Need help with ivy removal

Question

My east yard is covered with ivy.  It's about to invade the woods as well.  I need the simplest method of killing it as I am too old to pull all of it up.  Any ideas, or should I have an ivy-pulling party?

Douglas Hunt · Answer

Your options are spraying with an herbicide containing glyphosate, which you will probably have to do every six weeks until it finally dies out, or pulling. I like the idea of an ivy-pulling party. For some pulling strategies, see these suggestions from the 'No Ivy League' of Portland, Oregon: http://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/article/201781#Ivy%20Removal%20Methods

Sherrie · Answer

I have a rental house and believe it or not Ivy is invasive. I use brush killer and use it every time I mow. To get it off the house and the shed I pulled it off, scraped the house and shed and repainted the out side. It is nasty. I also when I get a chance pull it out by the roots. I put some ivy in a plant on my front porch at my house last summer. This summer it started growing in my front flower beds. I dug it out by the roots and now I am watching that spot.

The Garden Frog with C Renee · Answer

I have found that pulling Ivy out is by far the best way even if you spray it because you have to deal with the vines being attached to trees and such plus the vines on the ground. I have pulled out truckloads of ivy in the last 10 years. I have a method for pulling it up that works pretty well for me and I have some physical limitations. I have been paid to pull out huge areas of ivy and know the physical strain of removing ivy.
You will need sharp tools-shovel, hoe or edger to cut through the ivy. You start where the ivy ends not at the beginning-find the very tip of the ivy and take your sharpened tool and go back about 4' and cut a line through the ivy all the way across the area. Pull the ivy which will come out in lengths that are manageable. I have pulled out ivy a foot thick and where I literally pulled strands that were 30-40' long entangled in each other like horrible web. I have an electric bench grinder and so I sharpen my tools especially since I live under Oak trees. Cutting the ivy with a long handled tool is so much easier than bending over and cutting it with your pruners which will take forever!
At the trees, take your sharpened tool and jab the root at the tree using enough strength to cut the ivy-you will not hurt the tree with jabs unless you use brute strength and gash the tree. Pull the ivy up the tree until you no longer can and leave it. The ivy will eventually die and then you can keep pulling it off the tree for the summer. 
It took 3 years for the ivy not to come back with pulling out stragglers for a couple years until the ivy finally gave up LOL 
Do not be overwhelmed. At my age it takes me about 6 hours to pull out ivy in 30x50' area. Just wear good gloves (I buy Mechanic's gloves now which work great for this).
Good luck and happy gardening!

Jeanette · Answer

Thank you, Douglas, for your input. The 'No Ivy League' site looks promising!

Jeanette · Answer

It is invasive! I wish I'd listened to my daddy, who told me I'd regret planting it!

Funnygirl · Answer

I had a huge problem with thick ivy growing on one side of a painted brick house.Get out all your tools-especially a large screw driver to slide between the house and the ivy,in the middle of the vine,then pry it off the wall.The tendrils come off with a good powerwasher.Because my house was painted,I then had to repaint the brick.Big job!Wanted to mention that the ivy had some type of powder that was irritating to my respiratory system,and I do not have any known allergies.I would highly recommend you wear a mask to be sure that you do not have the same problem.Maybe power washing the ivy beforeremovingwould prevent this problem.