Ivy removal

Has anyone successfully removed ivy themselves? Any tips?

Right now we are pulling it out at the roots the best we can but I am afraid we are not going to get it all and it will just grow back. If I use something chemical to kill it will it ruin my chances of them planting flowers there? I'm so clueless.

Re: Ivy removal

We were very successful. I belive there are pictures in my album. We spent alot of time doing this and we still have a few spots where one or two will come through but I try and be on top of it.

Our entire backyard had ivy and it was so gross we started in sections and after 2 summers removed it all. We raked and baged (at points my husband also used a hedge trimmer or an edger to cut at the vines) all that we could and basically pulled it out from the root as best we could. Prior to pulling it out I sprayed it with round-up one or two times depending on how dense it was. I also sprayed after we pulled it all out. In order to prevent it from coming back we put mulch in the large areas where it was growing or we planted grass.

Like I said it has been VERY successul and we may have 3-4 spots that grow a leaf here and there and I just go and pull at them. To me it isn't that big of a deal considering what we had.

Re: Ivy removal

As long as you're ripping/cutting the ivy, please consider using a spray bottle of vinegar instead of a pesticide. Besides them being bad for the environment and everything around/underneath the area you spray, there are links between pesticide use and cancer in animals.

I would suffocate the ground with a good landscape fabric after you rip/spray also, and mulch like the PP said.

It's a lot of work, to be sure. I don't envy your position! Good luck with it.

Re: Ivy removal

We're in our house a year and have ivy growing over and under the back fence from the neighbors. Last year being the first summer, I just thinned it out gradually so it was not growing into the ground on our side.

Today we cleared it all out along with a crusty chain link fence that had years of leaves and rot. The ivy kind of just yanks out with some good pulls and like PP said, we'll just keep on top of it as it grows.

Here is what it looked like when we bought the house...


And here is after today...


Most of the roots in the ground were thin and came out with no problem. Just keep getting it at the root instead of cutting back. They may grow back but less and less if you get the roots.

Message edited 4/19/2009 10:23:38 PM.