Vines Can Kill a Tree — NJ Tree Conservation

Unfortunately, some vines kill trees in NJ.

It’s fun to visit your alma mater and once again see the ivy-covered walls of your old dorm. It stirs memories and inspires a sense of history.

But what if you see an ivy-covered tree in your yard?

Unless you stop those killer vines from growing, your valuable tree may soon become just a memory.

Do All Vines Kill Trees?

In a word, yes. Some just do it faster than others.

Vines Endanger Tree Conservation

With enough time, all vines will eventually kill their hosts. It’s essential to understand this danger if you are concerned about conserving trees.

When small vines grow near your tree roots, it’s not an immediate problem.

But if you see a tree overrun with vines, you should act immediately.

How Vines Start

Vines get started in different ways.

A bird can nest in a tree and carry over berries from other vines.

In other cases, vines start as nearby shrubs or ground cover that falls under trees. All that seed needs to do is attach to the trunk and start growing.

And don’t be fooled by those sweet baby vines on your tree.

They look pretty — at first. But you may realize too late that those harmless-looking vines are killing your prized tree.

Similarly, watch out for vines growing near your trees. They can quickly grow to the tree’s base and start their dangerous climb.

Don’t let vines get started. Before they even reach your tree, cut them back right away.

Originally Posted at: https://treesunlimitednj.com/vines-can-kill-a-tree/