Removing ivy

[ElephantsDontReadFantasy]

We have a very well established lot of ivy on the side of our house that was here when we moved in. It didn’t seem to problematic at first so was low priority on the “sorting out” list, but in the last 18 months it’s grown into the roof and guttering.

Ive taken some advice from our neighbours gardener and cut it at the base leaving a thumbs width gap so the existing ivy blanket will die.

However, there is varying advice about what to do next so I’d love anyone with experience to chip in.

I will struggle to dig out the roots as they are right next to and under the wall of the house and laid patio. What’s my best course here?

Then, to remove the vines from the walls once it’s started to die off, is there a particular strategy I should use? How long should I wait before trying to start the process?

Help!

I’ve removed ivy by simply cutting at the base, then religiously cutting off any re-growth till it’s given up the ghost.

You can start pulling it off now. Check for birds nests! Not noticing them is no defence against the crime of disturbing a nesting bird. Ivy stems are pretty tough, so anywhere you can get a finger underneath, tease it up till you can get a hand under and give a really good yank. There’ll still be some left that you’ll have to wait till it’s died, but you should get a satisfying amount off now.

Use a decorating scraper to get the dead/dying stuff off the walls... next door neighbour doesn't like ivy on their garage, so we have to scrape off stuff regularly as ours is a bit of a jungle.

Following as I have the same issue. Getting dried ivy off can be tricky if it’s very old. I used a rake last week. But keen for tips!

Thanks! I am going to have to be brave and use a ladder I think as it’s up very high 🤣

@MereDintofPandiculation absolutely love all our birds so I will be super careful. The rake is a good tip and one I will try!

Ive attached a pic of what we’re dealing with!

The good news about having a whole lot of ivy to remove, is that if you're lucky, a huge clump will come away in one go.
This is more likely if it's still green, so it will be clinging onto itself.

Start at the bottom, with a thin blade or flat paint scraper, look for a big thick stem, and without trying to detach it from the plant, pull it away from the wall.Then, when you've got a thick stem detached, firm grasp and keep pulling away from the wall.

It's worth having several goes, as it's incredibly satisfying, and time saving, if a wodge the height of the house comes away as one.

The only time I would be more cautious if you have soft old red bricks, the surface of which can come away with the ivy- but that's clearly not the case here.

@ElephantsDontReadFantasy
Just looked at your picture more carefully.
Yes, before trying what I suggested, you need to get up a ladder, cut right across every ivy stem, below the gutter.
Otherwise, the bits entangled in the gutter, or even poking into the roofing felt, could do damage if you manage to pull a whole wodge off in one go.
I'd

• cut a clean line below the gutter
• try the 'wodge' technique
• then go back up ladder to carefully, slowly remove whats above the line
• Good Luck

Thank you! I know what is in my future then! Once the H has finished his garage jobs I’ll get him to be the ladder holder.

The best fun I ever had in the garden was blasting dead ivy off the house with a pressure washer.

It's v high on your house though - you might need to talk to neighbours about it in case they get ivy shrapnel in their garden.

I’ve already spoken to our neighbour so they know the plan. I’ve said I’ll give warning to move their cars before we start pulling down.

i just looked again how high our gutter is. I’m not sure I fancy being that high 😬 😭

I think I would get a tradesperson who is used to working at heights to do the job! Like a tree surgeon or a someone who uses a tower to work off.

Otherwise, I think you can hire towers to work safely at a height from tool shops, I certainly would not want to use a single ladder to climb high enough to cut the ivy off the gutters.

I think you’re right @Ihateslugs I have a tree guy so I might give him a call this week.

It's harder to remove once it is dead and dried, so tackle before then. You can slide a flat-bladed knife under it and jemmy it off. I use one of those old butter knives with the fawn coloured handle.