Ivy

[ladybarbara]

Hello. Half of my detached house is covered in ivy but some of it is bushy. with berries, in other parts it looks variegated and is flat and clinging. A friend has cut it back to bare wood. it looks awful, but he says it will grow back and you can't kill ivy.
Is he right and does it damage the house?
Thank you

[Hawkwalk]

you can kill ivy but not like that. Yes it will come back and yes it can damage the house. It eats into the mortar and brickwork and can be a big problem.

[Thunderbird+]

It sounds like an old ivy that started out as vaiegated, but over the years has started to revert to the original form of the plant. I've done a few jobs of removing ivy and believe me, it's a very dirty/dusty and unpleasent task. when it gets to the flowering stage, which yours has, it tends to be more of a problem and gets into every nook and cranny, even under roof tiles etc.
Several products can be found on the market that are designed to kill it- 'Growing Success ivy killer' usually retails for about �4.99 for a spray gun (spray on foliage) or you could use 'Rootout' or 'SBK brushwood killer' that can be sprayed onto the cut stems to stop it from re-growing.
Good Luck Tbird+

[ladybarbara]

Thank you both for your answers. I don't want to get rid of it as I like it, so perhaps if it's kept under control it will be all right?
In Germany you get a rate reduction as ivy is an insulator, so I've been told
If it doesn't green up after the butchery we will think again
Thanks

[toltol]

Latest research on ivy covering buildings is that yes, it get into the mortar but it also acts as a protector, water runs off the leaves. If you like it, leave it.

[ladybarbara]

Thank you for your answer. I think we will leave it but control it. Hope you are right!