How to Kill Vines Growing on a House

Vines grow quickly to beautify the house with their foliage, but can also cause damage to the structure of the home. The heavy foliage provides habitat for insects and traps moisture against the house that can lead to problems with mildew and mold -- often causing homeowners to regret the decision to plant them. Depending on the type and size of the vine, it may be difficult to kill and remove, requiring several steps to ensure the vine does not regrow from the ground.

Bypass loppers
Pruning saw
Hand pruners
Shovel
Mattock
Paintbrush
Garden sprayer
Rubber gloves
Drill

Instructions

- 1
  Cut the vine at the base where it grows from the ground. Use bypass loppers if the stem is 1-1/2 inches or less in diameter or a pruning saw for larger specimens.
- 2
  Cut the smaller individual vines and pull them off the house, piece by piece. Where vines are wrapped around an object such as a gutter or latticework, do not pull, but untwine them carefully to avoid causing damage.
- 3
  Attempt to dig out the roots of the vine with a pointed shovel and mattock to prevent regrowth from the main trunk.
- 4
  Apply a chemical herbicide if the trunk of the vine is too large to remove by hand. Glyphosate or other similar products can be painted on the freshly cut stump to prevent the vine from regrowing. Read the product label to determine if the herbicide needs to be diluted, as application rates vary.
- 5
  Monitor the stump and surrounding soil on a weekly basis to check for regrowth. If any vines appear, cut them to the ground immediately or spray with herbicide. If no new growth is allowed, the energy stored in the root system will eventually be depleted and the vine will die.

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