Vines don't kill trees. They can certainly lead to their decline if a very vigorous vine but that doesn't happen overnight nor does it mean the tree will die. If you want the tree gone, chop it down. If you are careful and do it in sections, even a very large tree can be removed from the midst of a planted area.

I know it doesn't happen overnight, and the tree is not that big yet. But I would rather just plant something to grow up into it like Wisteria that will eventually overtake it. Wisteria is so invasive though I don't want to put it into the ground. I was maybe thinking Sky vine, but l don't know if that will do the job. I don't really want to spend the time chopping at the tree either.

I disagree with the view expressed above that vines never kill trees. I'm talking about the shading-out of the trees foliage here, not the common and erroneous thought by some that vines "strangle" their host trees. That's nonsense, but take something like riverbank grape up here, or what have you down south.....because of the exuberant growth characteristics of many vines, they can indeed completely grow around and shade out the foliage, especially of conifers, such that the host tree declines and pretty much dies. This doesn't happen overnight, of course, but happen it does.

I think your initial idea has merit. Just be sure to select vines of vigor, as I'm sure you intend to.

+oM

ps....an ecological journal I review recently had an article about vines in the tropics...about their seeming to have developed an upper hand in the fight for light and space with rainforest tree species. The gist of the article was that, for reasons not yet elucidated, vines are gaining the upper hand. Increased CO2 is being looked at as a likely factor here. It seems perhaps the vine species are especially adept at acclimating themselves to higher CO2 levels, giving them an advantage they didn't used to have. For my part-this in a decidedly non-tropical part of the world- it seems the wild grape is on a frenzy, especially with roadside trees and especially with conifers, their tiered branch arrangement making for an easy climb. Definitely worse than it used to be, IMO.

I'm not sure what zone you're in so I don't know how applicable this will be. I've seen wild mustang grape completely cover a tree. It probably wouldn't kill it but it might hold it back a little.

Thank you everyone, it certainly gives me a lot to think about.

The suggestion to girdle the tree by removing a ring of bark will kill it. But.... Once it is dead, it will need to be removed or it will become a hazard because it will fall down at some point as the wood rots.

I am with Woody on this. Around here standing dead trees in areas where people frequent are called widow-makers since they tend to drop limbs. I would rather take down the tree and not have to worry about safety and liability of having a standing dead tree. Also, it won't do what you want - provide more sun for your roses, since now you will have the vine leaves and the tree leaves for a while, followed by the vines leaves covering the dead tree if you are successful in killing it. So I don't see how having a dead tree covered with leaves will give your roses more sun as opposed to the tree having its own leaves.

All depends on site. If in a wild or natural area, standing dead trees-snags-are a highly valuable home for a myriad of wildlife. If the standing dead tree hangs over your kids' sandbox, not so good an idea. This dichotomy needed to be brought to this discussion. All over the world, trees are killed purposely to create this very environment. One size doesn't fit all. Who knew?

+oM

Well, the tree is not too tall yet, so it's not going to cause any major damage or hurt anyone. It's a wax tree, so it will eventually get huge. I think I am going to girdle the tree to keep it from futher growing and then use it to grow a vine into. I appreciate all the information that has been given.

In the 'woodland' areas of my garden I do have logs/remains of dead trees left on the ground in the garden in places to act as 'nurse logs' for plants nearby - the decaying logs hold moisture in dry places and provide nutrients as the wood breaks down. I DO NOT leave standing dead trees, which are hazards. There is a dead pine out back that will be coming down in a week or two.... Even in natural areas, one needs to be very wary about leaving dead trees standing if they can fall onto an area frequented by people. Two or three years ago, a child was killed in the arboretum at the Botanical Garden nearby when a dead tree fell on a path on a windy day. Standing dead trees are a danger not to be taken lightly!

Yes, but I addressed that fully just a few threads up. Who would advocate for purposely putting others at risk?

+oM

The branches aren't even the size of my legs yet. It's not going to hurt anyone.