There is a thorny, resistant vine growing at/around the base of our river birch tree.?

Question:It roots and spreads, every time I think I've pulled the last of it, it turns up again. It is not a very leafy vine, the leaves are bright green and tiny, it has little thorns all along the stems, and spreads quickly. Any advice to kill this - without hurting trees in the same vicinity. Thanks.

Answers:
You're dealing with a wild bramble of some kind (raspberry or blackberry )which are almost impossible to get rid of without using something drastic like Roundup. Pulling it up only breaks the root off at it's weakest point, which causes the plant to grow even more vigorously. If the root is not removed completely it just keeps going and going! Removing the root is next to impossible because it goes on and on in many different directions at all different depths in the soil. Roundup really is the only way that works. Keep in mind that Roundup kills ANY plant, so it would be best instead of spraying it, to pour a teeny bit in a paper cup and using a little paint brush, paint the Roundup solution on the leaves, which is absorbed and sucked down to the root. Within a few days, the plant will wither and turn yellow, then brown at which point it simply lifts off the top of the soil and the root has rotted. Remember that the Roundup has to be absorbed through the leaves. It doesn't take much and you don't even have to get it on ALL the leaves.

Good luck!

Becki