How to Rid My Yard of Ivy Vines

Put on eye protection and work gloves, and wear long sleeves and long pants when dealing with any type of ivy. Ivy can cause contact dermatitis in some people.

Remove ivy from vertical structures such as trees and walls first. Once all lateral ivy has been removed, remove any ivy on the ground. This will help control the seed dispersal and prevent new ivy from sprouting.

Cut through ivy stems growing on trees or structures at shoulder level, using pruning shears or a pruning saw. Use a screwdriver to pull the vines away from the structure before cutting if necessary.

Grasp the ivy below the cut and pull it downward to remove it. Don't pull too hard, or the rootlets that attach the ivy to the tree could pull off the bark. Instead, use pruning shears to clip off the rootlets. The rootlets will eventually dry up and die off.

Leave ivy hanging above your reach. If possible, remove any flowers and seed heads from ivy higher up. Without roots, the ivy will eventually die and dry up. Trying to remove it could bring bird's nests or other items crashing down on you.

Use pruning shears to cut around ivy growing around any other plants. Next, gently remove the ivy from the plants to prevent hurting them.

Pull ground-growing ivy up with your hands. If necessary, use a garden weeder, hand mattock or hori-hori to help remove the roots. You goal is to remove as much of the roots as you can, but don't stress too much if you miss some.

Dispose of ivy by placing it in a pile so the roots are on top. Covering it with black plastic will help it decompose faster.

Cover bare ground with 8 inches of mulch to prevent ivy from resprouting. Recheck mulched areas every couple of months, and remove any ivy that may be growing through the mulch. Although any type of mulch can be used, wood chips are better because hay or grass clippings may contain ivy seeds.

Mow grassy areas regularly where ivy has grown or that are near where ivy has grown in the past. Remove and dispose of any clippings.

Check areas at least once a year to remove any ivy that was missed. The good news is that, according to the Washington Native Plant Society's website Ivy Out, it will take only one-tenth the effort to remove sprout ivy than it did to remove the initial ivy growth.