English ivy is a beautiful plant that can give gardens a storybook atmosphere, but it can do massive damage to your property if you do not remove it. Its roots can work their way inside cracks to trap moisture in walls which will eventually weaken the stone and could cause the whole structure to fall down.
Ivy can also wrap itself around trees, which can weaken the bark, prevent sunlight from reaching the tree leaves and make it more vulnerable to pests or fungal diseases. If you wish to get rid of ivy for good without using harsh chemicals around your garden then the experts at Drip Works have a simple yet effective homemade solution. They said: “If you want an ivy-free garden wall, this is an effective and natural way to achieve it. The combination of apple cider vinegar, salt, and dish soap has been proven to be the best solution to kill ivy.”
Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid which can break down plant matter while salt can help dehydrate the ivy to kill it without any fuss.
Washing up liquid is one of the best ways to naturally remove unwanted plants as it contains surfactants that can penetrate the protective waxy coating on leaves to make it easier to target the roots.
All you need to do is spay a generous amount of the solution directly onto the ivy plant. Coat the ivy leaves and try to avoid getting any on nearby plants you want to grow.
Then, give the solution time to kill the ivy and after five to six days it should be brown and brittle.
Once the ivy is dead simply use a pair of garden shears and pruning shears to cut away the dead ivy that is still clinging to a wall or tree.
Any ivy on the ground is best to clean up any sticks or plants it is tangled in and then try peeling it like a carpet to get rid of it.
Make sure to clear up any ivy on the ground as soon as you notice it, as ivy is incredibly resilient, and even the smallest piece can take root again.
If there is any greenery still on the ivy then keep repeatedly spraying the solution onto the ivy and waiting a few days until it is completely dead.
Once you are sure you have gotten rid of the ivy, put on a pair of gardening gloves and use a shovel to dig out the roots to that they cannot grow back.
It is best to remove ivy now as late February to early March as it will have greatly weakened over winter and will be much easier to kill before it begins growing again in springtime.
It is also far easier to spot ivy at this time of year as there are fewer leaves on trees and full bushes so you are more certain you have cleaned up every piece.
Taking the time to remove ivy now with this homemade solution will ensure your garden walls stay intact and any trees remain pest-free in time for the warmer weather.
