Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →

Weed Killer for Ivy

...
ivy image by Alison Bowden from Fotolia.com

The word "ivy" carries connotations of old world class and high-society living. But for a gardener, ivy is synonymous with "ivy deserts," which are large areas of forest land that have been smothered to death by twining English ivy. This is because ivy is an invasive vine that covers everything it grows near. When battling ivy, it is important to select a good weed killer.

Significance

English ivy smothers a plant by blocking all access to the light that the plant needs to survive. English ivy begins growing at ground level and slowly creeps up the trunk of a tree. By the time the ivy reaches the tree’s canopy, the tree already exhibits signs of stress and poor health including thin foliage. The plant also quickly escapes controlled plantings through seeds and establishes itself in unwanted locations.

  • The word "ivy" carries connotations of old world class and high-society living.
  • By the time the ivy reaches the tree’s canopy, the tree already exhibits signs of stress and poor health including thin foliage.

Features

Killing English ivy with weed killer before removing it is an important step to help avoid damaging trees, building facades or anything that may be growing beneath the plant. English ivy produces roots from the same locations that leaves emerge from. These roots bury themselves deep in the surfaces that they grow on to assist ivy in climbing. Attempts to remove ivy without first killing the plant can damage tree bark, chunks of masonry or other surfaces.

Misconceptions

You will not be able to completely kill English ivy by spraying a broadleaf herbicide directly onto the leaves of the plant. A broadleaf herbicide may kill the plant’s foliage, but it will not destroy the plant at the roots. Instead you must poison the plant using a systemic herbicide. English ivy will pull systemic herbicides into the roots of the plant to kill the entire plant structure.

  • Killing English ivy with weed killer before removing it is an important step to help avoid damaging trees, building facades or anything that may be growing beneath the plant.
  • A broadleaf herbicide may kill the plant’s foliage, but it will not destroy the plant at the roots.

Time Frame

The systemic herbicide that you choose should be based on the time of year that you will kill the plant. A systemic herbicide containing glyphosate is a good choice for killing English ivy in spring. For eradicating English ivy in fall, choose a systemic herbicide containing triclopyr.

Prevention/Solution

To treat English ivy, cut 2-inch sections out of each vine that you encounter from the end of the vine to the tip. Then paint the exposed pieces of cut vine with the herbicide. Wait six weeks and re-treat the vine. Once the vine sections die completely, remove the vine. Continue to observe the ground where English ivy was planted. The plant’s roots may continue to try to send up shoots for two more years.

  • The systemic herbicide that you choose should be based on the time of year that you will kill the plant.

Related Articles

Boston Ivy Diseases
Boston Ivy Diseases
How to Remove English Ivy From Asbestos Siding
How to Remove English Ivy From Asbestos Siding
How to Remove Ivy Ground Cover
How to Remove Ivy Ground Cover
Ivy Plant Diseases
Ivy Plant Diseases
How to Train English Ivy to Grow Up The Wall
How to Train English Ivy to Grow Up The Wall
How to Plant English Ivy As a Ground Cover
How to Plant English Ivy As a Ground Cover
How to Transplant English Ivy
How to Transplant English Ivy
How to Permanently Kill Ivy
How to Permanently Kill Ivy
Ivy As a Ground Cover
Ivy As a Ground Cover
How to Plant Climbing Ivy
How to Plant Climbing Ivy
How to Grow Ivy From Cuttings
How to Grow Ivy From Cuttings
How to Remove Ivy Tendrils From Stucco
How to Remove Ivy Tendrils From Stucco
The Meaning of the Ivy Plant
The Meaning of the Ivy Plant
When to Plant Boston Ivy
When to Plant Boston Ivy
How to Transplant Honeysuckle Vines
How to Transplant Honeysuckle Vines
Garden Guides
×