How To Get Rid Of Wild Sweet Potato Vines In Your Garden

Wild sweet potato vines thrive as produce in a garden and in the wild, with invasive drought-resistant vines that grow up to 30 feet long. These vines bloom big purple and white flowers in spring season that can be up to 6 inches wide. Since sweet potatoes can grow in almost any condition or type of soil, it is almost classified as a weed. If you want to get rid of these vines, it will take some time and manual labor, but it can be done.

Step 1

Determine the location of all the existing wild sweet potato vines. Follow the vines to find where they end and where the bulk of the plant begins.

Step 2

Use the pruning shears or scissors (depending on how thick the vine is) to cut the vine off 1 inch from the ground.

Step 3

Sprinkle a handful of salt on the cut area.

Step 4

Apply the herbicide the remaining bulk section of the vine until it is soaking wet. Continue to apply the herbicide around the plant area in the soil, about 5 inches from the base of the sweet potato vine.

Step 5

Discard the cut-off vine pieces into the trash.

Step 6

Examine the cut vine stubs in the ground to see if they have died a week later. If it looks like the vines have started to grow again or look alive, cut them off again and apply the salt and herbicide a second time.

Long hind legs for jumping give metallic-bronze or black potato flea beetles their name. Usually less that 1/10 inch long, the adult beetles infest sweet potato vines in spring, chewing tiny holes in their new leaves. The white-striped, pale-green caterpillars crawl across the undersides of the leaves by arching their midsections as they draw their front and back ends together. Control both these pests with a spray solution containing 3 to 5 tablespoons — or the label's specified amount — of plant-based pyrethrin insecticide in a gallon of water. Wear protective clothing and eyewear, socks, shoes and a hat while you drench the leaves on both sides.