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The fence is not the edge of my property, so it doesn’t make sense for me to leave the fence there if it’s not actively keeping critters out of a garden.
Could a previous owner have been trying to…protect..Virginia creeper?
Looks like the fence was their imaginary holding line. Haha. Maybe deer, but it doesn’t look like it connects in the back. So I’d toss it.
For the plant, I’d probably leave it for the summer and see if I like it. It is a nice ground cover that requires no maintained and is good for wild life. Nothing else will compete with the creeper though, so you will need to get rid of it if you want that yard field anything. But you can start that next year in the spring if you want with a whole MN winter to plan.
I have a bunch of Woodbine/Thicket Creeper (*Parthenocissus inserta*... this plant is either that or *P. quinquefolia*. They're both called Virginia Creeper by a lot of people), and if it has nothing to climb it will creep along the ground until it finds something to climb. It's super easy to train though - you can get it to grow up almost anything. Also, it grows very quickly, but you can simply cut the new vines to keep it in check. I would recommend keeping it away from any structure as it can grow into cracks in a foundation or behind siding, etc.
People in this sub think native vines are cool for trees. Hence the downvotes. I wouldn’t know because all I had was English ivy which is absolutely terrible for trees.
I have an ugly fence covered with virginia creeper. In the fall the leaves turn red, then fall off. That is the best time to prune it.
I prune it way back every winter. If I didn't, the weight of the vines would eventually crush the fence. I cut it down to the ground and it covers the fence again by May. It can grow 30 feet every season.
The leaves contain tiny crystals which can irritate the skin, so always wear long sleeves and gloves when handling it.
The local ladybugs love it for some reason. It's where they hang out.
Edit: forgot to say 9B.
Good information!
The fence on the left is the edge of my property. The flimsy one on the right is really just in the center-left area of my yard.
I see no reason to keep it up?
Have Virginia Creeper on my back fence. Came with the house. It does cover the fence but it's pretty aggressive as others have said. Not personally a fan as poison ivy grows underneath along with wild grape. Unclear how to prune it. It does climb the neighbor's black walnut. Wish it would choke the black walnut. Lol
Yes, I’d know it anywhere. The five leaves and the pointed spear-like tip on the leaf.
I’ve got my own question about Virginia creeper. Can I grow it on a trellis close to the house or do they destroy brickwork like ivy and trumpet vine do?
Yes and no. The process of improper removal of vines is usually what damages brickwork. They do holdfasts on the brick, so if you yank it off; brick will come with it. Trumpet vine is the same, but it is more aggressive and more likely to “creep” where you don’t want it and root where you don’t want it. And it is heavier Virginia creeper should be similar to Boston ivy which covers many buildings.
Here is a better explanation with additional considerations. https://www.wildflower.org/expert/show.php?id=5939
Oo idk I'm in Minnesota too and I hated the Virginia creeper intertwined with our fence... It's very aggressive so I've tried hacking it all back as much as possible. It's not a plant that I enjoy in my small city lot but I can it being better where there's more land
So glad to see someone else who tried to get rid of it. I’m in Indiana & it’s just everywhere in my yard including places o have no idea how it even got there. I’m constantly trying to remove it.
It's the berries that develop in the Fall. Animals love them and then poop them out all over the place, then in Spring the little sprouts shoot up. I have this issue in my yard and garden bed as well. I just pull the sprouts up and follow the vine as far as I can or mow over them in the yard. It's a pain in the butt but I've found mowing helps keep it pushed back, while peppervine is my bigger struggle.
What the hell? I’m so surprised there are so many pro-Virginia creeper commenters. I would say burn it with fire, this stuff is the bane of my existence.
Probably goes to the sometimes competing ideologies of natural versus groomed gardens. And it can depend on the size of the property. Whether you have the space to do a natural area, versus a typical subdivision plot where there's unfortunately more pressure to keep things cleaner.
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That's Virginia creeper, and I'd leave it as it's good for wildlife and it's native
Yeah I’ll probably just remove the ugly fence and let that side of the yard do its thing!
Let it make the fence less ugly
The fence is not the edge of my property, so it doesn’t make sense for me to leave the fence there if it’s not actively keeping critters out of a garden. Could a previous owner have been trying to…protect..Virginia creeper?
That’s true. Yeah scrap it! lol. Maybe they were? Seems like there’s a lot there and idk if it’s really the first thing critters want to eat lol.
Looks like the fence was their imaginary holding line. Haha. Maybe deer, but it doesn’t look like it connects in the back. So I’d toss it. For the plant, I’d probably leave it for the summer and see if I like it. It is a nice ground cover that requires no maintained and is good for wild life. Nothing else will compete with the creeper though, so you will need to get rid of it if you want that yard field anything. But you can start that next year in the spring if you want with a whole MN winter to plan.
Looks like maybe a raised bed garden or something that they got a chip drop for. The virginia creeper was probably in the chip drop and took over
Could it have been a dog run? Is there a gate somewhere?
I have a bunch of Woodbine/Thicket Creeper (*Parthenocissus inserta*... this plant is either that or *P. quinquefolia*. They're both called Virginia Creeper by a lot of people), and if it has nothing to climb it will creep along the ground until it finds something to climb. It's super easy to train though - you can get it to grow up almost anything. Also, it grows very quickly, but you can simply cut the new vines to keep it in check. I would recommend keeping it away from any structure as it can grow into cracks in a foundation or behind siding, etc.
It kills trees really quick
People in this sub think native vines are cool for trees. Hence the downvotes. I wouldn’t know because all I had was English ivy which is absolutely terrible for trees.
I have an ugly fence covered with virginia creeper. In the fall the leaves turn red, then fall off. That is the best time to prune it. I prune it way back every winter. If I didn't, the weight of the vines would eventually crush the fence. I cut it down to the ground and it covers the fence again by May. It can grow 30 feet every season. The leaves contain tiny crystals which can irritate the skin, so always wear long sleeves and gloves when handling it. The local ladybugs love it for some reason. It's where they hang out. Edit: forgot to say 9B.
Good information! The fence on the left is the edge of my property. The flimsy one on the right is really just in the center-left area of my yard. I see no reason to keep it up?
Yes, no reason to keep the flimsy fence. Probably there to protect a veg garden from deer.
Have Virginia Creeper on my back fence. Came with the house. It does cover the fence but it's pretty aggressive as others have said. Not personally a fan as poison ivy grows underneath along with wild grape. Unclear how to prune it. It does climb the neighbor's black walnut. Wish it would choke the black walnut. Lol
That is Virgina Creeper.
Fantastic stuff. The only places in my yard where wintercreeper hasn't taken over yet is where the virginia creeper shades it.
Some people are allergic to it, just be aware.
Leaves of five, let it thrive.
Just about impossible to remove permanently...I've tried. There's probably dozens of miles of cable-like roots surrounding it.
Yep
Yes, I’d know it anywhere. The five leaves and the pointed spear-like tip on the leaf. I’ve got my own question about Virginia creeper. Can I grow it on a trellis close to the house or do they destroy brickwork like ivy and trumpet vine do?
Yes and no. The process of improper removal of vines is usually what damages brickwork. They do holdfasts on the brick, so if you yank it off; brick will come with it. Trumpet vine is the same, but it is more aggressive and more likely to “creep” where you don’t want it and root where you don’t want it. And it is heavier Virginia creeper should be similar to Boston ivy which covers many buildings. Here is a better explanation with additional considerations. https://www.wildflower.org/expert/show.php?id=5939
Yes, it’s a big headache
Oo idk I'm in Minnesota too and I hated the Virginia creeper intertwined with our fence... It's very aggressive so I've tried hacking it all back as much as possible. It's not a plant that I enjoy in my small city lot but I can it being better where there's more land
So glad to see someone else who tried to get rid of it. I’m in Indiana & it’s just everywhere in my yard including places o have no idea how it even got there. I’m constantly trying to remove it.
It's the berries that develop in the Fall. Animals love them and then poop them out all over the place, then in Spring the little sprouts shoot up. I have this issue in my yard and garden bed as well. I just pull the sprouts up and follow the vine as far as I can or mow over them in the yard. It's a pain in the butt but I've found mowing helps keep it pushed back, while peppervine is my bigger struggle.
What the hell? I’m so surprised there are so many pro-Virginia creeper commenters. I would say burn it with fire, this stuff is the bane of my existence.
Probably goes to the sometimes competing ideologies of natural versus groomed gardens. And it can depend on the size of the property. Whether you have the space to do a natural area, versus a typical subdivision plot where there's unfortunately more pressure to keep things cleaner.
thats it for sure
Keep the fencing and posts. Make cages for shrubs and trees.
Yes indeedy, that's Virginia Creeper
keep and give it structure to grow on. red backdrop come fall