An expert has revealed one of the easiest ways to remove a common nuisance from your garden forever. Ivy can be tricky to remove, given how resilient and thick-growing it is. But it’s not impossible, according to gardening enthusiast Brittany Bailey.
User, Pretty Hand Girl, took to YouTube to share what she calls the “easiest way to get rid of English ivy forever”. “This is truly the easiest and most effective way to get rid of English ivy forever, she stated. Brittany explained that English ivy is “one of the biggest nuisance plants” in her garden because it “grows out of control”. She pointed out that English ivy “chokes trees, covers the ground and keeps growing” – making it the “perfect hiding place for rodents”.
According to the expert, her ivy removal method doesn’t require breaking your back pulling it out by hand. Instead, it is “the quickest and most effective way” to eliminate the plant.
Brittany’s process starts with donning protective clothing, safety glasses, and gloves. She then asserts that the “key to knocking out English ivy is to first cut or score the vines.”
The “quickest way” to do this, she suggests, is to use a string trimmer. Alternatively, if you have a flat area without rocks, dips or large hazards, you could use a lawnmower.
For ivy that has climbed up a tree, use garden loopers to cut the vines around the trunk. You can find these for £8.99 at Gardening Express.
Then, pull back the ivy several feet away from the tree, ensuring to cut any vines running over the tree roots. Avoid pulling the vines off the tree, as this could harm it. Over time, they’ll die and loosen their grip.
Brittany suggested the next step is to use a chemical weed killer. However, if you prefer a natural approach, she recommends using white vinegar.
She advised: “Alternatively you can use a natural spray by filling a garden sprayer with white vinegar and dish soap. The soap helps the vinegar stick to the ivy. Just be careful not to spray the mixture near any plants you want to keep.”
When applying this solution, Brittany claimed it’s best to use it on a sunny day when no rain is forecasted for a day or two later. Returning to her ivy plant a few weeks later, Brittany noted that this is when you can completely remove the plant.
She explained: “By now the ivy will have weakened its grip in the soil and all you have to do is grab a garden rake and start raking the ivy.”
Wickes sells a highly-rated garden rake for just £13.50. If you come across any ivy that is “deeply rooted”, you can “save your back” by using a garden hoe to pry up the roots. Gardening Express sells one for £24.99.
