To dry a handful of bittersweet vines, bunch them together at the ends that don't have the berries. Then, wrap a piece of twine or a rubber band around the end to secure the pieces. If you're only drying a few pieces of bittersweet, there's no need to wrap them together. Simply lay them flat in a dry place.
For young vines, hand pulling can work, and repeated mowing may be effective in fields. When large vines have grown into trees, cut the vines when the leaves aren't present, and apply a systemic herbicide to the freshly cut stems. Any dead vines that cannot easily be removed can be left to decay on the trees.
There are no known biological controls of bittersweet. Small infestations can be hand-pulled but the entire plant should be removed including all the root portions. For climbing vines, first cut the vines near the ground at a comfortable height to kill upper portions and relieve the tree canopy.
Solanum dulcamara, Solanaceae Family Bittersweet nightshade is a slender perennial vine or semi-woody shrub found throughout King County, especially in creeks and wetlands, as well as field edges, gardens, parks, and roadsides. This plant is toxic to people, pets, and livestock. Leaves are dark green to purple-tinged.
There are no known biological controls of bittersweet. Small infestations can be hand-pulled but the entire plant should be removed including all the root portions. For climbing vines, first cut the vines near the ground at a comfortable height to kill upper portions and relieve the tree canopy.