Need to remove Vinca vine

[Laura]

Hi all,

After searching the internet I found this post about using Ornamec to remove the vines.

ordered the Ornamec 170 and applied it twice, the second time about a week or two after the first time.

The vines are still thriving - any ideas on how to get rid of them, short of digging out each root? It's difficult to get to all of it, and there is quite a bit of it around my yard.

Thanks in advance for your help.

-Laura

[Marcy Hege]

Ornamec 170 probably won't do anything to vinca. Ornamec is a GRASS herbicide and is labeled for "over the top" applications for grass control. "Over the top" means you can spray it over many different perennials and ornamentals to control GRASS.

If you still have the container, you should see that it plainly states "Grass herbicide."

When using any chemical or fertilizer, remember to "READ THE LABEL" to make sure what you are using is labeled for the purpose you need.

[paghat]

And what's so hard about digging it up? It is shallowly rooted stuff, so it's not like you have to dig to china. But if that chore's a horrible prospect, see the Vinegar thread & spot-treat with the strongest vinegar you can find, careful not to spray anything else. Kitchen vinegar takes several applications as its only 5% acetic acid; horticultural acetic acid is stronger, a bit more dangerous to play with, but works in hours if applied strongly on a warm dry day. Even with this relatively innocuous organic method, I'd first get rid of as much vinca as possible by digging it up, then spritz whatever emerges after that.

-paghat the ratgirl

[Frogleg]

Hah! Have you ever had an infestation of Vinca? Yes, if there were half-a-dozen plants, it would be easy. When there are 100/sq. yd., it's a different kettle of fish altogether. They may be *shallowly* rooted, but they are *firmly* rooted, and just pulling often snaps the stems, leaving root nodes to re-grow.

For Laura -- I've never found anything but pulling (and pulling and pulling) to get rid of Vinca. Don't bother with RoundUp (glysophate), either, except on tiny, tender emerging shoots. If you can mow the area, that will discourage it somewhat, and you may at least be able to see where to dig further. Good luck.

[Laura]

Hi all,

Here's more info - The vinca is quite firmly rooted and difficult to pull up. What I have is not at all shallowly rooted. The vines are along three fence lines, and along the side of my house in large areas. It's not a small patch that's easily dealt with.

Last year I tried pulling everything out down to a few inches and sprayed Roundup on it, and all of it grew back.

To Marcy - I used the Ornamec because it was recommended to me for vinca!

Thanks so much for the help tho - any new ideas are welcome!

-Laura

[Garrapata]

Totally the wrong time to use roundup, read the label. Even if you somehow manage to kill the Vinca you will still have to deal with the corpses, it isn't that hard to dig, using a long handled spading fork.