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Rid my hedge of IVY

DOS1DOS1 Posts: 5
in Problem solving

I have long hedges of various types of bush - holly, box, hawthorne, beech and more.  Ivy seems to be taking over in places. What is the best way of ridding the hedge of this plant. I have a quantity of Sodium Chlorate which I am thinking of using after raking as much Ivy out from the bottom of the hedge

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Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505

    Won't that kill the hedge as well?

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    I would have thought so B3.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889

    I'm puzzled as to why you want rid of it in, what is, a mixed hedge.

    It's a great nectar source for bees and makes great cover for birds nesting AND it's evergreen.

    What's not to like ?

    Devon.
  • DOS1DOS1 Posts: 5

    Thanks   -   the ivy is killing the hedge and is taking over - the hedge plants also contain flowering types for bees etc. I need to control the ivy.

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889

    I'd use a pair of secateurs. Sodium Chlorate will kill everything, including the soil.

    Devon.
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355

    Wasn't the selling of sodium chlorate for use as a weedkiller banned throughout Europe in 2009?

    If so, it may be that the actual use of it as a weedkiller is also now banned. As others have said it's non-selective so will destroy all vegetation including the hedge.

    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505

    Cut  ivy back to ground level and pull out the runners. Then dig out the roots. This will be a long job. You will probably never get rid of it entirely, but you can control it.

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • treehugger80treehugger80 Posts: 1,923

    for a start using sodium chlorate (a banned substance for several years now) is illegal as well as environment destroying (the main reason it was banned)

    the best you can do is cut as much of it out as you can and the mulch under the hedge,

  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,511
    Hostafan1 says:

    I'm puzzled as to why you want rid of it in, what is, a mixed hedge.

    It's a great nectar source for bees and makes great cover for birds nesting AND it's evergreen.

    What's not to like ?

    See original post

     Exactly my thoughts and when it gets old enough to produce berries they are a wonderful food source for birds in winter when there is limited food supply. Keep it is my advice.

    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    anyone considering Sodium chlorate won't be thinking of wildlife.  Different way of thinking.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
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