Ivy, ivy everywhere

[iwatkins]

We have a major problem with common ivy in our garden.

It grows just about everywhere and particularly down the side of the garden shed where I want to put my compost bins :-( Not wanting compost full of ivy I'd like to get rid of it.

Any ideas on how to deal with it. I am not averse to using chemicals on this stuff. I try to avoid where possible, but this is a pest too far.....

Ta.

Ian

[ginger ninger]

Cut the ivy off at the base of the plant as the foliage dies back remove it, keep doing this every time you see new growth, without leaves to take nutrients into the plant it will die at the root.

[Jeanied]

If the ivy is big enough to berry, just a word of caution. It is possibly better to control it the way Ginger suggests rather than eradicate it, - and the wildlife will be grateful! I had my ivy chopped down totally by an enthusiastic helper and regretted it as my favourite birds - blackbirds and thrushes - abandoned the garden and never came back. I am slowly growing a small replacement!

[sweetiepea]

I have a lot of ivy, and to be honest I love most of it! As Jeanied has said, its a haven for wildlife. Having said that however, when it climbed the gable of my cottage, and crept under the slates it was a different matter! Do as GingerNiger advises, it does work and is far more effective than chemicals.

[allotmentlady]

I love Ivy too xxx

[jackie j]

I hate Ivy and our neighbour grows it over our fence, I keep cutting it back on my side but she does nothing, It grows up the wall and under the slates on the kitchen roof, it has ruined the fence we put up and she refuses to do anything about it. We have fallen out a long time ago and I am sure she grows it to annoy me. Its not used by birds as there are too many cats in the neighbourhood.