Killing Ivy

[Compostella]

Hello I have an Ivy that has (over many years) grown up and totally taken over a tree. The main trunks are wrapped around the tree many times.

We decided to stop this and I have gone around the tree and cut through the Ivy trunk so there is now no link at all.

However, this was weeks ago and the Ivy still looks as healthy as ever. Could it be feeding itself from another source i.e. the tree?

I assumed that is would all turn brown and eventually fall to the ground.

[alan30]

With Zacsmaster on this. We generally cut through ivy stems where ivy may be hiding defects in the tree. We reinspect the tree 9 months to one year later once ivy has died off.

[chas2008]

i have 3 trees in my garden all covered in ivy , last year i wanted to remove them to build a wall. Once i had removed the ivy the trees underneath were totally dead almost fell down on there own. It may vary species to species but the impression i get is that it sucks the life out whatever its growing around

[Compostella]

Thanks,

Did you let the ivy die and turn brown before removing or did you pull it down whilst it was still green?

[alan30]

We remove it once died off unless there is an urgent need to check structural safety of tree underneath.