Dealing with Ivy

_Chris_ · Post by **_Chris_** » Sun May 03, 2020 8:55 am

Has anyone found a fool-proof way to get rid of Ivy - permanently, please?

Chippo1 · Post by **Chippo1** » Sun May 03, 2020 9:05 am

It’s pain for sure destroyed an ancient brick wall in my garden , flint and brick lime mortar. Grew right through and rooted next door.

The wall fell down, I dug as many of the roots out as I could , still get the ooo bit reappear, don’t think many weed killers have much effect , the trunks on this lot were up to 75mm diameter

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Sun May 03, 2020 9:42 am

I have just cleared a load as part of my fence project. You have to cut the roots to ground level and then keep an eye as it tries to regrow it is not aggressive and I just pull off any little shoots I see and that seems to finish it. I had to use my reciprocating saw as the main root was 2" thick. After a while you can haul out the bigger dead roots, they are long but fairly close to the surface. It is all the green waste that is a pain to dispose of. I ran my mower over dropping down on it to turn it into mulch. I dumped it in the green waste at the Amenity Centre rather than compost it, not an option at the moment I guess.

DWD

ayjay · Post by **ayjay** » Sun May 03, 2020 9:46 am

Why would you want to?

It's a great plant for insects, mine is in use all year by a large number of different species both for food supplies (both flowers and fruit) and egg laying, (mainly 2nd brood Holly Blue butterflies).

_Chris_ · Post by **_Chris_** » Sun May 03, 2020 9:49 am

dewaltdisney wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2020 9:42 am I have just cleared a load as part of my fence project. You have to cut the roots to ground level and then keep an eye as it tries to regrow it is not aggressive and I just pull off any little shoots I see and that seems to finish it. I had to use my reciprocating saw as the main root was 2" thick. After a while you can haul out the bigger dead roots, they are long but fairly close to the surface. It is all the green waste that is a pain to dispose of. I ran my mower over dropping down on it to turn it into mulch. I dumped it in the green waste at the Amenity Centre rather than compost it, not an option at the moment I guess.

DWD

Thanks for that - which part actually killed the roots (permanently?)? I thought you had to apply some type of killer to it?

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sun May 03, 2020 9:59 am

ayjay wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2020 9:46 amWhy would you want to?

It's growing parts have "hooks" that help it cling to where ever it is, the problem is these "hooks" can continue to grow, and they burrow into the building, and they cause a lot of damage, which you don't realise till it's too late. We had one, but killed it before it got too big, we used a wire brush to get the "hooks" out, it was the only thing that worked, lucky for us it was growing from a pot.

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Sun May 03, 2020 1:51 pm

I have never used any chemicals Chris, I have done this a number of times. As soon as you do the main root it does them I have found. You only get a few little shoots try to re-establish that you nip out. A few weeks later you can fork up the soil and pull some of the bigger roots out. My son had a tree covered in it, I cut all the main vines around the base and left it a few weeks. It all died back and we pulled the dead vines off as they were dry and brittle. Using you lawn mower is quicker than a shredder. I tilt it by pushing down on the handle then slowly drop down on the pile and the mower chews it all up very quickly. You need a petrol one though as the electric ones haven't got the guts. The main root split a concrete post and my neighbour and I had to dig it out. It was so entwined we had to use a variety of saws to free it. My Bosch PMF was bought into play with an old blade, but it did the trick.

DWD

wine~o · Post by **wine~o** » Mon May 04, 2020 4:28 pm

_Chris_ wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2020 8:55 am Has anyone found a fool-proof way to get rid of Ivy - permanently, please?

There is no easy answer to this, Ivy can be pulled up if it's running along the ground, once it has started climbing walls then a "swoe hoe" can be useful for removing the clingy bits from the walls.

Whatever make sure you wear adequate ppe (gloves and facemask) as Ivy can cause skin and lung irritation.

@ Chippo, this is a root I had to dig up a few years ago...

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=84341&p=696157&hilit=Ivy#p696157

Rorschach · Post by **Rorschach** » Mon May 04, 2020 4:49 pm

I cut all the main branches and let it die and dry out, I then find it can be pulled off the wall quite easily. A wire brush helps clear the little bits that are still stuck and then follow up with a pressure wash.

If possible I dig up the the roots and then watch for reemergence. If you take a look every month or so it only takes a minute to pull out any new shoots. After a few years of this constant plucking it will die out completely.

Ivy destroyed the pointing on the garage I just bought, the ivy was removed a few years ago but the entire corner had to be re-pointed where the ivy had been growing.