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Removing ivy but preserving wisteria
laura_m42
Posts: 2
I recently moved to a house with a very mature, well planted garden. It includes a trellis arch which is home to a well-established wisteria, but is also covered in ivy. We'd like to remove the ivy without damaging the wisteria (the wisteria growth is all on the top of the arch) so we can grow something more attractive up the sides of the trellis.
The ivy grows from two large roots/trunks at the base of the trellis. Can we safely chop through these trunks and allow the ivy to die off before removing it? Or will this risk the health of the wisteria? Any advice is appreciated as we are gardening novices!
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Posts
if you don't damage the wisteria whilst getting rid of the ivy, then no problem.
My Dad had a wisteria that covered the front of his house that 'died' ,so he cut it off at the base and left it at that.Two years later it had covered the front of the house again!
Thank you! I'll attack the ivy (carefully).... I appreciate the advice!
I've been getting rid of ivy since moving into a house with a well established garden (somewhat neglected).
My method would be to, as you say, and others agreed, chop through the base of the ivy as close to the soil as possible.
Let the top growth die off and go brown (it will take a while - weeks not days) so that it is easier to remove. Otherwise it grips everything and won't let go or comes off in tiny, weeny clumps (v frustrating).
To avoid it coming back with a vengeance, kill off the roots by applying SBK (Shrub and Brush Killer). Be very careful that none of the SBK touches the wisteria. I've done this on an Elder that was growing through a weigela. I cut the elder down low and used a paintbrush to put the SBK on the raw wound of the Elder. The Elder is still throwing up shoots 2/3 years later but they are weak and the weigela is now strong so I keep treating it in spring.
Hope this helps.