The aggressive vine known as English Ivy (Hedera helix) is a non-native species introduced from Europe in the 1700s. This evergreen plant is often mistaken for a harmless ground cover, but its rapid and dense growth makes it highly invasive. English Ivy smothers native plant life by blocking sunlight. It can also weaken and topple mature trees by adding substantial weight and accelerating rot by trapping moisture against the bark. Its tenacious aerial roots can penetrate small cracks in masonry and wooden structures, widening them and causing structural damage. This guide provides steps for permanent removal.
Preparing the Area for Removal
Before beginning the removal process, gather safety gear, as English Ivy sap can cause dermatitis in sensitive individuals. Protect your skin by wearing thick gardening gloves, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants. Necessary tools include sharp bypass pruners, loppers for thicker vines, and a small hand saw for mature, woody stems.
For ivy growing on vertical surfaces like trees or walls, sever the main vines from the root system. Use loppers or a saw to cut all vines completely through at the base, creating a gap of several inches near the ground. The upper sections of the ivy will die from lack of water and nutrients, which prevents damage to the host structure and simplifies eventual removal.
Physical and Natural Eradication Methods
For ivy covering the ground, manual removal is highly effective, especially when the soil is moist, which makes pulling the roots easier. Start by using a shovel or an edging tool to cut the dense ivy mat into manageable sections or strips. Then, peel the sections back like a carpet, cutting any stubborn roots that resist the pull.
The goal of manual removal is to extract all the root fragments, as the ivy can regrow from even small pieces left in the soil. Use a garden fork or trowel to loosen the soil and gently extract the remaining roots, which are typically shallow but numerous. When removing ivy from a tree trunk, it is important to leave the severed vines in place until they are completely dead and brittle. Attempting to yank living ivy off a tree can strip the bark, which exposes the tree to pests and disease.
An alternative to manual labor is a smothering technique, also known as solarization, which deprives the ivy of sunlight. Lay thick black plastic sheeting or a combination of thick cardboard layers covered with mulch directly over the ivy patch. This method requires patience, as it can take a full growing season, or even up to two years for established root systems, to completely exhaust the ivy’s energy reserves.
Using Herbicides Safely and Effectively
In cases of extensive infestations or where manual removal is impractical, systemic herbicides can be used to destroy the root system. Products containing active ingredients like glyphosate or triclopyr are effective against English Ivy. These chemicals are absorbed by the leaves and transported through the plant’s vascular system down to the roots.
The mature leaves of English Ivy have a waxy cuticle that repels liquid, making a standard foliar spray application less effective. A more successful method is the cut-stem application, which targets the living part of the vine directly. This involves cutting the vine and immediately applying a concentrated solution of the herbicide directly onto the fresh cut surface of the remaining rooted stump.
For ground cover, a foliar spray is best applied in the spring or fall when the ivy produces newer leaves that lack the thick waxy coating. Mix a 2% to 5% concentration of glyphosate, adding a non-ionic surfactant to help the solution penetrate the leaf surface. To protect nearby desirable plants, shield them with plastic or apply the herbicide carefully using a foam brush or wick applicator to paint the solution only onto the ivy leaves.
Long-Term Maintenance and Preventing Return
Permanent removal requires dedicated follow-up due to the ivy’s ability to regenerate from leftover root fragments. After initial removal, correctly dispose of the plant material. Do not place pulled ivy in a compost pile, as the vines and roots can easily re-root and start a new infestation. Instead, bag the debris in thick plastic trash bags and leave them in the sun for several weeks to let the plant material die completely before disposal.
Regular inspection of the cleared area is necessary, particularly along fence lines, walls, and the base of trees, to catch any new sprouts early. New growth should be pulled or spot-treated immediately to prevent the root system from re-establishing itself. To suppress regrowth, cover the cleared soil with a thick layer of landscape fabric followed by a dense layer of mulch. This barrier prevents light from reaching dormant seeds or small root fragments, helping ensure the area remains permanently ivy-free.