Ivy problem - not allowed to kill it...

rolanda.woo · September 2021

So ivy is all over the low fence shared between us and our lovely neighbour. Its root(s) is(are) all over the places. I'm inclined to get rid of it altogether by injecting strong weedkiller in autumn time. But our lovely neighbour is frightened that would 1) leave the fence fall down without the support from the ivy; 2) leave a bare ugly fence standing alone.

So I gather killing the whole ivy is not a choice. But 1/6 of my future usable flower bed has ivy root branches underneath. At the moment, the ground is bare and I'm in the process of planting perennials in the ground very soon.

What shall I do to keep the ivy under control and prevent it invading my new flowerbed?

Would appreciate some first-hand advice.

Obelixx · September 2021

Whose fence is it? Yours or theirs?

If it's yours, do what you like but be prepared to replace the fence. If it's theirs, they can't oblige you to accept ivy invading your garden.

I think I would go along the whole of the fence on your side with a sharp spade and cut down directly against the base of the fence and into the soil as deep as possible to sever any roots on your side. You may need secateurs for any thicker roots. Pull or fork them out as you go and then weed the bed as usual to remove any bits you missed.

What's left above ground from the bits you've severed will wither and de and can be pulled off and tidied away in a few weeks when it will have relaxed its hold. Any roots left on the neighbour's side will continue to feed what's left but will also try and encroach into your side again so you may wish to put down some kind of root barrier wile you're at it or just regular weeding and pulling off to control it..

Lyn · September 2021

Ivy roots are quite shallow, rather than upsetting your neighbour you could dig a trench about 6/8” deep (Deeper if you have the energy) along the fence and place some plastic bags, preferably the stronger compost bags sunk in then refill the trench.
you can then cut the roots from there on your side, it means quite a bit of digging but they’re not deep, just long. You can eventually get it out, I’ve had similar situation, not with neighbours but in our garden, I’ve done the same with ground elder.

philippasmith2 · September 2021

A rather difficult situation but is the Ivy actually planted in your garden or your neighbour's ?
If you can say definitely that it is planted in your garden, then you can kill/remove it if you wish. However, if this will upset your neighbour, then obviously that's not the best choice. Perhaps you could remove it and replace with a less vigorous climber which flowers and that your neighbour will also enjoy ?
If it originates in your neighbour's garden, then you can only clip back and perhaps put a root barrier on your side. Killing a neighbour's plant can be construed as Criminal Damage and you certainly don't want to go there ! If that is the case, the other possibility is to see whether you could offer to replace the Ivy with another plant for your neighbour which wouldn't be so intrusive and you could help with any necessary pruning, etc.
Best of luck

JennyJ · September 2021

Ivy roots as it spreads so there are probably roots on both sides and you can definitely take out the ones that are in your flower bed and any future ivy stems that start to make inroads. A root barrier on your side near but not right under the fence is unlikely to kill all the ivy but will give you a reasonably root-free bed for your plants.

Lyn · September 2021

Seems we all agree on the root barrier, it will work for you and keep the neighbour happy.

Valley Gardener · September 2021

Our neighbour had his bottom fence covered in Ivy,which finally this summer dragged the whole fence down. The roots got bigger and in the end the branches were very heavy and thick,it was only a matter of time. Hes spent the last few weeks erecting a new one and disposing of the Ivy.

rolanda.woo · September 2021

Thank you, everyone. I will use root barrier and @Lyn certainly the trench (I like this idea!).

The ivy apparent had dominated her garden before she moved in over 10 years ago. Not sure who planted it. But she did find a deep root at the back.

I don't want to do something she feel uncomfortable. After all, we have been in very good terms and she always tried to be helpful/supportive. Regrowing climbers would take too long. I think that's a no-go unfortunately.

So thanks to all.

Jac19 · September 2021

I would try to speak with your neighbour to gradually remove it.

First clear a part of the fence or wall the Ivy inhabits.
Then send another climber over that area. My lovely scented Jasmine Officinales are beautiful climbers with lovely starry flowers sending out a heavenly scent. Beautiful butterflies and bees flock to it and birds love it, too. Particularly my Robin loves to hang around it.

Then, when your neighbour is hooked, clear another part of the Ivy and send the new climber over that extended area.

Gradually remove the Ivy a section at a time.

Prop up your hedge with wood and a trellis if it falls, but the ivy would actually be a weight and a stress on it -- doing the opposite of holding it up.

At the end, your neighbour will agree to kill the remaining ivy that is left. She will love the new, beautiful, heavenly scented, flowering wall buzzing with bees, butterflies, and birds and see her fears about it falling addressed. Or maybe you might not mind the ivy being there in a far part of the fence.

Jac19 · September 2021

If you are doing this, start the Jasmine Officinales indoors in small 6 inch pots. They are kind of tender until established and need to over winter indoors for their first winter. Hardy after they are established.

Fire · September 2021

@rolanda.woo I had a similar problem for years. I inherited a huge ivy hedge, like a wall, that had grown over a wooden fence for probably 20+ years. I liked it as it was pretty wild and nicely enclosed the garden in green. But it was a PITA to prune back, grew like a triffid, took up lots of bed space on either side and ivy grew up the house walls, which the hedge abutted. When hacked back, I found that the original (blue) fence underneath had pretty much disintegrated and, indeed, the ivy was holding the whole structure up.

The terraced house next door was rented out and the ivy was a big PITA for the tenants, whom, though lovely, were never gardeners and hated the ivy. I discussed, here on the forum, the pros and cons of keeping the fence and the ivy. It was "my fence" (my side to be responsible for) and the ivy was probably planted on my side, but it was hard to tell.

On balance I decided to keep it in for the duration, largely because

-I would have to pay for 10m+ of new fencing

-I would have to pay for the removal and transport for old ivy through the house

-some of the ivy had stems as thick as my wrist - a huge, very dusty job to remove professionally

-it was still functional

-it was enjoyed by wildlife, esp the pollinators using it for late season nectar

-I liked to have a green wall as one side of my garden

I told the neighbours (friends), specifically and repeatedly, that if they pruned their side too hard the whole thing would come down. But yes, they did get over-enthusiastic one weekend and basically shaved everything off their side. And yes, the whole structure started to lean and bend. The winds that winter brought it down.

I was a bit irritated as the fence was mine to pay for and I did ask them to not destroy the hedge. I did say what would happen and they went and did that exact thing - though I'm sure with no mal-intent. But, on the other hand, the hedge had lasted for decades, held up by splinters, and it had done well. It was, in reality, hard to keep on top of for me and the parade of tenants next door.

In spring 2020 I paid a company to pull out all the ivy and remove the fence, which was a major task and a very dirty one. I cost me a lot to put up new fences. And I still miss the ivy and its wild feel. The garden feels tamer and less mature without it. It was kind of the main feature plant, in some ways. But I have got back several foot of bed space, as my whole garden is less than four metres wide. And I have an opportunity to put in more late clems and single roses for bees, though it will take years to properly cloth the fences. So everything feels naked and will for some long time.

- -

Most of the neighbours near me offer to pay for fences themselves if they want to change them. If my plants invade other's gardens, I offer to do the pruning and care and also offer my hedge cutters etc. This is easy as both sides have always been friends.

In terms of my own management of the ivy, it was much easier for me to use hedge cutters on the sides regularly to keep it in check, keeping the top wild for the bees. I made sure to keep the ivy from climbing the walls every few months. I tried to stop it layering and shooting up in beds. Weed membrane was kind of helpful for this. Again, I had to do this constantly to keep on top of it. You maybe able to carefully figure out what stems and shoots to take out that can gain bed space without killing the whole. Lined raised beds may be your friends.

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This is the 7-8 ft hedge as I inherited it, on the right (2012)

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/z5/g2v660l7jdiq.jpg

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I ended up using a clipping back the lower reaches every few months and trailing, reaching stems. Using wicker hurdles gave some sense of restraint

They didn't see to harm the ivy, but may have slowed the sides down a bit on my side.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/54/qnkeyfah15wq.jpg

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New bare fence gone up (2020).

Quite a shock.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/gm/t36hv4k3qm6e.jpg

- -

A year in, or so, clems and roses are beginning to clothe the new fence. I'm still not sure I would have given up the ivy if I could have kept the green wall. But such is life. Hopefully by the end of next year, most of it should be covered.

I hope my essay may be of some use.

It's been interesting to look back at my old photos and see how things have changed, so I, at least have benefitted from the screed.

Ivy problem - not allowed to kill it...

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