Virginia Creeper can beautify your garden with blank walls and empty trees, but leaving it unchecked may create lots of problems, compelling you to get rid of this soon.
You can also combine all three methods to get the best results.
So, go through this article to learn about the effects of Virginia Creeper and the failproof tips to get rid of them completely.
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Why Should You Get Rid Of Virginia Creeper?
Virginia Creeper is an ornamental creeping plant that can give an awesome look to your garden walls but can equally destroy the aesthetics.
It’s because the plant grows rapidly, covering the area it grows. If it grows on the trees and shrubs, the growth becomes gradually massive, blocking the sunlight.
This can make the tree weak and sometimes even kill the plant.
Additionally, the mature Virginia Creepers produce berries, and the fallen ones can attract harmful pests, causing damage to other plants.
These berries can also stain your garden’s ground, making it look messy.
So you must get rid of Virginia Creeper in time because once the plant establishes itself, it’s very hard to remove from the growing area.
What Do You Do If You Touch A Virginia Creeper?
Generally, Virginia Creeper is not toxic to touch. However, the sap may cause allergic reactions in people with sensitive skin.
The oil in the sap may cause rashes, blisters, and skin irritation in some people.
So, if you touch Virginia Creeper, don’t forget to wash your hands with soap and water to remove the oily sap. It’s better to take a shower.
Moreover, apply calamine lotion on the area with rashes and blisters.
However, never scratch the rash, even if it itches. Scratching not only makes the rash worse but also spreads infections.
How To Get Rid Of Virginia Creeper?
1. Natural Method
The natural method is the most budget-friendly way to remove Virginia Creeper. However, some ways may need lots of effort.
Moreover, mulching can also help to prevent sunlight. without sunlight, the plant will not grow properly and die.
If you don’t want to apply any effort, just let your goats eat the plant, as goats love to eat Virginia Creeper.
Frequent herbivore invasion can also stop the continuous growth of this plant.
Additionally, planting native plants that can compete with this creeper for nutrition will also help to get rid of this creeper.
2. Cultural Method
One of the popular methods is hand pulling. Just tug out the plant along with its roots.
If your garden is full of this creeper, you have to mow your lawn to get rid of this plant. There is still a risk that the plant will grow again.
Moreover, if your trees and shrubs are full of Virginia creeper, pruning them will also help you get rid of this plant.
Also, you can create a barrier to stop this aggressive creeper from spreading to other parts of your lawn and invade the plants.
3, Chemical Method
Chemical methods can give instant reasons but are not environment-friendly. Buying chemical herbicides to kill the plant also costs you a lot of money.
You can buy glyphosate herbicides from the market and dilute them before applying. Make sure to apply the herbicides only on the plant you desire to kill.
Moreover, you can find vine killers that work only for the vines. But there is no guarantee that the vine killer will not affect other plants.
So, make sure you switch towards chemical methods only if natural and cultural methods fail.
From Editorial Team
Misconceptions About Virginia Creeper!
Most people often confuse Virginia Creeper with a toxic plant, Poison Ivy. This can lead to misunderstanding about this plant being as toxic as Poison Ivy.
However, Virginia Creeper is not toxic to every skin type. Also, if you grow this plant controllably, it can make your garden really beautiful.
