Ivy

[flooringman]

I have a mature oak tree (about 50 feet high) which has ivy growing up it (for about 10 years).

The tree seems healthy but I want to know if the ivy will do any damage and if so what is the best way to remove it?

 

[masona]

My next door neighbour have the same problem and was told that the Ivy could smother the tree and kill it if it get to all the branches and can cause stability problems in old trees but the birds and insects love them! If you do want to remove them I think the only way is to cut the stem at the bottom and let it die on it own. Others may know better on here.

 

[2scoops0406]

You should keep the ivy trimmed, intrinsically no, it won't hurt the tree, but left uncecked it could smother it,

 

[sandwell]

Unfortunately, Ivy is like most shrubs, the more you trim it, the more it grows, you have to keep at it.