- What anti-ivy remedies are there on the market?
- Chemical agents - toxic and often ineffective
- Permanently remove ivy by hand
Many a gardener despairs of the vigorous growth of ivy. There is a desire for a spray that can be used to quickly and easily remove the climbing plant that has become a weed. Unfortunately, there is hardly any way to permanently eliminate ivy with chemicals.
Chemicals usually do not help against ivy
What anti-ivy remedies are there on the market?
The promises of the manufacturers are big. Ivy should be easy and quick to remove with a spray. Chemical agents such as Roundup are offered as well as biologically based weed killers.
Almost all chemical products act primarily on the above-ground parts of the plant. They don't eliminate the roots of the ivy. From these, however, new plants develop, so that you only fight the ivy with chemical agents for a short time - and also bring a lot of poison into the garden.
If children are playing in the garden or if it is also used as a kitchen garden for growing fruit and vegetables, the use of chemical sprays is out of the question.
Chemical agents - toxic and often ineffective
Chemicals like Roundup are not effective against ivy because they only destroy the foliage above ground. The ivy seems to have died at first. However, it continues to grow underground.
Some remedies like Garlon 4 also work through the root. However, they fight all plants that are in the area, not just the ivy. In such places, the soil is contaminated for a long time.
Permanently remove ivy by hand
The only effective way to permanently destroy ivy is to constantly pull and trim the shoots.
In addition, you must dig up the roots as completely as possible so that the ivy cannot spread further underground. Depending on the root depth, you have to dig up to 60 centimeters deep.
Don't leave clippings in the garden, and don't put them in the compost. It is best to dispose of ivy via the garbage disposal or a collection point for green waste.
tips
Occasionally it is recommended to tackle the ivy with road salt. Better not to follow this advice. Not only does the salt damage other plants, it also seeps into the groundwater.