Creeping Ivy

[Odds]

an anyone recommend a good way to kill ivy creeping over the garden?

 

[endecotp]

Dig it up.

 

[JohnD]

can anyone recommend a good way to kill ivy creeping over the garden?

trim back the growth and rake it away so you can see what you're doing.

Then, cut each individual stem, and dab undiluted gyphosate concentrate onto the end so it will be drawn down (or, if the stems are soft enough, bend them down and immerse in a jar of the concentrate for several minutes

you must do this to each stem immediately after cutting, before it dries and callouses.

Glyphosate works by being translocated within the plant to the roots, which it kills. It is inactivated by contact with soil, so no use pouring it on the ground.

After a couple of weeks you will be able to see which stems have gone brown and are dying. Any still healthy, cut them again and treat the newly cut green stem.

When the stems are completely dead and just dry sticks, you can cut them off.

You need to watch it during the following summer and treat any regrowth that occurs. Cutting them a foot or two above the ground is handy as you can easily see them and no need to crawl around. It works on large, thick trunks as well as thin stems.

 

[Odds]

Interesting. Is there a way to use a spray on the leaves, similar to the way nettles are dealt with, in order to kill ivy?

 

[JohnD]

The leaves are waxy and repel sprays. I have found spraying ineffective.

 

[Odds]

Bugger.
A flamethrower it is then.

 

[endecotp]

A flamethrower it is then.

No, just a spade. It’s really not the worst thing to remove. Just pull it up.

 

[stanleypon]

Great ideas here. Thanks!