How to Kill Wisteria Plants

Wisteria is a beautiful vine that produces cascading purple, white, pink or blue flowers in spring and summer. However, it can also become invasive and take over gardens, yards, trees and buildings if left unchecked. Getting rid of an established wisteria plant can be challenging, but there are several effective methods.

Why Kill Wisteria Plants

There are a few main reasons you may want to kill wisteria plants:

• It’s become invasive and is taking over your yard, smothering other plants. Wisteria spreads rapidly by vines and underground runners.

• It’s grown onto your home, under siding, causing damage Wisteria vines can creep under roofing and siding

• It’s climbing high into trees eventually overtaking and even killing them. Wisteria vines wrap tightly around tree trunks.

• You simply want to remove overgrown or unwanted wisteria from your property.

• It’s an invasive Asian species you’re trying to eliminate to allow native plants to thrive. Some states even prohibit Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) and Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda)

If you need to get rid of wisteria, it’s important to kill both the above ground vines and the root systems. Just cutting back vines won’t kill wisteria; it will resprout vigorously from the roots.

Effective Methods to Kill Wisteria

Here are 5 effective methods to kill wisteria plants:

1. Cut Stump Herbicide Treatment

This chemical method involves cutting down wisteria stems then immediately applying herbicide to the freshly cut stump. This is one of the most effective ways to kill wisteria and prevent regrowth.

• Use a saw or loppers to cut down all wisteria vines at the base, as close to the ground as possible. Remove any branches or foliage.

• Immediately apply a concentrated glyphosate or triclopyr-based herbicide to the cut stump surface. This prevents the plant from sealing off the wound too quickly.

• Vines too high to reach can be left to die on their own once cut off from the roots.

• Monitor for and remove any new shoots or suckers that may still emerge from untreated roots. Retreat if necessary.

2. Foliar Herbicide Spray

Spraying a glyphosate herbicide directly on wisteria leaves can provide control in areas where vines are spreading along the ground or where stems are too high to cut back.

• Use a 2% glyphosate or triclopyr solution with a 0.5% nonionic surfactant. Thoroughly wet all foliage.

• This may take several applications as the herbicide slowly translocates down to the roots.

• Respray any regrowth. Monitor for and remove any new shoots.

3. Smothering Wisteria Growth

Smothering wisteria by depriving it of sunlight can be effective at killing the plant over time. However, this method requires diligence and takes 1-2 years.

• Start by cutting back and removing as much wisteria foliage and stems as possible.

• Cover the remaining root area thoroughly with overlapping tarps or black plastic mulch to block all sunlight and prevent photosynthesis.

• Weigh down the material well and monitor for any new shoots starting to emerge. Remove them immediately upon finding them.

4. Digging Up Root Systems

For small areas, manually digging up the wisteria’s root system can provide control. This is labor intensive but avoids herbicide use.

• Remove all above ground growth as the first step.

• Dig around the root zone in a circle to expose the roots. Use a shovel, ax or saw to chop through and lift out the root ball.

• Follow some roots and remove as much of the total root system as possible.

• Monitor for and remove any new shoots that emerge over time as leftover roots die off.

5. Cutting Roots and Stump

For large wisteria with substantial trunks, cutting through the taproots and treating the stump can kill the entire plant.

• Clear away all foliage, branches and vines around the base.

• Trench around the trunk in a circle to expose the thick roots. Chop through them.

• Once detached, flip over the root ball and cut off the stump close to the base.

• Immediately treat the fresh stump surface with concentrated herbicide as in method 1.

Tips for Killing Wisteria Effectively

• Wisteria seeds pods should be removed and destroyed before they burst open to prevent spread.

• Dispose of pulled wisteria materials properly, away from conditions where it could re-root. Burn or bag for landfill.

• For best translocation of herbicide to the roots, treat wisteria in late summer or fall when sap is descending.

• Monitor and retreat areas for at least a year after initial removal for any new sprouts from untreated roots.

• Consider native Wisteria frutescens as an alternative that is less aggressive if you still want this plant.

Killing wisteria completely takes persistence. But with the right technique for your situation, you can get rid of this aggressive grower and prevent it from taking over your yard.

To permanently kill wisteria, the most effective method is to cut the vine at its base and apply a concentrated herbicide like glyphosate or triclopyr to the cut stem. This allows the herbicide to be drawn into the root system, preventing regrowth.

Yes, wisteria can have deep and extensive root systems, with some roots reaching depths of up to 10 feet. While the average depth might be 3-6 feet, well-draining soil can encourage deeper root growth, potentially reaching 10 feet or more in mature plants.