Virginia creeper dying

l_harkness · May 2019

Hi the house we bought has a Virginia creeper growing up the garage we have been here 2 years and last year it was fine but this year it doesn’t look very happy, the whole middle is bare and just looks like dried up vines, there are healthy leaves at the very top and sides which I assume are the newer growth, it looks really unsightly does it should like the older vines have died? How best to remove the creeper if it is dying in the middle? We dint know how long it’s been here but is very well established can any one please help

Busy-Lizzie · May 2019

Are there new leaves below the middle bit? It can stand hard pruning. Mine has 1 - 2 metres chopped off every year and it grows back. It's growing in places I don't want it and I've pulled it up, dug it up and even sprayed it with glyphosate and it still grows back.

l_harkness · May 2019

Thanks for your reply,no there doesn't seem to be any leaves at the bottom either if it didn't have leaves at the sides or top I would swear it was dead

Fairygirl · May 2019

BL is right they're pretty tough and problem free once established.
I wonder if, like many plants, it's simply suffering the effects from the drought last year. The problem often shows up when plants should be growing away and looking good.

Brexiteer · May 2019

I'd say drought if not watered last year. So many people are reporting shrubs and privet dying, something you wouldn't normally water

l_harkness · May 2019

Fairygirl said:

BL is right they're pretty tough and problem free once established.
I wonder if, like many plants, it's simply suffering the effects from the drought last year. The problem often shows up when plants should be growing away and looking good.

Thanks yea that could be the problem after the hot weather last year I just don't know what to do about it now do I cut it right back? To be honest I would quite like to get rid of it now if it's not going to do and out something else in its place but I don't know how to get rid of it

Fairygirl · May 2019

I think I'd cut it back. If it's still alive, it will be struggling to support the top growth if the soil is really dehydrated.
Water really thoroughly, give it a few weeks, and see what happens. If it's planted really close to the wall, it would be drier at it's feet anyway.

Difficult without seeing a photo though.

l_harkness · May 2019

Fairygirl said:

I think I'd cut it back. If it's still alive, it will be struggling to support the top growth if the soil is really dehydrated.
Water really thoroughly, give it a few weeks, and see what happens. If it's planted really close to the wall, it would be drier at it's feet anyway.

Difficult without seeing a photo though.

Fairygirl · May 2019

It looks like you have Boston Ivy as well as V. Creeper. The B.Ivy is getting the upper hand. They will easily cover a huge area, and both are encroaching on your gutttering/roof, so it would be a good idea to trim them back to below that.

l_harkness · May 2019

Fairygirl said:

It looks like you have Boston Ivy as well as V. Creeper. The B.Ivy is getting the upper hand. They will easily cover a huge area, and both are encroaching on your gutttering/roof, so it would be a good idea to trim them back to below that.

Thank you for your help we plan on getting it cut back today

Dovefromabove · June 2019

That that looks like weather damage ... as if it had been kept in a very sheltered position and was then suddenly moved to string hot sunlight.

Now it’s happened I’d either pot it on or plant it into its permanent position with a bit of protection and keep an eye on it ...

Virginia creeper dying

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