Eradicating a Stubborn Vine Weed in Daylilies with Glyphosate

The Challenge

A single strand of an aggressive, milky‑sapped vine survived a move and now infiltrates Stella de Oro daylilies on both sides of a stairway, running underneath the steps. Hand pulling fails because the vine breaks off and regrows from a deep taproot.

Precision Herbicide Technique

Use a glyphosate concentrate (e.g., RoundUp) applied with a paintbrush to avoid harming the daylilies. If possible, gently separate the vine’s base from the daylily crown. Lay cardboard as a splash guard, dip a brush in undiluted or slightly diluted herbicide, and coat as many vine leaves as possible. The herbicide moves through the foliage to the root system, starving the plant. Because the vine is tenacious, repeat applications every few weeks until no regrowth appears. Glyphosate does not move in soil, so daylilies are safe unless directly sprayed.

Key Points

• Apply on a calm, dry day; allow several hours to dry before removing protective covers.
• Treat actively growing foliage for best translocation.
• Expect multiple treatments for complete eradication.