Mile-a-Minute Weed

Mile-a Minute originates form Asia and can be an annual or perennial depending on the growth zone. This invasive weed can grow 6 inches per day & create havoc by infesting roadsides, drainage ditches, orchards, and even nurseries.

In its native China, mile-a-minutes weed is not considered a serious threat but it still invades tea plantations and cornfields. This weed germinates in full sun and grows very rapidly. Mile-a-minute grows to 20 + feet in height and forms a dense, tangled mat that covers everything in sight including trees and shrubs.

Origin:

Mile-a-minute is widely distributed in Japan, China, Korea, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Siberia, the Philippines, Nepal, Turkey, and a few others. It was introduced into the United States from Japan in the late 1930�s and the rest is history.

Mile-a-minute is an herbaceous trailing vine and is a member of the buckwheat family. It has tiny white flowers and the stems are armed with rows of small rigid downward pointing barbs. These barbs are substantial enough to cut your hands if trying to pull them by hand. The fruit berries are a fleshy bright blue and about the size of a pea.

Mile-a-Minute invades the following types of areas with a vengeance:

Stream corridors

Fencerows

Roadsides

Nurseries

Orchards

Uncultivated fields

Edges of woods

Control of Mile-a-Minute:

Biological Controls:

In China there are 100 insect species that appear to feed off the weed in some form and may hold some sort of biological control promise in others countries. It�s important to gain control since mile-a-minute can grow up to 6 inches per day and take over vegetation blocking sunlight and killing what�s under it. Thickets of mile-a-minute can reduce plant diversity in natural areas and substantially degrade wildlife habitats.

Spreading Mechanisms:

This weed spreads via birds and waterways with birds eating the fleshy berries and spreading the sees in their droppings. The berries float thereby helping to spread it along streams and rivers.

Mechanical:

Hand-pulling is useful and is best done before the seeds set. It is easiest to when the plants are relatively young before they have developed into intertwining thickets with barbs. If pulling mature mile-a-minute weeds use heavy duty gloves to prevent injury. You can also mow or cut repeatedly during growing season for maintenance control.

Chemical:

For large and out of control infestations mile-a-minute weed may need to be contolled chemically. An application of a glysophate-based herbicide is a practical method for getting rid of the weed. This is a non-specific herbicide so avoid over-spraying or you�ll kill all other vegetation it comes in contact with as well. Always follow the herbicide instructions and apply responsibly.