Hi,
I inherited a very overgrown, large front garden, from the previous owner. Was probably once presentable, but been left for decades and all the shrubs and trees had grown into a messy hedge, with Ivy running through it. It proved impossible to tidy up so last couple of weekends I have been clearing to start again. I've managed to save some shrubs and small trees and need to do a bit of new planting, but I have been left with a soil that is riddled with surface roots, much of it presumably from the Ivy which was everywhere.
Trying to decide what would be the best way forward from here. Considered just cutting back any remaining stumps to ground level, then covering the soil with bark/mulch to make it presentable quickly, then spraying any Ivy etc shoots that pop up until it is all killed.
I suppose the other alternative is to dig everything out, removing as much root etc as possible, might be better in the long term, but this could take ages to do, its a big space overall - pic below is just one corner. Also thinking that this might just split up the ivy into hundreds of smaller plants!
Anyone done something similar before and have any advice.
I inherited a very overgrown, large front garden, from the previous owner. Was probably once presentable, but been left for decades and all the shrubs and trees had grown into a messy hedge, with Ivy running through it. It proved impossible to tidy up so last couple of weekends I have been clearing to start again. I've managed to save some shrubs and small trees and need to do a bit of new planting, but I have been left with a soil that is riddled with surface roots, much of it presumably from the Ivy which was everywhere.
Trying to decide what would be the best way forward from here. Considered just cutting back any remaining stumps to ground level, then covering the soil with bark/mulch to make it presentable quickly, then spraying any Ivy etc shoots that pop up until it is all killed.
I suppose the other alternative is to dig everything out, removing as much root etc as possible, might be better in the long term, but this could take ages to do, its a big space overall - pic below is just one corner. Also thinking that this might just split up the ivy into hundreds of smaller plants!
Anyone done something similar before and have any advice.