English ivy, while native to the UK, can still become a nuisance in gardens under certain conditions.
In areas with mild temperatures and consistent moisture, this plant tends to be more invasive. The type of soil also plays a role, with nutrient-rich soils supporting rapid spread.
One of the reasons English ivy can be so invasive is its shade tolerance, which allows it to thrive in areas with limited sunlight, outcompeting other plants.
The plant competes with other garden plants for essential resources like sunlight, water, and nutrients, often resulting in the weakening or death of desirable plants.
When it climbs trees, its added weight and density can lead to weakened branches, making them more susceptible to diseases and structural damage.
English ivy supports itself with aerial roots, and when these penetrate cracks or joints in structures, they may cause structural damage to your home.
Desperate to rid his garden of ivy, Steve Cockrill took to the Gardening Hints and Tips Facebook page to get some advice.
He asked: “What’s a good way to get rid of unwanted ivy?” The most common answer seemed to be to cut the ivy plant down and use a certain household item on the plant – bleach.
AJ Sargent instructed: “Cut it off at the base, cut slits in the base, pour neat bleach over the stump, then cover it with a bag and tape it up to protect wildlife from the bleach. The plant will take the bleach down to its roots and kill it completely.”
Jennifer Clark advised: “Chop it at the base and remove as much as you can, then add bleach over it.”
Elaine White shared her success story: “I have killed very old invasive ivy that has crawled up next doors house and literally thought would be impossible to get rid of. A large bottle of bleach killed the lot within days. It works.”
Ethel Heslin suggested a surefire method: “The only way to kill the ivy for good is to cut it as close to the ground and pour bleach on the roots.”
She further explained: “It will burn it and the ivy will die. Don’t pull off the large branches of a wall, cut off at different parts and it will fade and die off in a few days.”
For those looking to tackle their ivy problems, bleach is readily available at local supermarkets. Ocado offers a bottle of bleach for just 69p and it retails at both Sainsbury’s and Asda for 70p.
A word of caution when using bleach on ivy – ensure it doesn’t come into contact with other plants, as it will kill them instantly.
