Cutting back ivy

[Patrick Bateman]

Looking for advice on cutting this back...the previous owner of our house was kind enough to let the ivy get totally out of hand and take over half the garage. A honeysuckle is also in amongst this but definitely only a small part-





I don't necessarily want to get rid of it as the birds clearly use this for nesting and shelter but wonder is the easiest way to cut this right back to its base and start again? Would assume it'll be much easier to remove the existing growth from the roof after it's died back.

[sherman]

Find the main stem.
Cut through it with a saw.
Leave until spring.
The thatch should peel off the garage nice and easily then.

[Simpo Two]

If you want to leave some for nesting birds etc I'd just remove the parts you find untidy. In other words, give it a haircut. It won't mind, ivy is tough.

[megaphone]

sherman said:

Find the main stem.
Cut through it with a saw.
Leave until spring.
The thatch should peel off the garage nice and easily then.

This cut the stem and wait for it to die off, much easier to remove once it's dead

[Cow Corner]

As others have said, cut main stem and let it due - much better to remove entirely to avoid any more damage to the garage. You can look to provide some alternative wildlife habitat, perhaps by putting in shrubs/hedging alongside the garage or against the oil tank enclosure.

[Matt_N]

We live near woodlands and the Ivy seems to encroach on all aspects of your garden from neighbours who don’t tame it, all I can say is wear a mask when cutting it back, the dust / particles it gives off when cutting is horrible!

[Danm1les]

We live next door to an SSE substation, which had ivy growing up and over it from our side and was out of control. I cut off the main stems back before summer, and SSE's team are there today peeling it off the roof etc.

Comes off much easier when its dead, the leaves falling off non stop have been a pain though!

[Patrick Bateman]

Cheers, think I'll go that route as suspect it'll be a bd to pull off in its current state then.

Also don't have the means to get onto the roof currently...

[Composer62]

I had a similar problem to the OP and (as far as I know) cut through several main stems quite a few months ago. The bloody stuff has just kept on growing though. Have I missed something ?

[Danm1les]

They have finished for the moment in taking off the ivy this morning, roof is quite the state. Ivy really is the worst.