Tips for removing ivy?

[jdwoodbury]

On our new house the previous owner decided it was a good idea to plant an ivy tree a the rear quarter. I personally cannot stand the stuff so have already cut through the roots, it has started to die but I wondered if any one had any special tricks to get rid of the reside it leaves on the brickwork?

[TooLateForAName]

Take 6 inches out of the stem and wait for it to die before trying to pull it off.

[rlw]

TooLateForAName said:

Take 6 inches out of the stem and wait for it to die before trying to pull it off.

...although it comes off more easily and in bigger sections when alive........

[eddie1980]

I have seen people using a blowlamp to burn off the bits left on the bricks.

Although I cannot help thinking there might be a better methord.

[It's fixable...]

Lived in a pebbledashed house that had the rear smothered in Ivy.

We cut the trunk out (as mentioned by previous poster) and left it for a few months and yaked off what came easily. The rest waited a year and was then jetwashed off prior to painting the pebbledash.

[5potTurbo]

I'm watching this with interest as a mate's gone to look at a house with a view to buying, and it looks like it needs a shave!

http://www.athome.lu/vente/maison/centre/contern/1...

[Wings]

Agree with the OP, both Ivy and Holly sucklings are a pain in the back side. Even the National Trust are now removing Ivy from buildings and walls. Although there are branded weed killers that will eventually kill ivy, I have found using a product called Garotta compost maker has the best effect of eradicating altogether. Garotta works by fooling Ivy to feed of the Garotta, which then poisons and kills the Ivy.

[Skyedriver]

Just ask Ivy, nicely and politely, to leave the premises

[odyssey2200]

rlw said:

TooLateForAName said:

Take 6 inches out of the stem and wait for it to die before trying to pull it off.

...although it comes off more easily and in bigger sections when alive........

^^^^This

We moved in 14 years ago and the previous owners had let Ivy grow all up one wall.

I hacked it off at ground level and cut / pulled off what I could.
BLOODY HARD WORK

To this day thee are still very small bits on the wall, here and there but not that you would notice unless you were really up close.

[Wheelrepairit]

My neighbour had Ivy growing over his side wall, he cut the trunk which was about 3 inches round just above ground level.

One month later tried to pull it off the wall.

Not budging an inch, until I came up with idea of putting rope around the trunk and tie the other end to tow bar of my navara truck.

Peeled it off in one giant sheet, 30 secs jobs done.

Easy peasy.

[Dogwatch]

Skyedriver said:

Just ask Ivy, nicely and politely, to leave the premises

You obviously haven't met her!

[RichB]

Don't kill it trust me it comes off easier when it's still live with some flex in it. cut through it and pull downward not out. If you pull out it will break but by pulling down it ripps off the wall. I guess it's stronger in tension? I like ivy but every few years I have to strip the stuff off...

[treehack]

As others have said it comes off easier when alive. Start at 5'ish, cut the thicker stems and start to prise off the stems with a screw driver. Just try to loosen them from the wall and pull down and out slightly. It will leave small traces where it had suckered itself to the wall and these are complete b'stads to get off, a wire brush is good but will mark the surface.

[jdwoodbury]

Unfortunately I already cut it the other week, looks like a Saturday job in a few weeks time to start picking away at it.

[eddie1980]

Its a right pain! Good luck with it!

Edited by eddie1980 on Friday 22 July 16:33

[RichB]

jdwoodbury said:

Unfortunately I already cut it the other week, looks like a Saturday job in a few weeks time to start picking away at it.

RTFM or RTPF, refer to Pistonheads First

[Rollin]

Our house had pyracanthas growing up one side of it when we moved in. Removing that was not fun...

[cuneus]

Wings said:

Even the National Trust are now removing Ivy from buildings and walls.

Have you got a source for that ?


To kill the roots - Large drill bit, funnel and liquid sodium chlorate

[Simpo Two]

Rollin said:

Our house had pyracanthas growing up one side of it when we moved in. Removing that was not fun...

I've had mine for 20 years; every time I need to cut some off I wear gardening gloves and approach with extreme caution - and the bd still draws blood.

[Flintstone]

Rollin said:

Our house had pyracanthas growing up one side of it when we moved in. Removing that was not fun...

I have pyracantha AND ivy in my garden