Driving in the county on Saturday, I was surprised to see so much wild cucumber vine.
It was growing on fences, through trees — especially evergreens — and along creek banks. I even saw it climbing up on corn stalks.
Now that it has started blooming, the airy white flowers make it very visible. Yes, it is attractive but realizing its potential to become extremely invasive quickly takes away that attractiveness.
The damage from this annual vine is caused by its canopy blocking sunlight to the plant it is covering. I have had people ask if they could spray it with weed spray and the answer is it depends on if the plant that it is climbing on will tolerate that chemical.
I’ve read that it is highly resistant to 2-4D, and Roundup is non-selective, meaning it will kill most anything it is sprayed on, the weed as well as the host plant it is growing on.
Cutting it off at the base is the most effective means of control where that is possible. That needs to be done prior to the vine setting seed, which means now.
August is the month to move or divide peonies, bearded iris, daylilies and other perennials where the clumps have either become too large or just need to be re-energized.
Getting that chore done now allows the plant to become established prior to winter, and next season it will be ready to bloom without interruption.
Dividing in early spring is safe, too, but often will result in diminished or no flowers for the first season.