5 Invasive Climbers That Are Easier to Remove in March – Tackle Them Now Before New Growth Appears

Overwhelming other plants, taking over arbors, pergolas, trees, and even negatively impacting local wild areas, invasive climbers have the potential to inflict considerable damage. But do not fret; March is the ideal time to remove them.

Even if managed well, some invasive climbers can still escape the confines of your backyard and venture into the local neighborhood through seed dispersal and spreading root systems. In this case, some invasive climbers are best eradicated and are more easily identified and removed during the colder months.

It can be wise to avoid some climbers due to their vigorous characteristics, but some species can also be regulated and even prohibited in certain states. In any case, it is always worth verifying with your local state horticulture department which are considered invasive plants in your area. Read on to discover which invasive climbers experts advise are best removed this month.

Which Climbers Are Easier to Remove in March

From fast-growing climbers to those that thrive on neglect, there is a garden climber for every situation.

However, for those climbers that you never want to plant again or invasive species that you want to get rid of, there are certain times of the year that are best for removing them.

So, if you are reading this with spring fast approaching, you will want to act swiftly to benefit.

Poison Ivy

Native to parts of North America, Poison ivy, or Toxicodendron radicans, as it is botanically classified, is well known for its toxicity and resulting rashes, swelling and blistering on contact and should be treated with extreme care.

Sam Greenberg, Horticulturist at Longwood Gardens, advises that ‘poison ivy can be difficult to remove at any time of year. Urushiol oil, the active ingredient that causes itching, is found in all parts of the plant. In winter, it is identifiable by its hairy stem attached to trees. In the winter, it's easier to layer up and have better protection from the plant as well as not having to deal with the foliage.’

Once dressed in protective clothing and gloves, you can cut away the stems using secateurs, dig up the roots and bag up for disposal at an approved municipal green-waste facility.

For a safer alternative, why not try growing the annual morning glory? A fast-growing flowering climber available in a variety of colors, you can purchase Heavenly Blue Morning Glory Seeds from Burpee.

Samuel Greenberg

Sam Greenberg is a Horticulturist at Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania. He holds a degree in biological sciences and horticulture from Virginia Tech.

Wisteria

Although high-maintenance, wisterias, with their ornate cascading racemes of flowers, are some of the most beautiful climbers you can grow. However, the commonly grown Chinese wisteria, Wisteria sinensis, and Japanese wisteria, Wisteria floribunda, are also some of the most vigorous and potentially structure-damaging climbers available.

Having looked after several large wisterias over my time as a professional gardener, I can attest to their vigorous growth and the challenge of late summer pruning when covered in lush foliage. In cases where these deciduous climbers need to be removed, the colder months can certainly make this task easier.

Amy Martin, landscape designer and the founder of Plant and Bloom Design Studio, advises, ‘Winter reveals the full woody structure of this beautiful but brutal vine, which can strangle trees by girdling their trunks as it winds tighter each year. Cut it back near the base during the dormant season, when you can clearly trace where it’s growing and before vigorous spring growth begins.’

If you want to grow wisteria, a less invasive option is the American wisteria, Wisteria frutescens. Suitable for growing in USDA zones 5 and above, you can purchase Amethyst Falls Wisteria Vine from Nature Hills.

Amy Martin

Amy Martin is a landscape designer and the founder of Plant and Bloom Design Studio, a website where she shares her ideas about garden planning and planting design. When she’s not busy working, she’s filling up her home & garden with plants…there is always room for one more!

Trumpet Vine

Prized for its vibrant trumpet-shaped flowers, the native trumpet vine, Campsis radicans, is also considered an invasive climber in several states.

Fast-growing and potentially in excess of 40 feet tall, the trumpet vine can outcompete other plants and spreads through suckering and seed dispersal.

Being deciduous, winter is a great time to remove it as not only will its foliage have fallen, making the stems more easily visible to cut back, but the ground will be softer, to dig out its root system.

Although less hardy, the star jasmine, Trachelospermum jasminoides, is a stunning and fragrant alternative that is well-suited to growing in USDA zone 8 and above. You can purchase Star Jasmine from Nature Hills.

Kudzu

The deciduous, woody, perennial vine Kudzu, Pueraria montana var. lobata, is a member of the Fabaceae family and native to eastern Asia.

Introduced to the US in the 19th century, it is a highly invasive species that should never be planted. It can grow one foot per day and rapidly smother and destroy neighboring vegetation and trees.

Although difficult to manage, Sam reports that ‘kudzu can be controlled through mechanical, biological, and chemical means. A combination of the three methods should be used for multiple years to control the vine.

The starchy tubers can be buried as much as 16 feet underground.’ However, wintertime, when it is dormant and leafless, makes the Kudzu’s root crowns easier to locate and the softer ground, when not frozen, easier to dig up.

Instead, the climbing hydrangea, Hydrangea anomala subsp. Petiolaris is a great option for a north-facing wall or a fence.

Producing white flowers from late spring to early summer, this shade-loving climber is considered cold-hardy in zone 4 and above and even adds fall interest when it leaves turn yellow as the temperatures begin to drop. Climbing hydrangea is available to purchase from Nature Hills.

Wintercreeper

Also known as Euonymus fortune, wintercreeper is a trailing Euonymus shrub but will obligingly climb if given the chance. Producing aerial rootlets, the wintercreeper vine is self-clinging and will smother native trees and shrubs if left unchecked, both vertically and along the ground.

When it comes to its removal, Amy states, ‘As a bright green evergreen, this escaped ornamental stands out against the dormant landscape, making it easy to trace the full extent of its growth. Remove before spring berry production spreads it further and before it climbs high enough to become even more problematic.’

For a better-behaved alternative, the hummingbird magnet of coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is a great choice.

Perfect for growing up arbors or trellises, it is considered hardy in USDA zone 4 and above. Coral honeysuckle plants are available to purchase from Amazon.

Climbers can often be thought of as vigorous and better suited for covering large bare walls or pergolas. Although certainly true, there are also some climbing plants that are better adapted for smaller vertical spaces, such as a small trellis on a balcony wall.

Our specialist feature on the best climbers to grow in pots is full of varieties that will transform even the smallest of spaces into a wall of vibrant color.

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