Have you ever asked yourself, “What are the thick vines that grow on trees?” If so, you’ve come to the right place. Vines may look beautiful, but they can also harm or even kill your trees.
Maintaining trees and keeping them healthy requires time and dedication. That said, not all vines behave the same way. Some vines even complement garden trees.
In this post, the tree service experts in Biloxi, MS, discuss various types of vines you may notice on your trees.
Two Kinds of Ivy
Poison Ivy
Probably the most popular vine, poison ivy features a distinctive three-leaflet appearance. You don’t want poison ivy anywhere in your garden, especially around your trees.
Rubbing skin against the infamous vine will leave a nasty itchy rash, redness, swelling, and blisters. It may also cause difficulty breathing should you inhale the smoke from burning poison ivy. But you must remove poison ivy completely using boiling water or chemical pesticides, as leaving some may give rise to new growth the following season.
English Ivy
These plants work well for decorating your walls or garden but keep them far away from your trees. They can grow up to 30 feet, cling to trees, and cluster around the bases to deprive the host tree of nutrients and moisture. Natural ground cover options are better, featuring deep dark green leaves that mature into gorgeous green flowers.
Common Vines That Grow on Trees
Virginia Creeper
The Virginia creeper features tiny white flowers that produce dark berries in the fall. It may look quite stunning as an ornamental vine, but it can cover an entire tree in just a few seasons. When it does, it deprives the tree of much-needed sunlight.
Unfortunately, this deep-rooted and aggressive creeper can grow fast and prove difficult to remove once it establishes itself. The best way to remove a Virginia creeper is to keep clipping the main vines to eventually kill the plant. You can pull the rest down by hand or leave it to fall off naturally.
Riverbank Grape
What are the thick vines that grow on trees? The Riverbank Grape is another common culprit that grows almost anywhere, especially in overgrown or wooded areas.
Riverbank Grape vines have tart but edible “grapes” that make great juice, jelly, or wine. However, they typically grow thick over several years, making their removal challenging. The large, glossy leaves grow fast and cover the canopy of a mature tree completely while exerting excess weight and strain on a tree to cause broken limbs, damaged tree trunks, or toppled trees.
Moonseed
Moonseeds thrive in moist soil in forests and swamps. They grow along the ground, waiting to climb anything they encounter. You can distinguish moonseed by its roundish and vibrant green leaves that turn golden in the fall.
Invasive Species
Wisteria
On its own, Wisteria will boast purple flowers that are beautiful. However, this invasive vine species can cause endless problems for trees. As a native plant to China, the Wisteria came to the United States around the beginning of the 19th century.
Wisteria overtakes native species, making it very dangerous around trees. They’re also eager climbers and able to reach up to 20 meters off the ground.
Contact Local Tree Experts Today!
Do you need dependable tree care experts? Trust the certified arborists at Professional Tree Service. We provide free estimates on the following quality tree care services:
- Tree trimming and pruning
- Tree removal
- Stump grinding and removal
- Land clearing and bush removal and more
When a tree is considered dead, is there an easy solution besides cutting it down? What are the thick vines that grow on trees but don’t kill them? Contact Professional Tree Service at (228) 669-9388 today to learn more.