Ivy, how bad is it?

[Nomadic78]

Evening all,

I am increasingly concerned about the ivy growing up my wall from my neighbours garden. I am asking to see the roots of the ivy, as I think they may be interfering with the foundations.

Has anyone had a similar experience? Assume the best way to treat it is to cut the roots, let it dry out and then remove from the walls. But to inspect any soil displacement from the foundation, how would I assess that?

 

[danfre]

It will ruin the pointing and brickwork, eventually will probably get into the roof

 

[Burnerman]

Time for some fairly urgent action - the ivy will be in the roof already!
Chop off the stems as low as you can, take a chunk away that's around 2 foot or whatever and the rest will dry off and will eventually die......it will then be able to be pulled away from the wall.
The waxy leaves are pretty resistant to weed killer, just make sure you haven't missed any of the risers going up the wall.
John

 

[johnny2007]

In my experience if you chop the bottom and let it dry it will ruin the brickwork even more.
Chop it all off and wire brush the whole wall as you go.
It might be too late to save the pointing though

 

[Nomadic78]

I'm concerned at the thickness of the ivy. This is on my side.

 

[johnny2007]

Chop it off, quickly.

 

[Koolpc]

If its on their wall then its their issue. If its damaging your property then you need to speak to them first.

 

[JohnD]

In my experience if you chop the bottom and let it dry it will ruin the brickwork even more.
Chop it all off and wire brush the whole wall as you go.
It might be too late to save the pointing though

IME once it is dead it can't do any more damage.

It will dry up and eventually rot away or you can pull it off.

The fine roots in the wall will lose their strength and elasticity once dead

If you want to kill the whole plant, cut the stems a foot or so above ground level, and immerse the cut ends immediately in a bottle of Glyphosate Concentrate. Undiluted. As you have just cut them the sap is still running and they will draw the glyphosate down, where it will kill the roots in the ground. If the stems are too thick to bend, apply with a paintbrush and keep re-applying for an hour or so, so it never dries out.

After you think you have cut all the stems, cut again a foot higher and remove the short length. This should leave a strip of bare wall, so you can see if you have missed anything, or if there is any regrowth, which you should treat.

 

[Nomadic78]

Thank you all for the replies so far. I've ask my neighbour to send pictures of the roots and so far he hasn't. What are my rights for inspection? He seems adamant to get a gardener out to prune back the hedge, which I don't have a problem with per se.

However, I understand that the roots of the ivy could be lodged into my foundation and if they were severed, they could contract and cause further issues.

 

[JohnD]

I've pulled up quite a lot of ivy, and the roots don't go deep.

 

[Odds]

I've pulled up quite a lot of ivy, and the roots don't go deep.

Thicker roots can be deep, so digging down is a good idea - for roots like that i'd consider banding higher up, leaving a gap of up to a meter to ensure a swift demise.

 

[Deluks]

Drill the stump, put some SBK in the holes.

 

[Nomadic78]

What is SBK?

 

[Murdochcat]

Thank you all for the replies so far. I've ask my neighbour to send pictures of the roots and so far he hasn't. What are my rights for inspection? He seems adamant to get a gardener out to prune back the hedge, which I don't have a problem with per se.

However, I understand that the roots of the ivy could be lodged into my foundation and if they were severed, they could contract and cause further issues.

Your neighbour can try and tell you he won’t let you have access but as this is for maintenance he can’t stop you

 

[Odds]

What is SBK?

A poison, potent in weed destruction.