To some it may be known as “buckvine” and “cow itch” but to others it may be known as an expletive because it is very invasive due to its vigorous root system. Once it takes hold, it will overtake a garden and choke out plants in its path. Read on to learn more about peppervine control.
What is Peppervine?
Peppervine is a close cousin of grapes but, as we alluded to earlier, it gives whine instead of wine. It is a vigorous invasive plant which can climb heights up to 20 feet (6 m.) tall. This woody stemmed plant produces greenish white flowers during the summer months and is loaded with berries in the fall. Leaves emerge with a reddish hue and turn dark green at maturity. Berries on a cluster also go through a spectrum of four colors as they mature, starting with green, then white, red, and lastly blue-black. Given that the berries mature at different rates, the berry clusters can be quite colorful. Birds and mammals have contributed to the spread of this plant by consuming the berries and dispersing the seed in their droppings.
How to Get Rid of Peppervine
If you are peppered with peppervine and asking ‘how to get rid of peppervine’ in the garden, you do have options. Do keep in mind that these options for controlling peppervine plants require due diligence and persistence. When managing peppervines, you will want to continually monitor and treat an affected area over a period of a few years to ensure that you have eradicated the peppervine plant and hindered a possible comeback. If your peppervine encompasses just a small area, your best recourse is good old-fashioned hand pulling in the spring before the plant flowers and produces seed. When hand pulling, this method of peppervine control is most effective if you can remove as much of the plant’s tap root as possible. However, older more developed plants may have tap roots so deep that they won’t budge. Not a problem! You can meet the resistance by cutting the plant stalk near the ground and treating the cut stem with a broadleaf herbicide. Sometimes, however, hand-pulling just isn’t practical due to the size of the area impacted or gardener limitations. In this case, chemical control may be your only resort for managing peppervines. There are a number of different chemicals that can be utilized for controlling peppervine plants, many with names that are a mouthful! To suppress emerging seedlings, you may want to consider using pre-emergent herbicides such as:
Diuron Indaziflam (Alion) Norflurazon (solicam) Simazine Atrazine Isoxaben
To decimate the actively growing weeds, Atrazine, Metribuzin, and Sulfentrazone may be used or glyphosate combined with 2,4-D, carfentrazone (Aim) or saflufenacil (Treevix). When handling and applying chemicals, be sure to always follow all safety protocols and directions for application. Note: Chemical control should only be used as a last resort, as organic approaches are safer and much more environmentally friendly.
