How to Get Rid of Purple Wintercreeper Vines

Purple wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei 'Coloratus') is an evergreen plant grown as vine and groundcover with its mature length of 5 to 6 feet. The dark green, glossy foliage assumes purple to red shades in fall and winter. The plant has few pest and disease-related problems and a rapid growth rate. Purple wintercreeper is potentially invasive and starts to compete with native plants for water, light and nutrients. If you need to get rid of purple wintercreeper from the landscape, the best way to do it is to use herbicide, recommends the Ohio State University Extension.

Glyphosate
Pruning shears
Hoe

Instructions

- 1
  Select herbicide with the active ingredient glyphosate for effectively getting rid of purple wintercreeper. Choose an undiluted, water soluble formula because it has greater efficacy as compared to the esters or oil soluble formulas.
- 2
  Cut down the vine leaving only the main stump. Make sure that the stump surface is smooth and level to keep the chemical from flowing off.
- 3
  Pull the plant from surrounding areas. Do this carefully if the vine was climbing on other vegetation to avoid damaging desired plants. Gather up debris and discard.
- 4
  Spray the herbicide on the stump surface evenly. Make sure you avoid spraying any desired vegetation or grass nearby. The best time to use glyphosate is during August and September.
- 5
  Use the chemical on the stump immediately after cutting. If you were not able to do this right away, cut stump again to reveal fresh tissue before you spray the chemical.
- 6
  Repeat application after seven to 10 days.
- 7
  Remove the dead stump by digging out with the hoe or a shovel. If the stump is very hard to remove, use a stump grinder to grind to a depth of about a foot below soil line.

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