Kudzu Control

Kudzu Control

Most Effective Products

Triclopyr 4 Brush Killer
Emulsifiable Concentrate (EC)
As low as $33.95
Vision Pro Max Indicator Dye
Dye
As low as $29.99
Nanotek Surfactant
Surfactant
As low as $27.99
Keith's Pro Tips

"When I think of kudzu, this sports cliche applies: "you can't stop kudzu, you can only hope to contain it." A lot of times, control boils down to something that will hinder it's spread rather than totally eradicate it. A chemical application will knock the kudzu back to keep it from invading areas that haven't been affected by its spread yet. You have to constantly attack it with herbicide because there's really no other effective way to get rid of it."

Kudzu Control: How To Get Rid of Kudzu

The Kudzu vine is a rapidly rising weed problem in the southeastern United States and is frustrating to manage due to how quickly it spreads and how difficult it is to totally eradicate. Kudzu is a persistent weed that can grow up to 100 feet or more if there is no intervention.

Kudzu was brought over to the U.S. from Japan as far back as the 1800s in order to help with erosion control. The government paid farmers to grow this plant and help improve agriculture since it was known to be a fast-growing ground cover and good foraging crop. However, it becomes a regrettable mistake as the vine would grow well beyond where it was intended to grow and would overtake lands and virtually anything that gets in its way, whether they are vehicles or houses.

If you are dealing with Kudzu on your property and want to get rid of it, our DIY Kudzu treatment guide below will show you, step-by-step, how to eliminate this invasive vine using our professional-grade control products.

Identification

Kudzu is a perennial vine hailing from the pea family. They have alternate and compound leaves, with three wide leaflets with hairy margins. The Kudzu vine can grow up to 12 feet in a day and is not slowed down by poor conditions. The vines can grow up and over almost any structure and literally covers objects with its fast-growing vegetation.

What helps Kudzu to thrive is its root system that forms very deep in the soil. These roots are hard to dig out completely. When you attempt to hand-pull or dig out these roots, any pieces that are left behind will eventually resprout and regenerate.

Use our description and image above to help you to identify Kudzu on your property. If you are not totally sure, contact us and we will properly ID the plant for you and our lawn care experts will offer product recommendations for your problem weed.

Inspection

Kudzu growing invasively inspection

Where to Inspect

Kudzu vines are very conspicuous so you won't be able to miss them on your property. Walk your property to observe where the vines are concentrated and how severe of an issue you have.

What To Look For

What stands out most about kudzu are their leaves which consist of three broad leaflets up to 4 inches across.

Treatment

Please be sure that when handling any type of herbicide, you are properly protecting your skin and eyes with safety equipment (goggles, gloves and long-sleeved clothing).

The most effective way to treat Kudzu is a combination of mechanical control via cutting mixed with chemical control via applying herbicides. You should cut the vine down as much as possible and then apply a professional herbicide directly to the stem. Our recommendation is Triclopyr as it as shown good results in controlling invasive kudzu.

Step 1: Cut down the Kudzu

Using an ax, machete or saw, begin cutting down the kudzu vines. Survey the area to see where the vine is growing and whether it is a safe area to move forward with chopping down. Once the proper safety measures are placed and the area is analyzed you can then mow or cut the vegetation down until it gets to the ground level. Loppers tend to work well with this plant.

Step 2: Apply Triclopyr

Backpack Spray application for Kudzu Control

Prepare a herbicide spray mix of Triclopyr 4 using a 3-gallon backpack sprayer for smaller applications. To figure out how much Triclopyr you need, you will need to determine the size of the treatment area. To do this, multiply the measured length x width to get the total square footage to be treated (length x width = square footage).

For woody vegetation like Kudzu, the label states to use 1 quart of Triclopyr 4 per acre. When narrowed down for smaller applications, Triclopyr should be mixed at a rate of 0.75 fl. oz. of Triclopyr 4 in a gallon of water per 1,000 sq. ft. You should use enough water to sufficiently treat the Kudzu that is growing. We also recommend adding a surfactant (such as Nanotek Surfactant) per finished gallon of solution. You should also use spray marking dye (such as Vision Pro Dye) to mark plants that have been sprayed and to tell if you are getting a sufficient amount of herbicide on the plant.

Triclopyr 4 can be sprayed upon Kudzu foliage, a freshly-cut stump or the bottom 12 inches of a woody trunk. Thoroughly coverage is vital for the best possible results. Spray when the Kudzu is actively growing. Repeated applications may be necessary to ensure total eradication.

Prevention

Mowing kudzu to stop the spread

Typically, it takes about 10 years of persistent herbicide applications to get rid of Kudzu since it is a very persistent plant. Mow growth areas short and repeat treatment applications during the growing season to fend off this invasive vine.

Key Takeaways

  • Kudzu is an invasive vine that has been regarded as "The Vine that Ate The South" because of how easily and quickly this vine takes over native plants and spaces that it has infiltrated.
  • Our top recommendation to treat kudzu is a combination of cutting down the vines and post-emergent treatment of Triclopyr 4.
  • Kudzu that has been firmly established will be hard to totally control without persistence and repeat applications.
Questions and Answers
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    Triclopyr 4ec Herbicide
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    Vision Pro Max Indicator Dye
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    Nanotek Surfactant
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