Insidious Ivy in a League of Its Own
How’s this for an outstanding example of ‘old man’ ivy?
Anyone who has battled ivy in their gardens or in natural areas will agree that it is one of the most tenacious weeds to tackle.
Usually intimately entwined or connected to whatever is supporting it as it climbs, ivy is hard to spray without killing the desirable plants it grows up or over. Ivy attaches itself to the bark of the ‘host’ plants so tightly that if you try a spot of physical exertion to pull it loose, you risk damaging the outer layers of the very trees you are trying to protect. And to make it worse, ivy grows from whatever fragments get left behind after your extreme weeding attempts.
There is no magic bullet to get rid of ivy; controlling it takes time, care, and persistence, as well as a willingness to mix and match suitable treatment methods to where and how the ivy is growing.
Of course, prevention is better than cure , so spread the word about this weed - and the need to keep it out of our natural areas by disposing of garden greenwaste wisely.