Does Glyphosate Kill Ivy?

Safety

• Before using glyphosate to kill ivy, put on clothing that covers your arms, legs, hands and feet. Thoroughly read the product label and make sure you understand the instructions. Because glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide, it will kill whatever it comes in contact with. Consider whether it is possible to kill ivy without harming other desirable plants. Place cardboard or plastic shields around any desirable plants for protection. Avoid using glyphosate around edible crops.

Timing

• Most labels for products containing glyphosate recommend using it when a plant is actively growing and temperatures are above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Glyphosate should be applied on calm days to prevent it from drifting in the wind and affecting other plants. It should begin working within two weeks and kill ivy within four weeks. For tough cases, reapply after four weeks if all ivy is not dead. Oregon State University also did a study in which glyphosate applied to ivy on sunny winter days proved more effective than applications during the growing season, killing 95 percent of ivy. Applying in winter can potentially decrease injury to dormant plants.

Application

• For a preparation containing 18 percent glyphosate and 2 percent triclopyr, place 6 fluid ounces of herbicide per one gallon of water in a tank sprayer. Spray the mixture evenly over an area of 300 square feet, completely soaking ivy. For a sprayer that fits on the end of your hose, set it to 6 ounces and do not add water. Spray evenly over the area. Avoid spraying any desirable plants.

Additional Control Methods

• If you still have an ivy problem after using glyphosate, incorporate additional methods into your control plan. Digging up ivy by hand or cutting it with pruning shears can help control it, but can be labor-intensive and take a lot of time. If you do use this method, try to remove as much of the stem and root as possible without disrupting the soil near desirable plants. This practice will likely need to be repeated annually.