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Ivy killing a holly tree

Jamesg84Jamesg84 Posts: 8
in Problem solving
Hi all Wanted some advice about a large holly tree. Having moved in to a house with a really out of control and uncared for garden, we discovered the remains of a large holly tree. I say remains as the tree was covered in Ivy with the Ivy stem about a third of the width of the trunk of the holly tree. The tree has around 6 large branches Lowe down but everything for the next 6-8 feet up is dead. The Ivy has now been killed but the Ivy still wraps around the trunk. I wanted advice to whether this tree will come back to full glory or should I lop off the top and just enjoy the 6 branches that are still alive. Is there a type of feed that the tree my benefit from. Lots of issues in this uncared for garden image which is a lot of work but I want to try and save this tree Thanks in advance J
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  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,697

    Can you get rid of the ivy stem wrapped around the holly? I have found that small pieces of ivy can start to sprout and before you know it the stuff is everywhere again.

    There is no point in keeping the dead bit of holly, obviously, but you could lop that off and see how the rest of the plant does this year before doing anything drastic. It would be a pity to get rid of something established if it still has possibilities.

  • WelshonionWelshonion Posts: 3,114
    Cut off all that is dead and take a hard critical look at what remains. If it is ugly remove the lot and replace the tree with something else; either something different or another holly tree.
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,012

    When we had our garden gutted 2 years ago, one of the few things left was the stump of a holly tree.  It was only about 9" above ground but has already grown into a substantial bush, as I discovered when I backed into it whilst diggingimage

  • Jamesg84Jamesg84 Posts: 8
    Thank you all.



    Think I will lop the top off and see what happens. Would be a shame to loose it completely



  • Ann MacdonaldAnn Macdonald Posts: 8

    Holly is a real come back king, I have cut one right back to almost a bare stump and its come back so I can keep it in shape.once you have removed the top growth it's also easier to clear out the ivy.

  • spanner054868571spanner054868571 Posts: 2
    I disagree.  Ivy DOES kill trees.  And holly seems particularly susceptible.

    I've been tending churchyards since 1996, and I've seen several hollies killed or nearly killed by ivy.  It does this in two ways:

    •    Trunk ringing - where, after a number of years, the ivy wraps right round the trunk at a certain height, then rigidifies - so slowly strangling the tree's radial growth.  The tree's response is a forest of adventitious shoots from just under the 'Trunk Ring', leaving the main trunk above to whither and die.

    •   Root ringing - where the ivy roots circle the tree's roots, then rigidify, so strangling the tree's access to nutrients.  The tree's response is a forst of adventitious shoots springing from below ground.

    Treatment is similar in each case: Cut the ivy off the tree down to ground level. Pull up any ivy roots that you can.  Wait for the ivy to start regrowing.  When new green ivy leaves are growing fast, kill it with a good dose of Glyphosate.

    Note that yew - the other main tre of churchyards - seems more resistant to ivy attack.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    I agree, @pansyface, I don't think there is any good evidence that Ivy kills trees.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Old thread [8 years old] and a first post that looks like a cut and paste. 
    I'm sayin' nuthin' else about it, other than - it's a bit 'off'... 

    I expect the initial query has been resolved one way or another anyway, and I've yet to see any tree killed by ivy. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • spanner054868571spanner054868571 Posts: 2
    pansyface said:
    Adventitious shoots. The ivy does not kill the tree, as you make clear in your answer. It changes the shape of the tree, but it does not kill it. Adventitious shoots form, the tree is not dead, it is different.

    We have mature ivy living near us and it is a haven for birds’ nests, wasps’ nests and millions of spiders and other creatures.

    Glyphosate?  What does that contribute to the natural environment?
    Sorry; it looks like your experience is limited to Britain.  In other areas, such as North America, what they call "English Ivy" is treated as a Class C Noxious Weed.  Agricultural extension workers are routinely given training in programmes to control or eliminate it.

    Which involve cutting it off, down to ground level, then treating the stumps with either Glyphosate or SBK.

    What does Glyphosate contribute to the environment?  A huge amount, since it is non-persistent, and very much less toxic to wildlife than the herbicides it replaced.

    To go back to OP's question: cut the ivy off the tree, as high as you can reach and right back to ground level. If there is a Trunk Ring, cut it through.  Then single the tree stump to the best, most vertical shoot. That should then develop into the trunk of a worthwhile "succesor tree".
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