The Best Way to Remove Ivy

Cautions

• Because ivy regenerates in several ways, the task of thoroughly removing ivy requires meticulous attention. New plants can grow from small leaf, stem or root fragments, and the roots are hard to remove completely. The plants also propagate from seeds eaten and excreted by birds and other wildlife, which can lead to new plant growth in unexpected locations. English ivy's aggressive growth and adaptability result in its classification as an invasive plant in 18 U.S. states and the District of Columbia as of 2009.

Manual Removal of Vines

• Because pulling down established ivy vines requires considerable stamina and may damage surfaces to which the ivy clings, spaced cutting is the most effective way to remove large amounts of ivy. Pry vine stems away from the surface with a screwdriver, pliers or pry-bar at a comfortable working height, usually 2 to 3 feet from the ground, or between knee and waist height. Continue to pry until you have loosened a 2-foot length of stem at roughly chest height. Cut completely through the stem with secaturs, loppers or a saw, depending on the stem's diameter. Discarding the cut segment in a trash bag prevents it from resprouting in a compost pile or garden. Without nourishment from roots, vines above the cut section wither and die, and wind blows away dead leaves and eventually dead vines. This manual removal process of vines can take several months but is safer for you and the surface than pulling down fresh vines.

Manual Removal of Roots

• Ivy roots are neither extensive nor deep-seated, according to an article on the U.S. Forest Service website. The roots, however, share the brittleness characteristic of stems, and this quality makes it hard to remove them completely. Conservationists and other experienced ivy removers suggest digging a clear zone at least 2 feet wide around a tree or at the base of a wall to keep new ivy seedlings from mounting a new coverage campaign. Roots should be both pulled and dug up to remove as much of their remnants as possible. Dispose of them where they cannot regenerate easily.

Other Removal Strategies

• Other ivy removal strategies include using a triclopyr- or glyphosate-based herbicide, which can present problems for other plants, water supplies and aquatic life as well as organic gardens. Using natural garden weedkillers such as vinegar and salt can make the ground unhospitable to other plants. Cutting, pulling and very thorough cleanup remain the best strategy for removing unwanted ivy.

Ivy Damage

• Adaptable to a variety of soil and light conditions, English ivy climbs by means of root clusters with suction, hold-fast pads at their ends, making ivy able to cling to tree bark and other vertical surfaces. In trees, English ivy vines can reach more than 90 feet long and have been reported by the U.S. Forest Service in conifers as high as 300 feet. English ivy's abundant, glossy leaves form a mat 6 inches high as a ground-cover and several inches thick on a tree or wall. The ivy's leaves are sufficiently dense enough to blot out tree leaves' access to sunlight. As a result, tree leaves and branches die, and the weight of ivy vines can make trees vulnerable to storm damage and uprooting. Ivy holds moisture against wall surfaces and impedes the painting or repointing that maintains a wall's structural soundness.