Vines up trees? Yes or no poll?

Ekka · 5th February 2007, 02:16 PM

Some of this could come down to your climate, type of vine etc.

But overall I'm of the opinion that vines up trees are definately off the to do list, they offer little benefit and most often cause problems.

What's your take on it?

http://www.treesatlanta.org/vines.html

TREE-SURFER · 5th February 2007, 03:27 PM

English ivy, which has a habit of covering the trunk and canopy, tends to create a larger sail area for the wind to catch, creating more resistance and subsequent failure. Our local highway depot once used to cut a ring around the base, taking out about a foot and a half of the base run of ivy. In turn, would die and rot away. But no more........ Come the winds, (usually Feb) the roads get blocked off with, wait for it.....Ivy coated trees.. Arn't they great?

yooper · 5th February 2007, 04:24 PM

I voted no way...but started to wonder....gee if they where grapes i could make a little whine......na dont think so i like my beer........boy i hate trimmen trees with vines and hate more tossen that crap in my chuck and duck chipper

Ekka · 5th February 2007, 10:34 PM

And why are they always bloody well itchy?

We got some sinister vines here, bougainvillea is a shocker, and that cactus crappy thing.

jim1nz · 6th February 2007, 02:06 AM

no no no

a_lopa · 6th February 2007, 03:00 AM

Cant stand vines, ive yet to see one being benificial.

Sean Freeman · 6th February 2007, 04:43 AM

I like native Dutchmans pipe, food plant of the Cairns Birdwing butterfly, native Wistaria Millettia megasperma very pretty in the forest around Qld NSW border. Bower of beauty Pandorea jasminoides that heaps of people seems to grow these days.

So I voted depends on the vine

SF

TreeCo · 6th February 2007, 08:04 AM

Yes, depends on the vine. I live in a house built in 1890 and in the yard we have english ivy up several trees, some quite thick. I cut a one foot section out of the vine stem to kill the vine but it grows back up the tree from the ground. This does not worry me as I will cut it again every few years. Sometimes I will spray the vine on the ground for a whole summer to kill it if I don't want it to grow up the tree again.

I do believe large vines are bad for trees. We have wild muskadines sixty ft. up trees back in the woods. Stems are over one inch in diameter. I've cut hundreds of them off at the ground. I figure it sets them back a bit. The will regrow but it takes a long time and in heavy shade they usually just die.

We have kudzu in a few places too. Now that is a vine from hell!

I hate to think of the tropical vines you guys must deal with. Our low temp was 22F last night.

Ekka · 6th February 2007, 11:42 AM

Have a look at this link and the pics, what's your take on it?

http://www.dirtdoctor.com/view_question.php?id=282

TreeCo · 6th February 2007, 12:55 PM

I've never seen the bark flake off like in the one pic at that site. The most common vine I see is english ivy and when small it's not much of a problem but when it gets large I'm concerned. I'll get some pics of a few trees where I've removed ivy.

Munkee feet · 6th February 2007, 12:56 PM

I say knot..espically westerera.

jim1nz · 6th February 2007, 03:02 PM

Nice little link Ekka, yea i have seen some nasty cases of yines up trees creating there own little habitat in branch crotches causing them to rot. It was only real bad if there was a pruning wound created and then the vine grew up before the wound had compartmentalised.

kauriman · 6th February 2007, 05:35 PM

Some native vines in NZ are quite rare or endangered. Some vines like the rata [i][/Meterosiderus robustaI] are like the strangler fig and take over from the host over decades or centuries. Some vines are invasive weeds that take over native from vegetation. So depends on the species and the location. Is it a native? are you in a backyard in the bush?

I once had to dismantle a Chirosia speciosa a spiney best at the best of times, yet it was covered with english ivy that covered all the thorns. It was like the thorns had been wraped in cotton wool. In that case the vine was good even though it was a weed. We killed the ivy as well as the chirosia on that job.

JayD · 11th February 2007, 03:45 PM

No,creates to many problems!

but to each their own.

JohN Dee · 12th February 2007, 04:32 AM

I voted should be removed, but not by me

(Pesky things).

Ekka, with the bougainvillea you treat it the same way you would a Washy, douse it with petrol, flick a match and run

Fixed your tree hugger emote(Will prolly' fix your dancin' one when i'm not so tired

), made it transparent and added a small animation.

Ekka · 13th February 2007, 12:52 AM

Thanks mate, I just ripped it off and replaced our one.

Cool, you guys are handy 3D gif makers.

Marc · 13th May 2007, 04:35 AM

It depends imo, generally we remove climbers from trees but not always, english ivy can be a real problem but you also have to look at the enviroment its in.

Specimen trees in gardens and public areas we will remove invasive climbers, especially on veteran trees. Ivy can be a big problem as it can hide defects and allow plant material and other debris to collect in unions etc.
Maybe it can cause the bark and cambium damaged like in one of the pics in this thread although not a common occurance, at least I think so, the damaged could be caused by other factors? not 100% sure on that.

Sometimes though we leave climbers like ivy as its a natural habitat for birds and insect and is part of a natural ecosystem especially in woodland type enviroments. Ivy's are also one of the last flowering plants providing a valueble food resource for wildlife.

Ornamental vines/climbers are different, like I said with a specimen tree we will often reccomend removal, but in some situations the host tree is nothing more than a support for the climber.

View Poll Results: Are vines up trees?
Good and beneficial	0	0%
A problem and should be removed	46	52.87%
Depends on the vine	41	47.13%
Voters: 87. You may not vote on this poll

5th February 2007, 02:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 5,673	Vines up trees? Yes or no poll? Some of this could come down to your climate, type of vine etc. But overall I'm of the opinion that vines up trees are definately off the to do list, they offer little benefit and most often cause problems. What's your take on it? http://www.treesatlanta.org/vines.html __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

5th February 2007, 03:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
TREE-SURFER Afterburner is shakin' Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Isle of Man,UK. Posts: 401	English ivy, which has a habit of covering the trunk and canopy, tends to create a larger sail area for the wind to catch, creating more resistance and subsequent failure. Our local highway depot once used to cut a ring around the base, taking out about a foot and a half of the base run of ivy. In turn, would die and rot away. But no more........ Come the winds, (usually Feb) the roads get blocked off with, wait for it.....Ivy coated trees.. Arn't they great? __________________ The Aerial Arborist Isle of Man Tree Surgeon\| All Aspects of Tree Work Andy@Aerial-Arborist.co.uk What experts say about TOPPING

5th February 2007, 10:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 5,673	And why are they always bloody well itchy? We got some sinister vines here, bougainvillea is a shocker, and that cactus crappy thing. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

6th February 2007, 02:06 AM	#5 (permalink)
jim1nz Afterburner is shakin' Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tauranga, New Zealand Posts: 296	no no no __________________ SPEED ALWAYS FOLLOWS TECHNIQUE

5th February 2007, 04:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
yooper Cruisin' Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Upper Michigan U.S.A. Posts: 72	I voted no way...but started to wonder....gee if they where grapes i could make a little whine......na dont think so i like my beer........boy i hate trimmen trees with vines and hate more tossen that crap in my chuck and duck chipper

6th February 2007, 03:00 AM	#6 (permalink)
a_lopa Astronaut Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Drouin Posts: 837	Cant stand vines, ive yet to see one being benificial. __________________ Free Tree Industry Link Directory Drouin tree lopping, land clearing and stump removals

6th February 2007, 04:43 AM	#7 (permalink)
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,521	I like native Dutchmans pipe, food plant of the Cairns Birdwing butterfly, native Wistaria Millettia megasperma very pretty in the forest around Qld NSW border. Bower of beauty Pandorea jasminoides that heaps of people seems to grow these days. So I voted depends on the vine SF

6th February 2007, 08:04 AM	#8 (permalink)
TreeCo Afterburner is shakin' Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 260	Yes, depends on the vine. I live in a house built in 1890 and in the yard we have english ivy up several trees, some quite thick. I cut a one foot section out of the vine stem to kill the vine but it grows back up the tree from the ground. This does not worry me as I will cut it again every few years. Sometimes I will spray the vine on the ground for a whole summer to kill it if I don't want it to grow up the tree again. I do believe large vines are bad for trees. We have wild muskadines sixty ft. up trees back in the woods. Stems are over one inch in diameter. I've cut hundreds of them off at the ground. I figure it sets them back a bit. The will regrow but it takes a long time and in heavy shade they usually just die. We have kudzu in a few places too. Now that is a vine from hell! I hate to think of the tropical vines you guys must deal with. Our low temp was 22F last night.

6th February 2007, 11:42 AM	#9 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 5,673	Have a look at this link and the pics, what's your take on it? http://www.dirtdoctor.com/view_question.php?id=282 __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

6th February 2007, 12:55 PM	#10 (permalink)
TreeCo Afterburner is shakin' Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 260	I've never seen the bark flake off like in the one pic at that site. The most common vine I see is english ivy and when small it's not much of a problem but when it gets large I'm concerned. I'll get some pics of a few trees where I've removed ivy.

6th February 2007, 12:56 PM	#11 (permalink)
Munkee feet Break'n the ice Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 6	I say knot..espically westerera.

6th February 2007, 03:02 PM	#12 (permalink)
jim1nz Afterburner is shakin' Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tauranga, New Zealand Posts: 296	Nice little link Ekka, yea i have seen some nasty cases of yines up trees creating there own little habitat in branch crotches causing them to rot. It was only real bad if there was a pruning wound created and then the vine grew up before the wound had compartmentalised. __________________ SPEED ALWAYS FOLLOWS TECHNIQUE

6th February 2007, 05:35 PM	#13 (permalink)
kauriman Gettin' motoring Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NZ Posts: 22	Some native vines in NZ are quite rare or endangered. Some vines like the rata [i][/Meterosiderus robustaI] are like the strangler fig and take over from the host over decades or centuries. Some vines are invasive weeds that take over native from vegetation. So depends on the species and the location. Is it a native? are you in a backyard in the bush? I once had to dismantle a Chirosia speciosa a spiney best at the best of times, yet it was covered with english ivy that covered all the thorns. It was like the thorns had been wraped in cotton wool. In that case the vine was good even though it was a weed. We killed the ivy as well as the chirosia on that job.

11th February 2007, 03:45 PM	#14 (permalink)
JayD Astronaut Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 821	No,creates to many problems! but to each their own.

12th February 2007, 04:32 AM	#15 (permalink)
JohN Dee Astronaut Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 679	I voted should be removed, but not by me (Pesky things). Ekka, with the bougainvillea you treat it the same way you would a Washy, douse it with petrol, flick a match and run Fixed your tree hugger emote(Will prolly' fix your dancin' one when i'm not so tired ), made it transparent and added a small animation.

13th February 2007, 12:52 AM	#16 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 5,673	Thanks mate, I just ripped it off and replaced our one. Cool, you guys are handy 3D gif makers. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

13th May 2007, 04:35 AM	#17 (permalink)
Marc Gettin' motoring Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 17	It depends imo, generally we remove climbers from trees but not always, english ivy can be a real problem but you also have to look at the enviroment its in. Specimen trees in gardens and public areas we will remove invasive climbers, especially on veteran trees. Ivy can be a big problem as it can hide defects and allow plant material and other debris to collect in unions etc. Maybe it can cause the bark and cambium damaged like in one of the pics in this thread although not a common occurance, at least I think so, the damaged could be caused by other factors? not 100% sure on that. Sometimes though we leave climbers like ivy as its a natural habitat for birds and insect and is part of a natural ecosystem especially in woodland type enviroments. Ivy's are also one of the last flowering plants providing a valueble food resource for wildlife. Ornamental vines/climbers are different, like I said with a specimen tree we will often reccomend removal, but in some situations the host tree is nothing more than a support for the climber.