Ivy may look charming crawling up on your home’s fence or landscape ornamentals, but it can quickly become invasive and destructive.
With its fast-growing vines and stubborn root systems, English ivy and similar species can overtake homes and gardens, strangle trees, and damage masonry, creating long-term maintenance problems.
If you’re tired of fighting the pesky weed and want a lasting solution, here are systematic strategies to kill ivy roots permanently and reclaim your space.
1. Cut the Ivy at the Base
To kill ivy roots permanently means attacking the underground system. However, it starts with cutting the visible vines creeping on the trees, walls, or fences. Cutting the vines at the base interrupts the transport of water and nutrients to the top vegetation, effectively starving them to death.
Here are the steps to follow:
- Identify the root and vine systems crawling on the trees and fences.
- Cut the vines a few feet from the base using pruning shears or loppers.
- Pull or dig out the roots using a shovel.
Look for thick central root clusters and smaller roots spreading horizontally. Removing as many of these as possible reduces the chance of regrowth.
Also, wear gardening gloves as you handle the plant and work on it after a rainy day as the roots will come off more easily.
2. Remove All Root and Surface Growth
Once the vines and roots are cut, remove as much of the ivy growth as possible. Use a garden hoe or shovel to lift and roll up the mats of ivy.
Be careful not to damage trees or structures. Never pull ivy off bark as it can strip it. Let the vines die and dry out before gently removing them.
3. Apply a Targeted Herbicide
To kill any remaining roots, apply a non-selective systemic herbicide like glyphosate or triclopyr directly to the exposed roots. This ensures the chemical is absorbed deeply into the plant system.
For the best results:
- Use a brush or spray bottle to apply the herbicide on a dry day with no rain forecast.
- Follow all safety instructions on the label.
- Avoid overspray on desirable plants.
If you prefer an organic alternative, use a vinegar-based weed killer, though it is less effective on deep-rooted ivy and may require repeat applications.
4. Smother the Area
After removing ivy and treating the roots, smother the area with a thick mulch layer or cardboard to prevent sunlight from reaching any remaining root fragments. Leave it in place for several months to suppress regrowth.
5. Monitor and Repeat as Needed
Ivy can be relentless, and you may notice new sprouts weeks or even months later. Pull any new growth by hand or spot-treat with herbicide immediately to prevent re-establishment.
Regular monitoring for at least a full growing season is necessary to ensure complete eradication.
Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.