Laying membrane over ivy - how awful an idea?

[TronaldDump]

The ground under our apple trees is covered in ivy and I can't seem to keep on top of it. I want to lay membrane over the area and woodchip it - I've raked up all the fallen leaves and most of the ivy too, but not dug it over as the ground is full of roots and hard to get to under tree branches. If I lay membrane over the bits of ivy that are left then peg down and woodchip over the top, the ivy will just die and go away right???? Or am I being totally stupid? How bad will it be?

Some things might die in that situation, but ivy MIGHT be tough enough to survive.

If you can trace ivy shoots back to where they first emerge I would have thought could be dug out. Does it also grow up the tree? Ivy sends out roots and suckers, but it could be possible to prise if off the tree.

Thanks ferguson - will see if I can find some master roots but it seems to have put down roots all over to be honest. Maybe I'll spray the lot, cover it up and pray! It does go up the tree but not much - I've been pretty good at pulling it off but I didn't notice that it then decided to creep off through the undergrowth and cover the ground instead!

I've got rid of perennial weeds like bind weed by using Charles Dowding's no dig method. You put a 6 inch layer of manure onto the area, and cover with heavy duty black plastic. On a couple of areas I just did the plastic, and it worked almost as well.
Actually you could Google him, and go on his website and ask of it would work for ivy, he is really giff at replying to questions.
But yes. I think your basic principal sound effective.

6 inches of manure would also be good for your apple tree.

6 inches of manure would also be good for your apple tree.

I'd be wary of spraying as you might damage the tree,

You could put the leading tips of the ivy in plastic bags and spray inside ant tie the top and the plant will take the weekiller to the roots.

Bug I think the suggestion above is the top one and Kay down a thick layer of mulch,compost, manure bark chippings. It'll do the tree the world of good and make it much easier to pull out the ivy.