My new house has English ivy growing up the siding and even into my house. I have plenty of cardboard from moving and was thinking about ripping it off the house and smothering the beds it’s growing in.
Would this be sufficient? I have used cardboard before with good results for keeping weeds down, but I know ivy is a bit aggressive. Would it be beneficial to lay cardboard now in winter or should I wait until spring?
Any other suggestions that do not involve glyphosate or other chemicals? Yes, yes, “glyphosate breaks down quickly and is safe when used according to label.” I am aware of all the pro-glyphosate arguments. I would still like it to remain as a last resort only. Thanks!
by PotentialHungry5464
7 Comments
English ivy is a major pita to get rid of. You *have* to dig up the roots to get rid of it and the roots are extensive and run a lot further than you expect.
While chemicals are generally frowned upon for for regular weed control, I do think that selective use to remove particularly invasive and difficult to remove species is appropriate.
Salt & vinegar 50:50 with water. Spray the base
Physical removal can be effective as long as your thorough and stay persistent with pulling it up. What I’ve found to be most effective is to pull out physically what you can and treat new growth as it emerges with glyphosate/triclopyr. The new leaves are less waxy and seem to take up the herbicide more effectively
Only non-chemical option is persistence – keep cutting it and it’ll eventually die. Eventually. In my personal battle with English Ivy, I’m not sure if the ivy or me will die first.
Cut & clear as much as you possibly can right now, then till the earth to breakup roots and subsurface growth. Then in the EARLY spring invest in some thick black pond liner tarp. Lay the tarp over everywhere that has ivy (and any perimeter area as well) let that tarp BAKE the ivy thru the summertime and go under in the fall and cut anything that is still alive. Repeat tarp burn for next summer season. It sucks that it is ugly and very time consuming, but it’s a hands-off method that involves no chemicals. I had to do this in my old property. It really worked, but it also killed everything else that grew where the ivy was. Once the ivy was dead dead, I tilled and remediate the soil for other new plants.
It has to be pond liner tarp. It’s thick, black plastic that does not let light thru and suffocated the soil surface.
Good luck!
Persistence.
I’ve got Ivy around my house,
I pull down some “climbers” once or twice a year