Help with Ivy

[malpal]

I've just come in from the garden, and have spent hours tying to remove the ivy growing on our garage wall; it looks very pretty but it has now gone inside the garage and is growing on the ceiling! I am cutting and scraping but was wondering what AB gardeners can recommend to get rid of it .

[coco pops]

We pull it off but it is quite strong and time consuming. Once you have cleared it best thing to do is get rid of ivy as you see it .

[Thunderbird+]

Hi malpal,
This sounds exactly like a job I had to takle a couple of months ago, the ivy had grown up the garage wall and grown inside the roller shutter, causing it to jam up and it also got under the metal sheeting on the roof,causing leaks.
It was a dirty and dusty job, cutting it away bit by bit with secautres. I only wish I had some close fitting gogles at the time but was glad of my hat.
Any way once all the hard graft is out the way and you've cut it back to a foot or two from the ground, you could treat the cut ends of the ivy with one of the following products- 'Growing success ivy killer', 'SBK Brushwood killer' or 'Rootout'. Keep the stubbs covered with polythene and treat any other sprouts on sight.
I think you'l be glad to see the back of it. Good Luck Tbird+

[malpal]

Thank you both, for your answers. I shall press on wih it then!!!

[sense4all]

I have to admit to lessening the pain of this job, by cutting at the base, and waiting till it has all died off a few weeks later. Yank great chunks off at a time bypulling from the bottom upwards.

[malpal]

Well, I pressed on - I spent all day today getting rid of the dreaded ivy - it was in the roof and had started to force it's way through the felt!!

I declared war on it about 10.30 this morning and by 6.30 it was all over!!

Thanks one and all for your hints and encouragement - I shall be watching out for new shoots.

[caradonman]

The easiest way to peel ivy off the wall is to use a hoe. Put the hoe against the wall and slide the hoe up the wall under the ivy.The ivy comes off easily.Doesn't work very well on uneven surfaces, but it's better than wrenching ivy off with secateurs!

[Figi]

Yes, just cut it off at the base and wait for the rest to go brown and crispy - you can then pull most of it off and what is left will not do any harm.