This reliably growing climbing plant is a beauty for some, but rather a thorn in the side for others. The ivy grows easily up walls and trees and can either have an ornamental effect (if that's what you want) or simply be a nuisance. Especially when the plant starts climbing up tree trunks, some people worry about the tree, because how often have you heard that ivy destroys trees. But is that true? Before you start radical removal, think about what the real reason is: do you just want to save the tree or does the plant actually bother you in general? Because you may not even need to bother. However, if you do want to remove the ivy from the tree, you will be successful with our tips.
Remove ivy from the tree – does the climbing plant harm?
Ivy grows up the tree and you feel like you've heard before that it's not so good. There is a belief that ivy on the tree is a parasite, depriving the large plant of nutrients and light. There is also a belief that, over time, the shoots may pinch off the branches and twigs as they become wrapped around them.
Does ivy really harm the tree?
This is actually a myth. While some other invasive creepers might have such an effect, this one does not. As happy as it may be to climb, it does not have twining shoots to hold on to trees, but rather so-called adhesive roots with which it only holds on to the bark. The leaves, with which the tree absorbs light and, to a certain extent, nutrients, are not affected in any way. Ivy is a shade-loving plant, so it feels comfortable in the treetop. It does not strive to reach the surface and therefore does not deprive the plant of sunlight. If an overgrown tree dies, it was already sick from the start.
How it really works
So it is not true that ivy is harmful to trees. However, if you still want to remove the ivy permanently despite this knowledge, we can help you with a few tips. While heof house wallscan often simply be torn off, you should be more careful with a living plant so as not to damage it unnecessarily. If you want to remove ivy from the tree, follow these steps:
Remove ivy from the tree in three steps
Important NOTE!Ivy is poisonous. For this reason, it is essential to wear protective gloves when working with this plant. Even the smallest wounds can cause the toxins it produces to enter the body.
- Cut the ivy trunk
As already mentioned, tearing it down is not an option. Because by pulling them off, you not only tear one or two leaves, but you may also damage the branches and the bark of the tree. But instead of making it an annoying task to cut through all the shoots in and on the tree, tackle the problem (almost) at the root. You can leave the roots alone for now. But you can saw straight through the main trunk that sticks out of the ground. Try not to injure the trunk if possible. By cutting through the ivy, all above-ground parts of the plant will dry out after not too long.
- Allow the above-ground parts of the plant to die back
The ivy's adhesive roots are really tough. That's why it's better to let it die first before pulling on the plant, no matter how unsightly the dried ivy plant may temporarily look. The bad news is that the whole thing can take the whole summer. The idea is that the adhesive roots should also rot. They should then be easier to remove in the fall. This makes them a little more slippery and pulling them off the trunk is no longer a problem. If the shoots have already grown into the crown, you should be a little more comfortable there.
What you could do with the leaves:Ivy as detergent and dishwashing liquid: effective recipes
If you don't want to wait that long, you can still cut off the ivy plant piece by piece by hand and carefully remove it. You could use this especially for the crown area. The adhesive roots can also be cut with a sharp bread knife.
- Destroy the roots of the ivy on the tree
As long as the ivy root remains in the ground, the plant will sprout again. So if you want to get rid of the ivy permanently, you have to destroy it too. You can remove the ivy root by exposing it first. Since you can't lift them out all at once, it's worth chopping them up first. To do this, simply divide the main roots with a spade. They loosen everything at the same time so that they can then pull the root stump out of the ground.
Also read: “COMMON IVY AS A HOUSEPLANT: THIS IS HOW THE GREEN-LEAFED PLANT CAN THRIVE INDOOR!”
