Russian vine (Mile a minute)

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Spruce, Jun 28, 2012.

  1. Spruce

    Spruce Glad to be back .....

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    003.JPG Hi All

    Love it or loath it

    Yes I have kept quite I have one :oops:

    But as you can see kept under check I think looks fab and screening off the nosey parkers.

    Spruce
     
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    • Salgor

      Salgor Gardener

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      I have one too but I have it in a container well away from the main beds. However, I have noticed that one of the two plants I have in the pot is a honeysuckle:oopss:

      Sally
       
    • Spruce

      Spruce Glad to be back .....

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      004.JPG I have honeysuckle , wisteria , grapevine on the right hand side

      Spruce
       
    • watergarden

      watergarden have left the forum because...i'm a sad case

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      We used to have some for the screening reasons, but trouble was no matter how much I trimmed it, the more vigorously it grew. The "stems" became branches, the branches became tree trunks, so it had to go.
       
    • loveweeds

      loveweeds Gardener

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      I have some to cover the shed. Admittedly its vigourous, but its easy to trim and keep in check.
      Thats the advantage -it quickly covers things.
      I like it when it flowers - it looks kind of fluffy.
      Thing is, if you cut it back it does not flower as much, i suppose?! .. there are very few flowers atm but i think it fully flowers end of july only..

      picture from 1 month or more ago:
      russian wine.JPG
      last years flowers:
      russian wine1.JPG
       
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      • Spruce

        Spruce Glad to be back .....

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        Loveweeds
        Looks great :ccheers: its amazing how much 1 plant can cover , youre right I dont think I will have many flowers off it , downside the flowers bluebottles like them .



        Spruce
         
      • ClaraLou

        ClaraLou Total Gardener

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        So ... an invasive plant which attracts bluebottles, then. :heehee:
         
      • loveweeds

        loveweeds Gardener

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        what's bluebottles? googled it and it says they are black flies?
        nice fat ones?? (i love fat flies, if there are not to many of them, though:-)
         
      • Spruce

        Spruce Glad to be back .....

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        :lunapic 130165696578242 5:not on mine though :paladin:

        I was waiting for the skeletons to come out of the closet , now I realise why I waited so long to own up to having one :WINK1::biggrin:

        Spruce
         
      • ClaraLou

        ClaraLou Total Gardener

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        I must admit the bluebottle thing isn't exactly selling it to me.

        I came across a forum for Russian Vine sufferers the other day. One of the entries was as follows:-

        They can be a swine to kill, I chopped mine at the base, and poured 3 litres of creosote on the roots, nothing else grew there except you guessed it the flamin russian vine. Try and dig it out, and look for every scrap of root or it will come back and get you!!!!

        The same forum mentions in passing that the flowers smell of cat wee.
         
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        • Tilia

          Tilia Gardener

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          have to say I think I have it in my garden. I say "think" because I never allow it to get big enough to actually be recognisable. I just know it's that by the speed it grows.

          It's titled the monster plant because I swear it knows I'm coming. I was determined to dig it out... dug down 2 foot and found a huge root, pulled it and it broke off, do you think I could find the rest of it, not even the broken end. I'm sure I heard it scream as it recoiled from my spade.

          I have now got it down to about 3 shoots that get to about 3 foot before I spot them at the back of the border... they get pulled out and the root must be deeeeep because it what comes out the ground must be 12" long!!!

          I know it has it's uses but I would really love to be free of it!!
           
        • Lolimac

          Lolimac Guest

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          Love it Spruce:dbgrtmb:....how long did it take to grow that big?
           
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          • Madahhlia

            Madahhlia Total Gardener

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            Hmmm. Looking at the second photo closely it already seems to have filled out quite a bit since last year. Bet you won't be able to see that shed in five years time!
             
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            • Spruce

              Spruce Glad to be back .....

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              Two years , and thats a drop from the decking of two feet as well its a big area for it to cover and so easy to maintain 5 mins a week thats all , Loli it doest look too bad for Russian vine :dbgrtmb: and all the bad press it gets. Its when people just leave it then gets out of hand , the second photo with the Wisteria on the left hand side of the fence I was thinking of eventualy traing in its place but I realy like the way it has turned out plus all the sparrows love it to hide in. We will wait and see .

              Thanks


              Spruce
               
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              • loveweeds

                loveweeds Gardener

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                wouldn't mind:snork:

                would be more worried if I had giant hogweed or japanese knotweed

                the only fellow in my garden where I am not sure about being worried yet is Houttuyinia cordata, but lets see.... but at least this one wo'nt grow through the walls into my house:lunapic 130165696578242 5:
                 
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