English ivy can be an attractive plant, but it is also one of the UK’s worst invasive plants. As a result, gardeners have shared the “only way” to get rid of the plant
English ivy, a common sight across the UK, is often appreciated for its aesthetic appeal as it thrives in chilly, shaded spots with moist, fertile soil. Countless gardeners incorporate English ivy into their garden decor due to its charming climbing qualities and vibrant green hues.
However, this same plant can swiftly become an invasive nightmare. Its propensity to spread quickly means it can engulf an entire garden, potentially destroying other flora. A frustrated gardener reached out on the Gardening UK Facebook group for advice on how to “kill” the rampant ivy plaguing their fence and boundary walls.
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David Vallance asked: “What’s the best thing to kill ivy, need to get rid of it from fences, boundary walls?” The issue becomes pressing when ivy begins to ascend a fence. It’s essential to manage it by routinely trimming any parts that climb or by eradicating the whole plant.
Ivy clambering up fences poses a risk as its aerial roots can burrow into the wood, leading to damage, reports the Express. Untamed, these roots expand and penetrate deeper, which may cause the wood to rot or decay where the roots have embedded themselves.
While some members of the group proposed natural solutions like boiling water, objections were raised about its ineffectiveness as it “cannot penetrate the roots”.
Instead, most advised David to sever the ivy’s stems at their base and then meticulously excavate the plant. Therese Heap advised: “Cut at the bottom, let the branches die and then pull off (preferably in September or later due to birds nesting).
“To actually stop it from coming back, dig dig dig, the roots spread and you’ll likely pull up ivy shoots for years, but small shoots are easily managed.”
Sheila Morgan gave her directions: “Cut it off at the base, pull as much off as you can and the rest will die off. Then you need to dig up the roots. It’s the only way to get rid of this plant forever.”
Vicky Beeson suggested: “Cut it at the base, dig out the root and the ivy on the fence will permanently die pretty quickly and never come back.
“Once dead pull it off your fence. It’s less likely to damage the fence if you are able to wait and let it die off.”
Trudy Raven shared her experience: “I would have never got rid of mine without digging up the roots and I’ve had loads to get rid of. It was a nightmare but now free of it.”
Finally, Tracey Liddle said: “You gotta chop it at the base, and chop pieces out of the growing part. It will die off eventually but the only way to kill it, then pull off all the bits that die off.”