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Thick Ivy stumps close to a wall removal ideas.

  • 28-09-2025 06:39PM
    #1
    Enter Username Here
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 202 ✭✭


    I have been looking for a solution to this that might help with ease of removal but I mostly just get ivy removal results.

    I have the same problem as the person in this thread. I have thick ivy stumps beside garden walls. I have about 4 or 5 stumps altogether and am wondering what may be the best and easiest way for me to deal with it without having to hire a specialist stump remover.

    Drilling down through the stump and adding some weed killer seems like a good idea - I do not mind that it could take a few years as long as it is dead. But I am not sure if I like the idea of something like glyphosate.

    Further down the thread somebody mentions epsom salts. Is that a good option for killing the roots without chemicals?

    Any and all advice gratefully appreciated. I would love to get a proper start on this before the weather gets terrible.



Comments

  • #2
    looksee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 30,486 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    I had a similar problem with a big ivy root at the base of a very overgrown stone shed - it turned out in the end that the ivy had actually penetrated the old stone walls all the way through, and it had to have a good bit removed and rebuilt. Anyway i cut the ivy back to about a 12 inch stump, hacked and slashed it to reveal a lot of inside wood, then painted it with glycophosphate, repeated the procedure 12 months later, it is completely dead and the top of the stump just rotted away, I suppose the main bit underground is still there, but its dead.



  • #3
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 54,333 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    i don't like glyphosate generally, but the use would be very directed there.

    alternatively, you could leave the stumps as is, and if you've regular access to the spot, just nip back any fresh growth every week or two. you'll starve the roots and they'll eventually die as they'll be putting their energy into developing fresh growth but will never get big enough to actually start making a net gain from that growth.



  • #4
    Enter Username Here
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 202 ✭✭Enter Username Here


    Thanks, I am guessing then that epsom salts isn't really an effective option?



  • #5
    The Continental Op
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,056 ✭✭✭The Continental Op


    Used engine oil is quite good. No need to splash it everywhere just paint it on the cut surfaces.

    Wake me up when it's all over.



  • #6
    10-10-20
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 9,695 ✭✭✭10-10-20


    Epsom salts will remain in the soil and may affect future growth in that area. Glyphosate should break-down within about 3 weeks and leave no residue.

    I've found that once ivy is cut that the root tends to rot away within about 2 years as it's not very fibrous.



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  • #7
    Enter Username Here
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 202 ✭✭Enter Username Here


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123860882#Comment_123860882

    Great, thanks. I thought it was the other way around. I thought that epsom salts were the more 'natural' way to do it, and that glyphosate was harmful to things around it. But in this case (down the drilled holes) it may not be as bad (is what I thought).

    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123860863#Comment_123860863

    Thanks, but I am not sure that eventually kills it, it was my understanding that, that just stops it from growing. I could be wrong.



  • #8
    Speedsie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 1,356 ✭✭✭Speedsie
    ¡arriba, arriba! ¡andale, andale!


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123862882#Comment_123862882

    Please don't get too hung up on chemicals/non chemicals, Epsom salt is the common name for the chemical compound magnesium sulphate (MgSO4).

    Too much salt will stop everything growing (an accident technique by invaders was to 'salt the earth' to stop crops growing for years).

    As 10-10-20 says, glyphosate was designed to break down relatively quickly in the soil and not cause the long lingering after effects of salts.

    Targeted use is fine, read the instructions, and don't use it willy Billy or in too high a concentration. If you are fixed on using Epsom salts, the same applies.



  • #9
    Enter Username Here
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 202 ✭✭Enter Username Here


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123872553#Comment_123872553

    Thanks. I have not got near them yet as the weather is too bad. I only have intentions to drill down and use either of the above after reading those options. I was just unsure if either were particularly harmful or which was worse. Sounds like I should be good with either. Thanks.

    I won't be spraying or pouring either anywhere else.



  • #10
    10-10-20
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 9,695 ✭✭✭10-10-20


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123874216#Comment_123874216

    If you're doing a direct application into the stem then yes, either will be fine (it wasn't clear to me that you were going to use salts in that way). Dusting salt over the root-base was the image that I had in mind!



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