Controlling IVY

Conology

Hi
I have lots of IVY growing around my walls and through some trees. Its also starting to creep into the garden and I was wonderting if there is a recommended way to control it.
Spraying hasn't worked.
I've also cut down close to the roots at walls and trees and while this has some positive effect it doesn't solve the problem completely.

Any suggestions appreciated.
Thank you

Oldtree

mannual removal from the trees, just cut about a foot of the ivy away from around the bottom of the stem and watch it die off, but not next to a public path, etc.

As to the rest (i still have to try this but intend to) i was told of an effective method by a stone mason but have updated it somewhat.

Use roundup but 3 times the strength and mix into a thin vegetable oil, maby sunflower oil, this apparently helps it to stick to the waxy ivy leaf (which is the problem). 3 doses over time may be required.

You have to beat the ivy with a cane before spraying, to break open some of the leaves to allow ingress of the glyphosate, but no need to go mad.

gloves mask etc needed as very strong mix.

amandstu

I dig into the soil to expose the roots (and inflict damage).
I think some of them enter the wall behind the surface and so you won't see them.
(also they can grow horizontally through a stonewall for quite a distance so you can easily miss the stem )

For me the most imprtant thing is that I don't let them get out of hand.
If I kill them completely after a few years that is fine by me.If they struggle along it wouldn't concern me either.

The glyphosate idea sounds plausible.
I believe that Monsanto don't recommend Roundup for ivy but with patience maybe it will do the job.

Ps Do you want to remove it from the trees for appearance's sake? I understand it doesn't actually do any harm to them.

Oldtree

amandstu wrote: »

Ps Do you want to remove it from the trees for appearance's sake? I understand it doesn't actually do any harm to them.

Ivy is not a parasite but it harms trees in other ways. If ivy is left untended it can damage and disfigure bark.
also ivy can create a habitat between it and the bark that insects like woodlouse like. this can end up with a lot of organic matter under the ivy. this impairs the tree by blocking lenticels as well as making the bark softer and more prone to insect attack and thus disease.

amandstu

Sory I didn't know that .
I thought it was just about the risk of catching the wind.

All the same whenever I take off ivy it is because the trees are near the road and I leave it on where I can because there are supposed to be so many living creatures established there(on the walls too -I have a blue tit nest at the top of the ivy under the eaves as well as enough midges to feed (on) a small town).

But I can see that it might not be a good idea to let it grow on ornamental trees in the garden.

jprboy

amandstu wrote: »

Ps Do you want to remove it from the trees for appearance's sake? I understand it doesn't actually do any harm to them.

I beg to differ.

I've a whitethorn hedge which has been decimated in parts by ivy, simply choked the life out of it and the hedge just rotted.

Also have a whitethorn tree which is having a great battle with ivy. I'll be getting out my blade this autumn/winter*

*For the ivy, not the enchanting whitethorn

dfbemt

I have some growing along garden fence. I like the look of it, evergreen, etc

Neighbour strongly hinted that I should get rid of it or we will have no fence in a few years.

Is he correct or should I just let it grow away?

jprboy

dfbemt wrote: »

I have some growing along garden fence. I like the look of it, evergreen, etc

Neighbour strongly hinted that I should get rid of it or we will have no fence in a few years.

Is he correct or should I just let it grow away?

Ever noticed how wooden telephone poles will eventually be toppled by ivy (rotting and or wind will bring about their demise) if ivy is allowed to take over?

Your neighbour is correct.

Conology

Thanks for all your comments,
I think its down to a lot of hard labour - eventually it will beat us all.
Its like rust - it never sleeps.

Thanks again

Oldtree

amandstu wrote: »

Sory I didn't know that .
I thought it was just about the risk of catching the wind.

All the same whenever I take off ivy it is because the trees are near the road and I leave it on where I can because there is supposed to be so many living creatures established there(on the walls too -I have a blue tit nest at the top of the ivy under the eaves as well as enough midges to feed (on) a small town).

But I can see that it might not be a good idea to let it grow on ornamental trees in the garden.

if the ivy has thick stems, you cut it at the base and you leave it in the tree near a road you would be liable should a piece fall off and cause an accident.

Oldtree

jprboy wrote: »

I beg to differ.

I've a whitethorn hedge which has been decimated in parts by ivy, simply choked the life out of it and the hedge just rotted.

Also have a whitethorn tree which is having a great battle with ivy. I'll be getting out my blade this autumn/winter*

*For the ivy, not the enchanting whitethorn

yes it can choke a hedge row in that the ivy seems to prevent light getting to the bark and allowing proper growth to occur. Some of mine that i have cut the ivy on have had very thin crowns due to this.

The main danger with ivy it the weight of it. The tree roots cannot compensate fot the increased evergreen weight of ivy and the additional pressure on the crown from the winds esp in winter, eventually pushs the tree over. i have noticed this esp with hawthorn.

I have one hawthorn that at the moment is a serious waterfall of white flowers, a very dence flowering this year.

Oldtree

jprboy wrote: »

Ever noticed how wooden telephone poles will eventually be toppled by ivy (rotting and or wind will bring about their demise) if ivy is allowed to take over?

Your neighbour is correct.

telephone poles have a serious amount of preservitave in them, i would doubt very much that the ivy is responsible for them going over, more likely the age of the pole is the reason.

Oldtree

amandstu wrote: »

All the same whenever I take off ivy it is because the trees are near the road and I leave it on where I can because there is supposed to be so many living creatures established there(on the walls too -I have a blue tit nest at the top of the ivy under the eaves as well as enough midges to feed (on) a small town).

I think that is a good idea in moderation. I too have left some mature ivy growing on some trees in the woods. But it must be borne in mind that it is a weed in woodland terms, and an endemic weed here in Irlenad. While it may provide a habitat for some it is destroying habitat for others.

kylith

dfbemt wrote: »

I have some growing along garden fence. I like the look of it, evergreen, etc

Neighbour strongly hinted that I should get rid of it or we will have no fence in a few years.

Is he correct or should I just let it grow away?

The shoots will get into even the tiniest cracks and as they get larger they will break the wall apart. If you're looking for something evergreen to cover the wall put up a trellis and grow some of the evergreen clematises. IMO anything self clinging will eventually cause problems.

My neighbour has just killed their ivy, and I was very, very happy to see it go.

Tulipout

kylith wrote: »

The shoots will get into even the tiniest cracks and as they get larger they will break the wall apart. If you're looking for something evergreen to cover the wall put up a trellis and grow some of the evergreen clematises.

I would agree with all this above.

Ivy might be slow for the first couple of years but it will eventually take over in time if not cut back every year.

I also read that not only does the Ivy choke other plants above ground but the root of the the Ivy has been known to do damage to other roots.