Building new greenhouse (on ivy!!)

[Paulieb]

Now I've moved my shed, the space is clear to build my new greenhouse.

However the immediate problem I face is where my shed was, the ground is covered with ivy roots, and the surrounding area is ivy in leaf.

So, whats the best method to remove it?
I'll only use chemicals as a last resort, as I could pave the floor in the greenhouse and keep plants in tubs. There's also black currants and rhubarb only a few metres away from the area.

Or will the best method be to get a big can of 'elbow grease', get rid of what I can, cover with black plastic sheet, and wait a couple of years, before trying to use the soil (and stick with containers for now).

[ann-the-nan]

Building new greenhouse (on ivy!!)

I am no expert, but I know there are the good folk of the thread who are. If I use a weedkiller then I go for a systemic one. These, I believe, are the ones the are neutralized by the soil.

[veggiechicken]

I'd dig it out. Pulling up ivy strands can be very satisfying - then dig out the rest. Any mega roots could be sawn off and, if immovable, perhaps painted with some sort of killing stuff?

[binley100]

even more satisfying is to burn the ivy that you've dug up .......I hate the bl@ddy stuff with a passion

[lottie dolly]

ivy burnes well,it sounds like fireworks going of,so if in a confined space just burn a bit and see for yourself, have helped out with site work at lottie,if you cut or saw it of just for now,it will die,giving you time to work on the ground part of your project,it's such a determined grower,tis like bind weed any little bit will grow and take over,so killer might be the only way to go,i to detest the stuff,

[Two_Sheds]

Trim/prune back what you want to keep (it's great for nesting birds).

The roots need to be dug out. Weedkiller tends to just slide off the waxy leaves. You'd have to crush them to break the surface to allow entry for the weedkiller, ie lots of work. Just dig it out, and keep digging it out.

When I got my plot the end fifth of it was full of ivy & bramble. It's all gone now

[Ian_5]

Posts I've read on here and other sites suggest 'brush wood killer' is the job for killing off ivy but not sure what effect it has on the soil, if any..

in my experience and as written above, the smallest fragment seems to return growth... so unless you're very thorough (or not bothered about it returning) digging it out may not be the best result for your effort.

personnally i can;t stand the stuff and it invades corners of my garden at a ridiculous rate hence reaching for the BWK...

[Paulieb]

Thanks everyone.

Had the day off today, so cleared the space for my greenhouse, but there's still plenty of ivy in the surrounding areas (and through the fence in to next doors garden!).

I took out some BIG roots (some 2 inches thick) but I'm sure theres plenty of hidden roots left under the greenhouse.

I think my best bet at the moment is to look at it long term and just stay on top of it, pulling up shoots as they appear. By avoiding weedkiller for now, I can utilize the beds in the greenhouse, without having to faff with growbags, etc.