How do I keep next-doors wild ivy at bay, rooting in all directions.

This year alone I have cut sprigs of ivy down from the side wall of my garage (next to neighbours garden which is a mess) and pulled as much of the root as possible...now I find it has re-sprung and attacking all over again!

  6 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Oct 13, 2017

    Cut it back again and use a vegetation killer on your side

  • Dl.5660408 Dl.5660408 on Oct 13, 2017

    That's a tough problem because ivy is incredibly invasive. You will have to be vigilant about pulling it up or it will quickly take over and because of the waxy coating it develops vegetation killer can be ineffective. If you choose to use vegetation killer it works best on new growth in the spring before the waxy coat has developed

  • Spray with straight vinegar. You will need to repeat periodically, but vinegar is cheap and environmentally friendly.

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Oct 13, 2017

    Whether you use something like round up or vinegar, it would probably be better to get the poison to the roots if you cut the stem fairly close to the ground and paint the cut to get around the waxy coating it develops. By cutting it down and disposing of the upper part, you are effectively shortening the time and distance the killer you use takes to get to the roots. Vinegar will kill anything it touches, hence the paint it on the raw cut end, it won't touch the grass or any other plants around it.

  • FL FL on Oct 13, 2017

    You need to dig a barrier into the ground deeper than the roots of the ivy. Say, a 6 or 8" deep strip of corrugated metal. Then kill whatever grows back after digging out the roots of every ivy in your yard. OR you can make the ivy a part of a garden area that you contain with barriers and decorate with rocks or a wagon wheel or a wishing well or a bird bath area. (If you can't beat 'em, join 'em)

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Oct 13, 2017

    Try and speak to your neighbours about the problems you are having,