Ivy covering a hedge

[parkgate]

Good evening.

 

My garden is surrounded by a 8ft high Laurel hedge which we had cut and tidied last Autumn.

 

A great deal of what I think is Ivy has now appeared and looks like it is smothering the hedge.

 

Whilst the Ivy is an attractive green colour and certainly adds to the density of the hedge I am concerned that it will kill or weaken the Laurel hedge.

 

Should I remove the Ivy? - and is this best done by cutting the lower stems thus depriving it of water and nutrients?

 

Kind Regards

[openspaceman]

1 hour ago, parkgate said:

Whilst the Ivy is an attractive green colour and certainly adds to the density of the hedge I am concerned that it will kill or weaken the Laurel hedge.

It can, I had the same view about ivy, liked the looks and berries plus its habitat value, so I left it alone, it smothered and killed to hawthorns in the hedge which presumably had been there over 150 years.

[parkgate]

Thank You.

 

On closer inspection I think one of the trees is already dead and now merely provides a growing frame for the Ivy.

 

If I remove the Ivy I will be left with a dead tree and no greenery.

 

It looks like the Ivy is now the hedge in some parts.

[rapalaman]

It will spread and eventually smother and kill it all so remove, dig out roots and attack any new growth as soon as it appears. A long hard war of attrition but worth it eventually. Replant a new Laurel to fill the gap 

[Nimby]

The Ivy is the best thing about the hedge. Leave it and just prune the hedge as normal.

[Stubby]

4 hours ago, Nimby said:

The Ivy is the best thing about the hedge. Leave it and just prune the hedge as normal.

This is the least labor intensive solution  ?