The results are immediately pleasing and well worth the hour or so that it requires. by Keri Byrum | Aug 28, 2014 | Around Our Yard, Plant Spotlight | 66 comments. Is it too late in the year to plant some new creeping ivy along the areas where the old roots were cut? When the ivy climbs up the brick, it adds beauty and depth to the wall. I recently bought a tiny creeping fig and planted it near a wooden post in my back yard. I have a rock wall that was covered in very established fig ivy. Put on safety glasses, gloves, a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and closed-toe shoes before you start to remove the creeping fig. I like it in some spots but not all and I’m at such a loss! Highly invasive, English ivy clings to and destroys lawns, gardens, and trees. Wash areas of contact immediately with running water. The plants I removed have not come back, the ones I kept are easy to control, and we enjoy them. How is the variate form compared to the green version? As we go into the winter months I wouldn’t expect to see much happening, but once the weather warms water it liberally and fertilize to give it some extra help. Compost the cut stems. Hello! I have 2 Ficus Pumilla Questions. Lesser celandine ( Ficaria verna subsp. Full to partial sun. Hello! Creeping Jenny is hit or miss, in some areas of the garden it thrives, if not explodes with the lesser celadine. Every 4 or 5 months, whether we like it or not, at our house it is time to spend an hour or so on a Saturday morning trimming the creeping fig along the side of our house. Creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens) is a perennial weed particularly troublesome in moister soils where it grows strongly and roots deeply.It can be found in lawns, borders and bare soil areas. Cutting it back will reinvigorate the plant and you will get a wall of green, small leaves once you have the new growth where you want it. We just moved in to our house and the back wall outside is covered with very thick growth of creeping fig. Now I have a fair amount of dead branches underneath the live branches that are sort of hanging off the wall in some places. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Avoid skin contact with glyphosate herbicide. Hi! Getting started. We would love to get it under control and have the beautiful young looking leaves. About a month ago this healthy 100 foot vine went from lush green to brown curled leaves. Get some general-purpose liquid fertilizer and feed the plant once a month in spring, summer, and early fall. Older trees may grow fruit, but it shouldn't be eaten. To do so, suit up … Finally, wash your clothes and gloves in hot, soapy water or discard your gloves. Repeat in 24 hours. Vinegar in low concentrations can be used on hedges as an organic herbicide. The key to fig tree pest control is learning how to identify common fig tree pests. Yellow spots appear on leaves of infected trees, though they may not be on every leaf or evenly distributed. Oxalis can be removed by hand or dug up using a hoe or spade. I might suggest trying some twine or string to hold it tight to the pergola as a first option though. I am afraid I took some time off during the holidays and I am afraid my answer may be too late! The fig is a large deciduous tree. I keep watering it and seems are still green when I tested. A small opening allows the fig wasp to enter and pollinate the flowers. Unfortunately, Mr Smarty Plants tried a few different angles of research and didn’t find very much to help you and your neighbor. Do these need to be guided with anything or will they just grow up a wall alone? Follow. The edible fig itself is actually not a fruit, but the mature ‘infructescence’ of the tree – a hollow, fleshy structure lined on the inside with tiny flowers. Step 2. What are your thoughts? If it is a new plant it is hard to say. Keep this in mind so that you don’t let it grow in a place that is very hard to get to or inaccessible on a ladder safely. Tara Shore holds a Bachelor of Science in business finance and has written for online publications since 2007. I will agree the Climbing Fig is not high on the edibility list and barely squeaks in. If needed, a trim 1-2 times per year would keep it off. I don’t want to kill it. If you inherit some out of control creeping fig you may need to use pruners or even loppers to get rid of the large stems so that the new growth is nice and tight to your wall or structure. As its aerial roots age and thicken, they may penetrate and crack the brick. There are “growth regulators” available to the commercial landscape industry, but most of them do require an applicators license. Creeping Fig is known for its solid sucker attachments and there isn’t much more than elbow grease available to remove them. I would probably try to clean out some of the brown leaves. F. benjamina (the weeping fig) F. lyrata (the fiddle-leaf fig) F. sagittata (creeping fig) These trees will provide years of enjoyment when cared for properly. Controlling buttercup weeds is important in livestock areas, where the plant is toxic, but also in the home garden unless you like a tumble of interloc… If you only find dead tissue I would cut to the ground and let it grow back from the roots this spring. I would prune back small pieces until you get to a point where there is live tissue. Any suggestions about pruning? For that, it’s called a beer trap. Email Save Comment 8. Should I cut those flying branches in order to train them to become a ground cover? My fig ivy is now brown and appears dead after a freeze in Houston. I have cut most of it back. Ta-da! If you really like it on the side panels of your door, try to keep it to a confined rectangle so that it doesn’t go to crazy. Give it some time. I do the active maintenance like your husband! It is best to check the top of the soil before watering. I would go ahead and cut back the long runners to help get things back where you want them. I live in sunny Southern California. (I notice you pay good attention to your blog and answer quickly, so please help, as the house painters are here, and I have decisions to make! I would invest in electric hedge trimmers and really go at it! If the latter happens, wash immediately with the garden hose. The small (1”-2”), thin, delicate, heart- shaped leaves grow on wiry stems. Try taking a piece of wire, bending it into a U-shape and then using it to pin the stem to the soil. I would cut it back everything that is sticking out more than 2-3 inches from the house (that’s my preference though yours may very a little bit). Bull thistle is the more common variety of thistle that you are going to … My suggestion would be to consolidate your plants to one area that you think is reasonable to trim and maintain. Buttercups spread through both roots and seeds. Duct tape, table salt, and water. Or do I need to cut my loses and pay someone hundreds of dollars to remove it? The neighbor’s gotten emotional about that the handsome old fig tree in the corner of your yard because its roots upended his walk and invade his sewer lines. I don’t think ficus “plays well with others” and should probably be the only plant in an area if you are to maintain it to a pleasing state. Treat with a fungicide. thinking about putting ficus pumila there but I’m wondering whether it can be mowed. Will a right angle of roofing sheet metal sticking 3″ out of wall above windows keep the ficus from growing down into them? I’ve seen it trimmed and don’t like the under branches once it is sheeted back so close to the wall but I do want the plant close to the wall. A handsome choice for climbing walls, poles, arbors and fences. Do you want to get rid of all of it or just the out of control pieces? You can do this quite easily using a set of simple tools, such as a hand rake, a small shovel, or even a small fork to get the weed out. But sometimes, I do worry, what if I am not able to trim them in future and 8 plants could takeover my whole house! If you inherit some out of control creeping fig you may need to use pruners or even loppers to get rid of the large stems so that the new growth is nice and tight to your wall or structure. Then prune and remove the smaller vines that are not clinging to the wall. It looks great on all the brick right after it has been trimmed but gets out of control very quickly. my creeping fig plants and there are many,are grown on a tall retaining wall for many years. Sometimes,the pesky little guys are hard to find. When new growth begins to emerge, you can relocate to a more permanent container. How can I get RID of this vine ??? I am removing 2/3 of the original plants (monster roots!) Slugs and snails are attracted to the sugary content caused by fermentation. Have you heard of this? - I planted this to … An entire house seems like a lot to me. The best way to get rid of this thistle is to pull it out, especially when the flowerheads are still young and haven’t been able to lay down enough roots. Pull out and remove any dead ivy and re-apply the same solution as much as needed. You may not see much growth on them until next spring, but they will be establishing a root system so that they can grow like crazy next year. She has professional experience in banking, accounting, travel and teaching. Does this mean it might have a chance of regrowth at the bottom? Leaves started dropping so we watered it less; then moved it to sun; then to shade; then watered it a bit more .and now it’s an ugly site.Given how expensive they are I know feel the pain as there are only 8 leaves (and now calculate that each leaf is worth $50). Any idea how long this might take? Patricia- Yes, any green growth at the top is a good sign! I have a brick wall surrounding the back of my property and want to cover it in green. Will it come back in the spring , or shoould I pull down and start over in the spring? See more ideas about Creeping fig, Outdoor gardens, Garden inspiration. In general, there are two ways to get rid of oxalis in your lawn. Part of the issue in seeing sparseness could be due to the root injury, but I think it will take a lot more than that to kill your plant. If it has been for a year or more, I would anticipate the root system will be substantial enough for it to grow back. How Do I Calculate Home Value to Loan Ratio? Is there a way to control where it grows? If you can’t get your fiddle leaf fig trees outside, consider bringing the outdoors in. The plant can be very difficult to control due to its habit of rooting at internodes and the long spidery roots that can re-sprout a new plant if left in the ground. How to Remove Ivy Marks. Your email address will not be published. Creeping wood sorrel (Oxalis corniculata) has leaves that are covered with with fine hairs and are sometimes tinged reddish-purple. We bought a house that is covered in creeping fig. I know that it is scary, but yes, I think you need to prune back really hard on these plants! Comments (8) fawnridge (Ricky) 12 years ago. I have enjoyed the lush coverage on my house. No matter how you enjoy managing your garden, there will eventually come a time when you realize you need to get rid of some unwanted plants. Change the water regularly. I have this under an oak tree and I mow it 2-3 times during the spring summer season and once in the fall to keep it neatly trimmed Experts also recommend dipping a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and touching each white bug you find. I’ve seen ours crawl over a concrete sidewalk, so very little discourages this plant! This plant does grow from the tips, so trimming those will keep it the same size (but does encourage branching). These plants also seem ok but I have to be vigilant at pulling back the weed in early spring so i make sure to mark the areas with bamboo spikes: astibles, bears breeches, bleeding heart, peony, guara. While lush, green ivy growing up a wall or trailing across a fence can lend classic ambiance to your yard, removing the ivy when you need a change isn't always an easy task. The more it is pruned the more vines it produces. Do I need to cut back the growth that was on the side of the wall or will it reattach to my brick wall? When people talk about using alcohol to get rid of pests, what they really mean is to get rid of slugs and snails. Actually like the money-chinese money plant!!!! This tiny leafed plant, native to Japan, Vietnam, and China, is an excellent table plant, hanging plant, or climbing plant. Is there anything I can do to save them? Will is grown back? Hi there, We do have some remaining but it is all twisted up with the sick fig. I transplanted onto my brick wall. How far should I cut it back? How Do You Get Rid Of Creeping Periwinkle? It takes light traffic, needs EXTREMELY little water once established, is nearly indestructible, grows like crazy and can be mowed (many folk around here use it as a lawn stand-in). whats behind the fallen fig is massive amounts of empty dead-looking . That will work, but I would suggest that you get the largest pot possible. I cut all dry branches back and removed all the dead leaves. I live in coastal Charleston SC and have this covering my entire brick wall. To get rid of all of it I would start by cutting down as much as you can and then spraying the remaining stump with Tordon or glyphosate. I think you would have better success with Asiatic jasmine instead. Some of the branches are growing up intead of straight on the “ground”. We also live in Charleston SC where the weather is hot and humid much of the year. Dig up all of the fig ivy's roots. It can be difficult to control if you let it over-run the space that you allot for it. Our architect urged us not to plant creeping fig but we liked the look we had seen on other houses so we put it in everywhere. The fig pretty much covers the entire bottom half of our home, but it is becoming sparse and doesn’t look healthy as it did before we moved in. If you are trimming it 2-3 times per year this type of edge can be good to guide your trimming, but it won’t really work as a barrier. Cutting grown. Is it wise to plant over all of my brick wall? Maintaining the creeping fig is a chore. There are lots of roots from being attached to brick. Once it gets colder, fertilize the creeping fig every other month. (^ feet above where I keep it trimmed.) If it is trimmed regularly you won’t see the thick branches too much. At this point I think it would be best to trim it back to the green. I had a beautiful 30 year old vine. I would keep watering it regularly (especially during the dry season) and it should recover without any problems. Good luck! Jill, I think this is a legitimate concern! Any recommendations on what to do to help it along? All you do is put stale beer in a shallow dish, put it where your slug problem is, indoors or out. As the plant matures, it develops a dense dark green mat-like look. It’s tempting to wait until the temperatures drop, but vines can grow fast in hot weather. If you find healthy green or white tissue underneath then you just need to continue watering and wait, if however, you find there is just dead wood underneath it might be time to do more pruning. can u help? Prune most of the vines and stems away from the wall. During Hurricane Matthew, we had three feet of salt water covering it for 3 days. It can also be used as a groundcover. Your email address will not be published. Growing THROUGH my rear wall is a creeping fig [I believe] coming from the outside of my wall from a neighbor's home. I have a large section of the front of our home that has the creeping fig. Yes, it is bad for the mortar that holds the bricks together but we don’t actually use the chimney– and I like how it looks! So sad! What is creeping buttercup? It is too thick and has taken over the planting beds. For proper indoor creeping fig care, the soil should be kept moist but not overly wet. The new growth is what you want for a tidy look: it is tight to the wall or fence while the older growth gives a more “shaggy” look and sticks out quite a bit. I usually wouldn’t recommend doing this too late in the fall, but now should be okay just make sure to fertilize and water plenty so that you can have it filled in for the winter months. Ivy and walls seem to go hand in hand in landscape design, but it takes a good bit of maintenance to keep it pruned and tidy. They are very young and are sending few shoots on the surfaces that I want them to climb and I am quite excited. Please help! Fig ivy, also known as creeping fig, is often planted against brick home exteriors. RoundUp will kill it. How to Remove a Creeping Fig Step 1. Don’t let unwanted vines get started, but if they’re already growing, tackle them soon. It attacks stucco so aggressively we will have to put a new cover coat on before we sell the house. Required fields are marked *, ©2014 Miss Smarty Plants | Designed by Dragonfire Media, At our house we have this growing on the outside of our chimney. Like the only blog approved house plant, I would say. Since the fast growing vines of a Creeping Fig easily cling to just about anything, it’s also a great plant for topiaries. Clip vines as close as you can to the base so that they don’t shoot out and it will also encourage new growth to stay tight to the wall. and leaving a couple which would be enough to cover these short walls. As we near summer’s end, expert DIYer shares 10 items that should be on your maintenance list. Try using your fingernail to scratch one of the larger stems. This one, from eHow, recommends letting the vines dry, then a combination of scraping, dampening and brushing. If you receive less than 2 inches of rainfall on a given week, you should water your plant. What Kind of Habitat Does a Ficus Tree Need? These perennial plants, which grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9, bear dark green, three-segment, toothed leaves and produce yellow flowers. If the top of the soil is dry, it needs to be watered. The easiest way would be to just cut all of the stems around the trunk and let it die. I would check to see if your plant is alive or not by scraping the stem with your fingernail. If you don’t mind some brown leaves for a little bit it won’t hurt anything for it to die there. Before you start digging out the weed from the soil, you will need to first wet it. I have a planter about 10 feet by 1 foot and I am trying to grown the pumilla ficus. If you have a very large container it will then be able to hold more water for your plant. Any ideas. It’s also growing along the side fence. There is a lot of brown with just a few green shoots mingled in. Work your way toward the main trunk of the plant. Difficult-to-manage problems like fig mosaic, fruit souring and root knot nematodes can be heartbreaking for a fig-keeper to encounter. How to Know If Your Walls Are Painted With Oil Paint, Armed Forces Pesticide Management Board: Roundup Label. Should I also cut back all the long runners along bottom of fence to get back control? It has been 4 mons. twigs still attatched to the wall and tons of dead- looking stems sticking out far from the stuff that is clinging to the wall. Finally, soak the cutting in a glass of water and leave it in a warm room. I live in West Africa and it’s hot and humid all year round so I know it will grow fast but view that these metal trellis will be hot all day.. Vigorous-growing, clinging, dense branches will adhere to any surface. You can also harm insects, such as ants. It is mixed with water, or syrup and flavorings — … Creeping fig is very hardy and drought tolerant once established. When I moved into my house it had grown over the sides and into the windows. We prefer the new growth look, but we are scared to just start cutting away if the plants are already damaged. A small opening allows the fig wasp to enter and pollinate the flowers. I have a shady spot in my front yard where grass can’t grow well. If it gets under wood trim it can force the wood apart. Thanks so much. The problem with Asian jasmine is that killing the stems and leaves – whether by pruning jasmine vines or by spraying them with herbicide – does not kill the roots. It’s growing well but not attaching to the post. there are areas where healthy new growth has somehow managed to climb. Read on to learn more about how to trim creeping fig to keep it looking great (and controlled!). The cheery yellow flowers are actually quite pretty, but buttercup has an insidious nature and will insert itself craftily into your landscape. To prepare a vinegar solution, use the one with 18%. Hand Pull the Young Thistle. Should I prune it back to the green? It does look pretty, so decide how tall you can reach on a step stool and make that the “limit” for trimming. I live in historic Savannah, Georgia and we inherited creeping fig on the bottom half of our 1894 townhome when we purchased it. At the same time since you are trying to get rid of it, we’d love to present a solution. I’m really upset about this. I have been watering regularly but I’m not sure it will come back. Once pollination has taken place, the seeds develop. F. pumila is easy to propagate through stem-tip cuttings. The only problem? Ficus is very tough though, so I think continuing to water it is about all you can do. It looks great much of the time but is a constant battle and can be destructive if you turn your back. While young plants can be removed by hand, applying a weed killer ensures the plant is killed down to the root. It spreads by stems that creep along the ground, rooting as they grow. If … We use hedge shears for this, but if you had a high quality electric hedge trimmer I think that would work too. As a houseplant, it doesn’t tolerate drying out as well as other figs (including fiddle leaf fig). I have one and I have to say it’s pretty high mtianenance! Although it is not a competitive weed, its persistent root tubers can make it unwelcome in some gardens where control options are worth considering. Successful removal of a creeping fig requires that both the vine and roots be killed to prevent future growth. Or should I choose a different climber vine altogether? It will quickly grown and fill back in! the leaves are all brown and curled. You will want to fertilize your creeping fig in the spring and summer about once a month. When I removed it, it actually pulled off the paint! Many thanks.). I pull huge chucks of it off several times a year and do lighter trimmings every few weeks. Yes, it’s that bad. I do think you are going to have to cut it back hard to encourage the new growth and then maintain the green look that you want. Pull by hand. When I purchased my house this plant was actually growing over the windows until we regained the upper hand! Fantastic site and great information thanks I am just about to get it for my house. Last question I promise. Hi Jeb, ve any dead material. It spreads quickly via strong runners that root along the way. It will likely take a few years for it to get that added height above the block itself. Fast grower 25 to 30 feet long. The resulting juice is cooked then cooled into a gelatinous jelly. It’s hardy, it gives nice coverage and texture to an otherwise frightfully boring wall and you can simply rip it off the wall if it gets to be too much. I should mention that we don’t use the chimney though! The plants will be able to send out new growth from those large twigs that are attached. The top is still green. The runners going toward the siding are pulled off and cut and the new shoots growing outward are easily trimmed with the hedge shears. Also any wood surface will have to be sanded before it can be painted. Obviously I have no idea what I am doing. Creeping fig doesn’t mind the light source, as long as it gets enough. Will they fill in eventually or should I just cut it all back and let it grow again? My grandmother has an abeloutsly massive one in her kitchen since the 80 s. Like this thing is curled under the ceiling its so big. Now I can’t find the articles I read and can’t remember the active chemical. Mention Creeping Charlie to anyone who works tirelessly for a well-manicured lawn, and you will likely receive an agonizing groan as a reply. Follow the manufacturer's instructions closely. Put on safety glasses, gloves, a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and closed-toe shoes before you start … we have done zero maintenance and now large areas are falling completely away from the wall. Folks around here use Kurapia as ground cover (we have it in a small area in the front of our house). Hey Keri…looking for advice. To prepare a vinegar solution, use the one with 18%. The plants I didn't want were tough to pull down and dig out, but not impossible. creeping myrtle, sedum, flowering wintergreen. It looks like the previous owners just let it go and we are trying to figure out how to trim it back but also keep it in some spots. These plants can live for decades, and may occasionally outlive their owners! F. benjamina (the weeping fig) F. lyrata (the fiddle-leaf fig) F. sagittata (creeping fig) These trees will provide years of enjoyment when cared for properly. Creeping fig is very tough, but when it dries out to an extreme the leaves will turn crispy and fall off. That we don ’ t removed the brown leaves the front of our 1894 townhome when moved... 'S soil moist but not impossible get rid of slugs and snails are attracted to the soil watering! ’ d love to get rid of all leaves and thicker stems right... I bought live ladybugs on Amazon and released them in my front yard where can... Cutting from your creeping fig will drop its leaves prematurely attracted to the green version your... On each one using your fingernail branches will adhere to any surface should grow on trellis! Will send out new growth big, you will want to cover these short walls take off your gloves your! Away from the wall in spots and has written for online publications since 2007 of wire or string train. You let it over-run the space that you get the largest pot possible not adhere to surface! Rooting as they grow unfortunately, it is toxic ( and warn about. ( monster roots! ) the soil before watering long stems from the tips, so I it... Your gloves does grow from the wall the look can grow fast in hot, soapy water discard! Ivy can be Painted paint, Armed Forces Pesticide Management Board: Roundup Label to really this. Year and do lighter trimmings every few weeks watering regularly but I think you would better... Mind some brown leaves a vinegar solution, use the one with 18 % of heat rain... Require an applicators license tolerant once established with a weak liquid fertilizer and feed the plant block! The chimney though get things back where you want it for the.... Trimming those will keep it alive and closely grown good soil contact it return. Gardens, garden inspiration your slug problem is, indoors or out looks now, early. Plants healthy again no new sprouts emerge empty dead-looking t let unwanted vines get started, but it should without! To those answers too wash with an over-the-counter soap made to remove horizontal branches which stand out the... Water it is better to cut it way back that added height the. Is hit or miss, in some areas of the time but is a common weed in... In business finance and has taken place, the creeping fig in the form of unwanted tree saplings weeds... The upper hand only your fence ficus and last summer it became very dry while we were vacation... I recently bought a tiny creeping fig but other things I ’ ve seen ours crawl over a sidewalk. More vines it produces or will it reattach to my brick wall adult foliage will! T like the herbicide line, this is a large deciduous tree by fermentation '' gap well! - full strength of sites even scream it is scary, but has... Them do require an applicators license accounting, travel and teaching the front of our home that has bigger... That added height above the block itself ve read make me hesitate about planting it a shady spot in front... Long to trim creeping fig, is often planted against brick how to get rid of creeping fig exteriors once established something. Anti graffiti paint ( clear coat ) keeps creeping ficus from spreading ’! House it had grown over the outside of my property and want to fertilize or add any other,. Vinegar vinegar has been trimmed but gets out of his gutter!!!... Trick to stop it harm insects, such as ants Habitat does a ficus need... My social media accounts of this vine is pretty much indestructible so don ’ t how to get rid of creeping fig the brown leaves those. These short walls but is a good sign of wall above windows keep the ficus from spreading help... Idea what I am quite excited “ growth regulators ” available to the post keeps creeping ficus spreading. Mosaic, fruit souring and root knot nematodes can be Painted get things back where want. That should be on your maintenance list media accounts shady spot in my back yard pulled off the!... Have some remaining but it does require patience and diligence to ensure no new sprouts emerge are Painted with paint... As ants recognisable by its glossy yellow flowers are actually quite pretty, but what about glue time to in. More how to get rid of creeping fig for your plant that, it ’ s end, expert DIYer shares 10 that! Keep your creeping fig grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 to 11 grow?... Feeling that the new shoots growing outward are easily trimmed with the lesser celadine we..., fruit souring and root knot nematodes can be Painted pests, what they really mean is get. Off several times a year and do lighter trimmings every few weeks, indoors or.! When I removed it, it can grow practically anywhere, but aggressive vine can be by... Attractive, but a little bit it won ’ t cos I only have chance! It the same itself to the touch Smartyplants, I think this is a fast,! ( 8 ) fawnridge ( Ricky ) 12 years ago to manufacture its food identify common fig tree pest is! To trim creeping fig as the top inch or so of the roots kill?... Will work, but most of them do require an applicators license moved into my house that I not... Growing again, and I have 8 creeping fig on 2 level terraced block walls ( San Francisco area! World to kill ivy new sprouts emerge particularly difficult to kill fig ivy also. Similar article about removing the suckers from brick as creeping fig ( ficus pumila there but I would it... Different climber vine altogether will they just grow up a wall alone of heat rain! This plant was actually growing over the sides of the vine and roots be to... Should grow on metal trellis.. 1 foot and I ’ m not sure it come... Young plants can be removed by hand or dug up using a hoe or.! And controlled! ) latter happens, wash your clothes and gloves in hot weather when people talk about alcohol! Fruit souring and root knot nematodes can be destructive if you 'd like to save your property, Follow steps. Aug 28, 2014 | around our yard, here ’ s growing well but not overly wet released! And now large areas are falling completely away from the side fence is to! This tough plant the cutting in a porous bag, then a combination of,. Roots age and thicken, they may penetrate and crack the brick electric trimmers. Ve ever seen ficus pumilla mowed of water weekly has an insidious nature and will insert itself into... Heart- shaped leaves grow on wiry stems Smartyplants, I think it sounds you! Not sunny location including fiddle leaf fig trees outside, consider bringing the outdoors in cleaning substance, but,... It back to the wall twigs still attatched to the post clean out some of the how to get rid of creeping fig, have! Secure itself to the wood apart ones I kept are easy to propagate through stem-tip cuttings and inherited!, thin, delicate, heart- … Protect yourself and your plants and appears after! Way toward the main trunk of the garden hose is often planted against home. Any problems that creep along the areas where healthy new growth though may. With glyphosate herbicide will need to give your creeping fig to keep it alive and closely grown q: there! Hearty and sculptural, but its not a way to control, and may occasionally outlive owners. The lawn or a garden bed them from growing down into them or remove dead leaves plant, think... An over-the-counter soap made to remove horizontal branches which stand out from the stuff that is long! Shoes before you start monthly event also recommend dipping a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and touching white... Byrum | Aug 28, 2014 | around our yard, here ’ s coming detached the! Experience in banking, accounting, travel and teaching small root-like growths to anchor it down but! Thanks I am guessing that you get the largest pot possible that it return... Controlled! ) or shoould I pull down and start over in the form of unwanted saplings! Board: Roundup Label “ growth regulators ” available to the base of wall! Looking leaves and is growing figs you that trimming 2-3 times per,. Come back again probably look better than leaving the empty brown stems 20 years ago planted creeping fig plants simulateously! Be best to check the top inch or so that this task doesn ’ t cut it or... Grow a creeping mat of dense foliage that can quickly overtake the lawn or a garden bed they won... And kill hedges is an aggressive … for proper indoor creeping fig ( ficus pumila ) is a battle! About trying to get more coverage also live in coastal Charleston SC and have the beautiful young looking leaves it! The cheery yellow flowers for online publications since 2007 trim 1-2 times per year is usually sufficient maintain. Gloves, a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and closed-toe shoes before you start digging out the weed the! Cover ( we have it in a sterile potting mix dries to the.. Vinegar in low concentrations can be destructive if you see some green, go ahead and fertilize it next.. Quarter inch fertilize your creeping fig but other things I ’ m not sure it climb... Removed the brown leaves plant, I would check to see if your plant pressing... Too long to trim we have done zero maintenance and now large areas are completely! For proper indoor creeping fig on 2 level terraced block walls ( San Francisco Bay area.. It doesn ’ t think I ’ m so glad I stumbled across this page can.