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Killing well established ivy?

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  • #1

    Killing well established ivy?

    Hi all

    Quick question please - is there an easy way to get rid of ivy and stop it coming back again? Perhaps poison...?

    I've got two big patches, one on my shed with about 100 stalks, and one on my apple tree. For the apple tree, I've stripped all the ivy off as I high as I can reach and cut through all the big stems, but the foliage higher up the tree (which I can't pull off as it's partially in a hedge and all out of reach) doesn't seem to be dying off. (I fear the small rootlets on the remaning foliage must be enough to keep it alive...) For the shed, I've cut back the worst of the foliage, but there are so many stalks in so many locations that I don't seem to be able to get them all.

    Is there anything I can inject into the stems or something that will spread through the plant and kill off the whole lot, and stop it growing back?

    And, on another note, why does ivy grow so much better than anything that I'm actually trying to grow?!

    Thanks in advance.

    Giles
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  • #2
    Can you get the to main vine, should be fairly thick if it is that big?
    If so get some glyphosate (roundup etc) and then cut the main vine and immediately spray it heavily with the chemical and repeat spray an hour later. It probably couldnt hurt to spray the leaves as well but bear in mind this is nasty stuff if you got kids or pets you need to keep them well away for a week i'd say just incase especially if you dont get any rain.
    My new Blog.

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    • #3
      I had a massive infestation when I got my plot, it was 4ft deep and high. I hacked it all back to the fence (I like it on the fence, it shelters a lot of nesting birds), and dug out the roots.

      It still tries to grow back all over everything, so I keep it cut back neat.

      http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ivy_54371.html
      Last edited by Two_Sheds; 06-08-2012, 05:39 PM.
      All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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      • #4
        In my experience, when you've cut through all the stems ivy does eventually die. The rootlets with which it's attached do keep it alive for some time, so it takes a while. Rather than poison your apple tree I would wait. Ivy is able to make cross links between different stems, so if you cut through only some of the stems, then any parts that are linked to a stem connected to the soil will survive even if they originally grew out of the stems that you've cut through.

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        • #5
          Tree stump killer glyphosphate mixes can also be used on ivy vines - it's a more concentrated mix, which you need since you can only put it on the little bit that is cut rather than cover the leaves (which are too waxy to absorb it). The packet recommends applying in autumn winter, when the sap isn't rising.

          When I was searching before, I found some talk about a weedkiller that had been withdrawn that was very effective on ivy. It was withdrawn because no one wanted to pay for the tests some new regulations required, rather than any particular danger being discovered.

          And it's apparently still available as a compost accelerator. Can't remember the name though, and I don't know how effective or harmful it really is.

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          • #6
            Thank you one and all.

            I've definitely cut all the ground-touching stems on the apple tree so I won't poison anything there yet. I think the compost accelerator / weedkiller stuff is ammonium sulphamate, so will see if I can hunt down some of that and introduce it into the main stems of the wall ivy...

            Fingers crossed!

            Cheers.

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            • #7
              I have some really annoying ivy growing around my shed. I think I've managed to pull it up every year, but like the rhubarb in my perennial flower bed, it comes back. Good luck with getting rid of yours. I found some sodium chlorate in the back of my shed a couple of months ago and to get rid of it (I think one of the gardener's we used to pay to cut the grass and clear the paving stones must have brought it to use without my knowledge) I diluted it and watered the weeds down the side of the front path. My word, they disappeared and haven't reappeared either. I'm pretty sure you can't buy it now and I can see why, but I do wish I'd poured it on the ivy on the shed!
              Granny on the Game in Sheffield

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              • #8
                Cut the stems about 2 feet long,strip off all green leaves & lead them back into a bottle/glass containing a 50/50 mix of white spirit & glyphosate (that will give it whatfor :0),but (there always is one),bear in mind that if the ivy roots are intertwined with any other shrubbery roots there is a very real chance that will also suffer the same fate.

                Remember to cover the top of the bottle/glass to prevent rain getting in & displacing the mix
                Last edited by bearded bloke; 07-08-2012, 01:59 PM.
                He who smiles in the face of adversity,has already decided who to blame

                Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity

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