in line Ruby!

I just gave it one of my looks at the start, Tracie ... that usually works to keep things in line

If you can trace it back to the root where it comes out of the wall and chop it off there ... if it starts to shoot again, apply stump and deep root killer.

The main problem I've got is where the roots are. They are impossible to get to. I hope this photo can give you the idea

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v423/spannered/DSCF0611.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v423/spannered/DSCF0618.jpg

There is a block of 4 outdoor toilets that butt up againt a retaining wall and the only way to get to them would be to knock down the toilet block which isn't an option according to my other half.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v423/spannered/DSCF0612.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v423/spannered/DSCF0613.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v423/spannered/DSCF0614.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v423/spannered/DSCF0615.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v423/spannered/DSCF0616.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v423/spannered/DSCF0617.jpg

Ooh-err! I see what you mean now ... mine is like that but only comes from a single root in a nearby flowerbed.

You could try deep root and stump killer, carcrash ... I sell quite a bit of it and I've used it on stuff and it does work in the end. You should be able to get it from any hardware shop or garden centre.

Cut all the sappy growth off right back to where it comes out of the wall and then put the killer on the actual hard grownt of the roots as you show on your first pic. You look like you'd need a couple of skips to take it away in ... or wait till 5 Nov and have a biggggg bonfire

Personally I'd treat it with a systemic weedkiller like glyphosate, then leave it for a couple of weeks to shrivel up before removing as much as possible. Then if it regrows you can treat the regrowth too.

Remember that systemic weedkillers are absorbed through the leaves- if you've cut down the plant there won't be anything to absorb the weedkiller. Much better to leave plenty of leaves to absorb the stuff.