Kudzu – It’s Not a Myth

Quick Facts

• Kudzu covers over seven million acres in the Deep South.
• During the early 20th century, farmers were encouraged to plant kudzu to prevent soil erosion.
• Kudzu can only be eradicated from the roots up and Bayer Advanced offers a product that works precisely in that manner.

Problem/Diagnosis

Kudzu has been nicknamed “the vine that ate the South.” That’s not much of an exaggeration since it has consumed over seven million acres in the Deep South. The vine was introduced into the United States from Japan in 1876 at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. It was promoted as an ornamental and forage crop plant. During the early 20th century, farmers in the South were encouraged by the U.S. government to plant kudzu to reduce soil erosion caused by extreme weather. But no one knew the rate at which it would grow. In 1953, it was officially recognized as an invasive weed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and was removed from its list of permissible cover plants.

Characteristics of Kudzu

Kudzu is a climbing, semi-woody, perennial vine in the pea family. Vines can extend 32 to 100 feet in length with stems up to four inches in diameter. It’s difficult to imagine but a fully grown kudzu vine can weigh as much as 400 pounds with 30 vines growing from one singular root crown.

Kudzu has deciduous leaves that are compound, with three broad leaflets up to four inches across. The vine is also a flowering plant. Individual flowers bloom in late summer and are about ½ inch long, purple in color, highly fragrant and borne in long hanging clusters.

Kudzu grows well under a wide range of conditions and is compatible with many soil types. Most kudzu vines can be found along forest edges, abandoned fields, roadsides and other areas that receive plenty of sunlight. The Southeastern climate is perfect for kudzu with its mild winters, high summer temperatures and substantial rainfall. Vines grow as much as a foot per day during the summer months and cover anything in its path: trees, power poles, abandoned cars and anything else it comes in contact with.

Ecological Threat of Kudzu

Due to its aggressive growth patterns, kudzu will replace all existing vegetation. It prevents the growth of young hardwoods and other beneficial plants by simply blanketing the area with a dense canopy that restricts the access of light. It’s this invasive nature of the kudzu vine that causes such a headache to homeowners and farmers alike.

Solution

How to Get Rid of Kudzu

If you have kudzu growing in and around the wooded areas at your home, just cutting back the vine will not solve the problem. In fact, it won’t even make a dent in the growth. The kudzu vine will just grow back faster and stronger. For permanent control, you have to kill it at the root.

Bayer Advanced™ Brush Killer Plus Concentrate is specifically formulated to kill kudzu, poison ivy, poison oak and 67 other types of weeds down to the roots. It comes in concentrate and ready-to-use formulas. This non-selective, systemic herbicide enters plants through their leaves, shoots and roots, then moves throughout the plant and interferes with processes found only in invasive plants. You see signs of wilting and yellowing in one to six weeks.

Bayer Advanced™ Brush Killer Plus Ready-To-Use comes in a one gallon ready-to-use formula with nested sprayer for easy spraying and neat storage.

Always read and follow label instructions.

Products Mentioned In This Article

Brush Killer Plus Concentrate

Brush Killer Plus Ready-To-Use