Q&A – I have lots of ivy on my tree. How do I get rid of it without killing the tree?
Question:
I have a large mass of ivy that is climbing my tree. How can I get rid of it without killing my tree?
Answer:
The best way to get rid of ivy on trees is to cut the ivy vines at the base of the tree. The ivy in the tree will die. UT Extension Horticulture Specialist Carol Reese says it will take years for the dead ivy to fall out of the tree, but it will eventually come down. She also recommends cutting and spraying all the ivy shoots that come up from the ground until the roots die. She recommends spraying glyphosate on the young leaves and shoots to kill the roots. If you do not want to use glyphosate, you will need to dig up all the new shoots until they stop coming up. If using chemicals do not use brush killer as that will harm the tree, just use plain Glyphosate. Read the label on the chemical to make sure glyphosate is the only chemical in the bottle.
Related Resources:
English Ivy Control
Ivy Removal in a Home Landscape
English Ivy (Hedera helix)
I have a large mass of ivy that is climbing my tree. How can I get rid of it without killing my tree?
Answer:
The best way to get rid of ivy on trees is to cut the ivy vines at the base of the tree. The ivy in the tree will die. UT Extension Horticulture Specialist Carol Reese says it will take years for the dead ivy to fall out of the tree, but it will eventually come down. She also recommends cutting and spraying all the ivy shoots that come up from the ground until the roots die. She recommends spraying glyphosate on the young leaves and shoots to kill the roots. If you do not want to use glyphosate, you will need to dig up all the new shoots until they stop coming up. If using chemicals do not use brush killer as that will harm the tree, just use plain Glyphosate. Read the label on the chemical to make sure glyphosate is the only chemical in the bottle.
Related Resources:
English Ivy Control
Ivy Removal in a Home Landscape
English Ivy (Hedera helix)