Gardening obsessives have revealed a quick and cheap way to get rid of English ivy in your garden. English ivy flourishes in low-light conditions, often found in gardens and on homes in areas where the sun doesn’t shine.
Its aerial roots, which can feel sticky, are incredibly grippy, and they can latch onto anything, causing structural damage. Clever gardeners have taken to Facebook to share the ultimate method for getting rid of ivy, and it costs just 30p. Mary Cook sought advice on the Gardening Hints and Tips Facebook group, asking: “What’s a good way to get rid of unwanted ivy?” Many group members responded, recommending chopping down the ivy and applying bleach. However, using bleach in the garden can harm pets, animals, and other plants. Instead, Marianne Taylor suggested: “The only way to eradicate ivy is to remove as much of it as possible by hand and then use white vinegar. It will be dead overnight and then you can work to remove it at the root with weedkiller or professional help.”
To use white vinegar, simply mix 80% water with 20% white vinegar and thoroughly spray the plant. Older plants may require higher concentrations of vinegar to kill them, but ensure to only spray the affected area.
White vinegar is extremely potent and it will cause other desired plants to wilt and die if it comes into contact with them.
Gena Lorraine, a gardener at Fantastic Services, advised: “Ensure that you don’t harm other plants while spraying the ivy plants. Observe the results and remove any dead ivy, reapplying the solution as needed.”
Boiling water can also be used to kill ivy, but the plant will still retain its skin-irritating oils, so it’s best to remove them with tongs and gloves if opting for this method.
Gardeners can start dealing with English ivy in their gardens with this easy and affordable solution.
This method helps create a cleaner, more organised patio without requiring expertise, although its removal may take time and effort – but the results are very much worth its work.