| I have a very robust and healthy 30 year old Virginia Creeper growing on the brick facade of my house. Is it possible that it will damage the facade? |
| Virginia creeper is a native vine that climbs both by means of tendrils with adhesive disks which adhere to brick, stone or tree trunks, and by aerial rootlets which attach only to rough surfaces. It grows 30 to 50 feet tall and has a loose, open growth pattern. Because it attaches itself by disks and by aereal roots it can cause damage to the bricks on your house, especially if you try to remove it. The disks are nearly impossible to pry off! If there are any cracks in the mortar between the bricks, there's a chance that the roots can grow into them and eventually loosen the bricks. If your Virginia Creeper has been in place for 30 years I suspect the new growth it develops is attaching itself to the old growth that has already attached itself to the bricks. If so, the damage may be minimal. You won't know until you attempt to remove the vines. |
