Gardeners can banish ivy 'for good' in just days by using natural solution
Ivy can be hard to remove once it has taken over your garden, but there is a simple way.
British gardeners understand the relentless nature of common or English ivy. It is an evergreen climbing plant widespread throughout the UK, notorious for its stubborn grip on walls, fences, and trees, forming dense carpets of greenery.
While it does provide certain environmental benefits, such as offering refuge for birds and supporting pollination, ivy can overwhelm other plants, erode mortar in older walls, and block out sunlight. Ivy proves a considerable nuisance for gardeners. The typical method for tackling fast-spreading weeds might involve harsh chemicals.
Yet specialists at Drip Works suggest a homemade solution using just three common kitchen ingredients can eradicate "serious and invasive" ivy.
Managing unwanted ivy differs depending on where it has taken hold in the garden. For ivy climbing walls, the experts recommend a spray solution made with vinegar.
"If you want an ivy-free garden wall, this is an effective and natural way to achieve it," the experts advise. They recommend a mixture using apple cider vinegar, salt, and washing-up liquid, which they claim has been "proven to be the best solution to kill ivy".
Preparing this weed-killing spray is simple; just combine three basic ingredients in a spray bottle. Mix together one gallon of apple cider vinegar, a tablespoon of salt, and roughly two tablespoons of washing-up liquid.
Both apple cider vinegar and white vinegar can be used to eliminate ivy, with apple cider vinegar potentially proving more effective due to additional compounds beyond acetic acid.
The effectiveness of either vinegar in destroying ivy depends on the concentration of acetic acid, which differs across various vinegar varieties.
Prior to use, it is crucial to fasten the lid on the mixture and give it a thorough shake. It is equally important to wear gardening gloves, long sleeves, and boots for adequate protection throughout the process.
How to kill ivy plants
It is recommended that the vinegar solution thoroughly coat the ivy plants for a minimum of five days before judging its effects. This liquid formula acts as a natural weedkiller, drawing moisture from ivy leaves and helping to break down their protective waxy coating.
Drip Works suggested: "After five to six days, use garden shears and a pruning saw to remove dead ivy that is clinging firmly to the building."
Should any foliage survive the spray application, the process may need to be repeated until the English ivy is completely eliminated.
After the leaves have died, it is essential to physically extract the roots, as ivy will regrow if even a tiny root fragment is left behind.
While ivy can offer nesting sites for wildlife within its thick growth, uncontrolled spread can endanger trees by increasing weight and competing for sunlight and water.
