How to rid of English ivy in your garden - according to an expert
Brittany Bailey, a writer for the gardening blog Pretty Handy Girl, swears by her ‘absolute easiest way’ to rid of English ivy
An expert has unveiled how you can rid of ivy in your garden for good – and it’s actually pretty straightforward.
Whether it’s draped across the front of your house or wrapped tightly around the trunk of a tree, you can find English ivy almost anywhere in the UK. But don’t be fooled by its beauty, a gardener warns it can pose a serious danger to your garden – and may even create a home for rats.
Brittany Bailey, a writer for the gardening blog Pretty Handy Girl, swears by her ‘absolute easiest way’ to rid of the flowering plant that’s stealthily quick to takeover a backyard. She said: “Homeowners mistakenly plant English ivy and let it run wild thinking it’s a great ground cover.
“But, little do they realize when not contained in a pot, this plant can soon cause serious problems if left unchecked… The vines can strangle the roots of a tree and can cause damage to the bark, plus it adds excess weight to the tree.” Later, she added: “This predator creates a safe haven for rats, mice, spiders [too].”
Surprisingly, uncontrolled ivy growth can cause property damage too. This is because the roots grow deep into brick walls and infrastructure, expanding cracks while allowing moisture to seep in.
So, getting rid of this plant sooner rather than later is key for saving yourself a lot of money in damages. To start, Brittany first advises gardeners to put on some safety gear including goggles, a long-sleeved top, boots and long trousers. Then, getting hold of a strimmer is key.
This nifty tool will help to ‘create an open wound’ in the ivy, allowing it to absorb herbicides more quickly in the following step. Vinegar is also recommended for this thanks to its acetic acid which ruptures plant cells and causes them to dry out.
If the problem ivy is centred on a tree, however, Brittany claims you should approach this with more caution. Pruning shears should instead be used to slash the ivy around the trunk to prevent it from strangling the tree roots.
Using vinegar or herbicide is not advisable as it has the power to kill other plants – not just the targeted English ivy. Cutting the ivy at its base should effectively do the trick, however.
After some time’s passed, the ivy should die and will be easily removable once it’s got a brownish tint.
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