Crazy Ivy

[Theland]

My back garden wall and gate is covered in ivy that grows up a nearby tree, along a fence, in fact everywhere. How could I get rid of it all? Is there a chemical spray to kill it off or must it all be laboriously cut and plucked out?

[landscaper2]

I'm afraid its a laborious, dirty job. You can of course kill it by cutting thru the main stem and treating it with a stump killer, but this will leave you with an unsightly mess, that just wont go away unless you manually remove it anyway. I find its better to start at the furthest point and work back unravelling and cutting it off in bits while still alive. You need something to lever it away, a good pair of secs, loppers, saw and radio! If possible then dig out the stump or kill it off. Good luck.

[landscaper2]

........oh yes, mustnt forget the safety equipment! Gloves and eye protection if dusty - can be irritatiing.

[shylock73]

Yep!! Thats the way to do it, but could you leave it until any birds nesting in it have flown the nest? Pleeeese.

[Theland]

Thank you all. Guess I'll wait for a sunny day, then get stuck in, and try to bribe my kids to help.

[Clanad]

You know what it looks like in the winter with all the leaves off? It leaves just the vines. If you'll wait until, say, October, (or whatever leaf drop is in your part of the world)Theland and then trace the vines back to the origins (I suspect more than one with the size you describe) and cut them off, it'll make the job easier. Let the vines dry for a month or so and they'll be reasonably easy to pull off the supporting structure(s). We have a variety of English Ivy that I treated this way and it was a whole lot easier than trying to remove the vines with the leaves still attached. You will have small black and brown spots left where ever the vines attached themselves for clinbing support, neccessitating re-paint or cleaning of the house or other such structure... Best of luck! (glad it's you and not me!)...

[landscaper2]

Think you may be thinking of Virginia Creeper/Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus) Clanad. "Ivy" (Hedera) is evergreen in the UK and a far tougher and messy proposition.

[Theland]

Clanad, just the thought of not having to do it now, but waiting a while is most appealing. I'll go fo that.
As the wise man said, "Never do today, what you can put off 'till tomorrow."

[Clanad]

So, there's the bad news, Theland... thanks for that landscaper2... learn something everyday!

[Theland]

It gets worse with every post.

[Theland]

Are there no animals that like to munch on ivy? If there is I could buy one, or borrow one.

[Bathsheba]

Little lambs eat ivy Theland - don't you remember the song? x

[Theland]

Mrs Bath - I am afraid I do not recall the song at all. You will have to refresh my memory.
I can tell you though, that Theland eats little lambs, with mint sauce, roasties, gravy, steepy peas, and carrot and turnip. Yummy.
It's still a shame that there isn't such an animal as, "The Greater Speckled Vociferous Ivy Eater," because if there was, I would buy a flock of them!
I think ivy must be part of the curse for original sin, it probably ruined the garden of Eden.

[Bathsheba]

Here you go Theland,/> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mairzy_Doats

[Theland]

That's a cracker Mrs Bath. I like that.
They could have a real feast here!