I am going to tackle the ivy on the back fence this year with SBK stump killer. I have already cut back by hand in the area where I will keep some but the rest growing in a 12 inch gap between my low wall and next doors fence is going to have its first coating of SBK as soon as we are guaranteed a few days of sun. i will probably have to treat it more than once but I am hoping that most will be gone by autumn. there are plants I want to keep around the ivy so I will be painting it on with a small paint brush
To see a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wild flower Hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour.
I have ivy trying to kill my Hawthorne tree. Comes from next door so can't get at roots. Tried cutting in a ring around trunk but must have missed some as it's as bad as ever at a loss myself but this year it will reach the canopy so bye bye tree
Ivy can be wonderful in its place, especially the variegated forms that brighten up shady spots and dull winters.
I wouldn't advise blitzing with chemicals either. The best way I've found is to cut it as low to the ground as possible and then pull off or hand spray - depending on how much there is - any new growth and repeating as necessary. Lack of foliage weakens the roots which can then be more easily pulled.
If you have a large area to clear I suggest you cut as much as you can in a manageable space and concentrate on that because if you clear the whole lot at once you'll have nothing to hold your mountain together, nowhere for teeny wildlife o shelter, feed and breed and it'll cost you a fortune to re-plant. Work your way out from the house as and when you can depending on time available.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I have only just come to this thread I agree salt, vinegar caustic soda you name it they are all "chemical" & some far more harmful than a properly controlled weedkiller. I have given this advice before- for anything where you cant get to the root put some in a clearly labelled bottle or jar & stuff the end of the plant in it with the weedkiller of your choice. This will translocate back to the root & kill the whole plant. It takes time but it does work.
Ivy isn't parasitic but is very vigorous and can smother specimen plants like Purplerallim's hawthorn. I don't think anyone should be criticised for wanting to get rid of Ivy, there is plenty of it about!
All the books I have read say that once the ivy gets to the canopy the trees leaves can't get enough space to grow or light so it slowly will choke the life out of the tree.
It sends out aerial roots to cling to a tree or wall but, as far as I'm aware, it gets its nutrients thru its own root system. If you sever the stems low down the bits growing up the wall or tree will die and can then be pulled off but do wait till it has died and weakened its grip.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
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i will probably have to treat it more than once but I am hoping that most will be gone by autumn.
there are plants I want to keep around the ivy so I will be painting it on with a small paint brush
I wouldn't advise blitzing with chemicals either. The best way I've found is to cut it as low to the ground as possible and then pull off or hand spray - depending on how much there is - any new growth and repeating as necessary. Lack of foliage weakens the roots which can then be more easily pulled.
If you have a large area to clear I suggest you cut as much as you can in a manageable space and concentrate on that because if you clear the whole lot at once you'll have nothing to hold your mountain together, nowhere for teeny wildlife o shelter, feed and breed and it'll cost you a fortune to re-plant. Work your way out from the house as and when you can depending on time available.
@purplerallim, how is it doing that? Ivy isn't parasitic on trees.