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Best way to kill an ivy stump/root?

Got a couple of ivy plants I've cut off a few inches wide where I've cut. I've heard about spraying with a vinegar solution to kill it off, what are your suggestions to stop any regrowth from occurring? Thank you
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  • Depending on the size of the stump - it large enough you can use a fine drill, make a hole, put something like SBK stump killer in and cover the hole against weather - melted candle wax will do the job
    If the stump is very small, you can use a syringe and needle to inject the same.
    Little point spraying unless you have a few fresh leaves in place.  If that is the case, rub the leaves to get rid of their natural coating and use an appropriate weedkiller.  It will take some time to work.
    Vinegar is pointless and will also contaminate the surrounding soil - not a good idea :)
  • EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
    I have drilled small tree stumps and put neat weed killer in them. If the weather isn’t set fair, then cover it with something.
    Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Bramble55 I would do neither. Just keep cutting it back everytime it starts to grow. It will give up and no need for weedkiller.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • It will depend on how big and how far the original plant has grown as to whether continuous cutting back will achieve the desired results within the time scale.  No info offered on whether or not that is an issue.
    Weedkiller is always the last resort but as the OP mentioned spraying with Vinegar, it seems a better bet if used properly :)
  • They were quite extensive ivy plants, you can see where it was stuck to house, it grew very wide and tall, to the bottom of the window you can see in the photo is just under 6ft. With a red line I have indicated on the photo where I have managed to saw all the through, so just need to kill off what's below that line, not managed to get the bit above off the wall yet and hoping the other bits will all come off easier when dead. And ladder not tall enough to reach the top bits 😂  
  • The stump at your Red line looks large enough to inject weedkiller.  It will take time to work and if the ivy has flowered and produced berries, you may find seedlings appear in the border - they will be easily pulled out without any need for treatment.   
  • Thanks @philippasmith2 will give it a go
  • My suggestion is that it's unwise to use strong chemical to solve the problem of unmanageable regrowth until you have the problem of unmanageable regrowth...
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Weedkiller is always the last resort but as the OP mentioned spraying with Vinegar, it seems a better bet if used properly :)
    Which is the better bet, and why?
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • bédé said:
    Weedkiller is always the last resort but as the OP mentioned spraying with Vinegar, it seems a better bet if used properly :)
    Which is the better bet, and why?
    For the specific situation as described , the correct weedkiller using the method suggested will work - vinegar will not.
    If it is still unclear to you, look at the OP's picture and read ALL  the posts.   
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