IF ‘highly destructive’ ivy has taken over your home and garden, then fear not, we’ve got just the thing for you.
Ivy, also known as English ivy or common ivy, is a plant that grows on fences, walls and trees.
It can be found in most gardens and on many homes up and down the UK.
But whilst the plant can add charm and personality to a space, the aerial roots can grow into cracks or joints in buildings which can potentially cause structural damage.
As a result, if you’re looking to get rid of ivy for good, then we’ve got you covered.
And if you’re on a tight budget and can’t afford to splash the cash on pricey products, you’ve come to the right place.
Thanks to a gardening expert, there’s a three-step method you must follow to say goodbye to ivy, and don’t worry, it’s super simple.
Ivy is known to be particularly difficult to kill because it has waxy leaves and a very extensive root system which makes it resistant to some weed killers.
But despite this, Oren Kander, the director at Gaffsy, has revealed a quick and easy technique that can kill the invasive plant, for good.
Oren stressed: “Don’t be fooled by its picturesque charm – English ivy can be highly destructive.
“It depletes nutrients from garden plants, smothers trees, and provides a perfect hiding place for pests, vermin, and insects.
“Worse still, ivy’s aggressive growth can cause serious structural damage to homes by eroding brick and woodwork.”
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Cheap ways to bring vibrant colours to your garden all year round” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6351472320112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]According to Oren, before you try to remove ivy, make sure you wear eye protection, gloves and a top with long sleeves as it has a very rough texture that can scratch you if you’re not careful.
First off, the best way to remove ivy is to cut the vines off at the base, making it much harder for it to grow back in the future.
All you’ll need to do is simply cut the ivy at the bottom of a wall or tree with a pair of shears and make sure to cut the ivy around the base to prevent it from being able to grow back.
One week after your cuts, the plant will begin to wilt and turn brown.
Then, when it is completely dead, you can gently pull it away from the structure.
[authenticated-scripts src=”%3Cscript%20class%3D%22palin-poll%22%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesun.co.uk%2Fpollingwidgets%2Fv3%2Fwidget.js%3Fquestion_id%3D110843%26game%3Dpolling%22%3E%3C%2Fscript%3E” type=”embedded” width=”100″ /]The ivy should then be easy to remove once it has been disconnected from the roots and you can use a shovel to dig out the roots to prevent regrowth.
The second step in the ivy removal process is to apply a herbicide to kill any remaining roots.
But if you want to cut costs and avoid chemicals, you can apply boiling water or white vinegar, which you can nab from Tesco for just 35p, on any remaining foliage.
The final step in the process is to keep a close eye on your garden and home and remove any new shoots if you see them growing, as ivy is very resilient.
It’s crucial that homeowners be patient with this process, as when trying to get rid of ivy it can take multiple rounds of cutting it back to remove it completely.
Despite this, if you keep at it, your garden will be free of this pesky plant for good, without needing to break the bank on posh gardening products.
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[boxout headline=”March gardening jobs ” featured-image=”32636167″ intro=”The Sun’s Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine has shared the first gardening jobs of spring. “]Start sowing seeds
You can plant Aubergine seeds into propagator – or outdoors after the last frost. Or you could try growbags in a coldframe – and hopefully you can harvest from August onwards.
Have a think about planting some different varieties of seeds this year – check out She Grows Veg and other sites for heirloom varieties. There’s an astonishing array on offer, like purple carrots, globe-shaped aubergines, lime green cauliflower or storage tomatoes that stay fresh for months.
Buy and plant summer bulbs
Summer flowering bulbs provide huge big blousey blooms – with some bringing a real touch of the tropics to your garden. Try Gladioli, dahlias, calla lilies, peonies and crocosmia.
Lawncare starts now!
Start your lawn care with a boosting high nitrogen spring feed, reseed any bare patches – and you’ll probably start mowing regularly in earnest this month. If you can – keep a corner long to help wildlife.
Check compost
Dig well rotting compost into your soil. If you have the space, it’s even worth digging trenches and chucking in your rotting veg that’s usually destined for the recycling bin – then cover. It adds great nutrients for free.
Clean outside spaces
Time to blast your patios and paths with a pressure washer – if your children are responsible enough it’s a great job for them – they’ll get soaked and have fun at the same time.
Soak sweet peas
Soak your sweet peas before sowing into long narrow pots or toilet rolls – put two seeds in a pot. These can go in an unheated greenhouse – and when there’s three or four pairs of leaves, pinch out the growing tip which will make them grow outward instead of upwards.
Create a wildflower meadow
Sow a wildflower meadow – if you have room. A lot of shops now sell wildflower mixes to make things easier – or even seed bombs which can just be scattered onto the soil.