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When walking through your property, you might notice vines twisting around tree trunks or underbrush growing thick at the base of mature trees. At first glance, these plants may seem harmless — even adding a touch of natural beauty. But over time, vines and dense underbrush can cause serious harm to healthy trees and the surrounding landscape if not managed properly.
In gardens, we’re taught to prune and trim vines to control their growth and improve the production of fruits and other vegetation. The same principle applies to your property’s trees — just because trees are larger doesn’t mean they’re immune to the negative effects of invasive plants. The same goes for underbrush, which can quickly overtake the ground beneath trees if left unchecked.
In this blog, we’ll explore how vines and underbrush can become detrimental when they aren’t properly maintained. One of the biggest challenges is that managing these plants can be extremely time-consuming and difficult without the right tools or machinery — especially on larger properties.
Below, we’ll break down how vines and underbrush affect tree health, why they’re a problem, and what homeowners can do to protect their landscape long-term.
Vines are opportunistic plants that start small, often sprouting from the ground near the base of trees. They grow upward, using tree trunks and branches for support as they search for sunlight.
Because vines can’t stand upright on their own, they rely on other plants — particularly trees — to help them reach the light they need for photosynthesis. As they climb, vines wrap tightly around trunks and branches, growing thicker and stronger over time.
This wrapping can strangle the tree’s outer layer, which is essential for transporting water and nutrients. In severe cases, vines can choke off growth in the bark and weaken the tree’s structure, leaving it more vulnerable to disease and breakage.
Even when vines aren’t physically strangling a tree, they compete for the same vital resources: sunlight, water, and nutrients.
Beyond competing for resources, vines also cause physical stress to trees.
As vines mature, they become heavier — especially when wet. This extra weight can cause branches to sag or break. In extreme cases, the entire tree can lean or fall under the strain.
A tree covered in vines has more surface area for the wind to catch, making it more likely to topple during storms. The additional drag from thick vine growth increases this risk significantly.
When combined with restricted sunlight and nutrients, the physical stress from heavy vines can lead to premature tree death. What starts as a few green tendrils can eventually result in a weakened, unstable tree.
Vines aren’t the only issue — underbrush also poses challenges to mature trees.
Underbrush plants like small shrubs and invasive weeds occupy the same soil space as tree roots. These shallow-rooted plants absorb nutrients and moisture from the topsoil, reducing what’s available for the tree.
Thick underbrush makes it difficult for a tree’s roots to spread naturally. Restricted root growth can lead to reduced stability and limited access to deeper water reserves during dry periods.
Dense underbrush traps moisture and blocks sunlight from fully reaching the ground, preventing the area from drying out. This damp, shaded environment creates the perfect conditions for pests, fungi, and mold to thrive. Over time, these issues can spread from the ground up the tree’s trunk and into the canopy, weakening the tree’s overall health. Even worse, once disease reaches the canopy, it can easily spread to nearby trees whose branches touch, leading to a wider contamination problem across your property.
While dense vines and underbrush can be damaging, there are steps homeowners can take to help protect their trees:
By combining routine maintenance with professional support when needed, homeowners can protect their trees, improve the health of their landscape, and prevent costly long-term damage. At Gravitt Property Solutions, we offer expert tree and land management services to help maintain healthy, safe, and beautiful outdoor spaces.
Contact Gravitt Property Solutions today for a free estimate. Our team can help you clear invasive growth, promote tree health, and restore your property’s landscape to its full potential.
