2 days Ago By Katherine McPhillips
Ivy can look beautiful hanging off trees or climbing up a home, but can quickly become unmanageable if left to grow. This fast-spreading vine will get into the cracks of walls and begin to break them down, which is why you should never leave it growing on your property. Oren Kander, the director at Gaffsy has shared that ivy can cost you hundreds of pounds in repairs and is also a major nuisance in the garden .
He said: “Don’t be fooled by its picturesque charm – English ivy can be highly destructive. It depletes nutrients from garden plants, smothers trees, and provides a perfect hiding place for pests, vermin, and insects. “Worse still, ivy’s aggressive growth can cause serious structural damage to homes by eroding brick and woodwork.
” The thick vines on ivy are known to retain a lot of moisture, which will cause damp if left growing near a home which will cause mould to grow and become a potential health risk. However, now in spring is the best time to remove it as it has just begun growing so it will be more flexible and less woody which makes it easier to uproot. Before you try to remove it make sure to wear eye protection, gloves and a top with long sleeves as ivy has a very rough texture that can scratch you if you’re not careful.
The best way to remove ivy is to first cut the vines off at the base, as it makes it much more difficult for it to grow back in the future. Simply begin by cutting the ivy at the bottom of a wall or tree with a pair of shears. Make sure to completely cut the ivy around the base to prevent it from being able to grow back.
Wait one week after making the first cuts as it will begin to wilt and turn brown. When it is completely dead, gently pull it away from the structure. The ivy should be easy to remove once it has been disconnected from the roots.
After you have cut back the vines, use a shovel to dig out the roots to prevent regrowth. Next, apply a herbicide to kill any remaining roots of vines. If you want to avoid chemicals, you can apply white vinegar or pour boiling water on any remaining foliage.
Ivy can regrow from a tiny piece so make sure to tidy up any vines left on the ground and place them in a bin, not in your compost bin. Keep an eye on your garden or home as ivy is very resilient, and make sure to remove any new shoots if you see them growing. Patience is key when trying to get rid of ivy as it can take multiple rounds of cutting it back to remove it completely, but if you keep at it your garden will free of this pesky plant for good.
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