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IVY
caledonia64
Posts: 18
I am working on a (soon to be kitchen) garden for a local café (not a gardener to trade, but I help out friends/local initiatives), and there is a raised bed (stone wall retaining it) and bed at the foot of that.
The problem is the x4 1/4 builders bags of ivy I have cut down/pulled out that stretched from the plant in the raised bed, through the lower bed, across the path and into the next bed (and under the garage).
There is no way I can plant into the raised bed with the roots i had no possibility of removing (not removing the whole plant at least this year, because size, potential collapse of everything, and the property is rented - it is in the gutters of the out house, and the walls of it too etc). I have dug through and through the lower bed and taken out most os the roots - all I can find and actually dig out).
My question is this: how best to utilise the space to grow edibles and subdue the ivy - I am thinking raiaed beds on a base of cardboard to subdue the ivy, spot treating any plants that do emerge w something (eco-friendly - cleaning grade vinegar?) and planters on the area hard packed with roots. With an annual crop of something like fennel or celeriac. And treat the lower area dramatically at the end of autumn.
The problem is the x4 1/4 builders bags of ivy I have cut down/pulled out that stretched from the plant in the raised bed, through the lower bed, across the path and into the next bed (and under the garage).
There is no way I can plant into the raised bed with the roots i had no possibility of removing (not removing the whole plant at least this year, because size, potential collapse of everything, and the property is rented - it is in the gutters of the out house, and the walls of it too etc). I have dug through and through the lower bed and taken out most os the roots - all I can find and actually dig out).
My question is this: how best to utilise the space to grow edibles and subdue the ivy - I am thinking raiaed beds on a base of cardboard to subdue the ivy, spot treating any plants that do emerge w something (eco-friendly - cleaning grade vinegar?) and planters on the area hard packed with roots. With an annual crop of something like fennel or celeriac. And treat the lower area dramatically at the end of autumn.
The other side of the path I had wanted to plant rhubarb but I fear the lilac tree roots will be a challenge so maybe I find another spot for those crowns - currently in planters and doing poorly.
There is also aspargus - some crowns that were given us - again I imagine it will be raised beds (the Haxnicks green bag kind - they are currently planted in cardboard boxes for now) until the ivy is gone.
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Posts
Any edible with long roots like your fennel, celeriac or asparagus are going to struggle in raised beds or containers unless they are very deep. Could you grow other edibles like salad leaves for instance that sit on the surface more? Sorry I can't be of more help.