Getting rid of ivy!!

[htb]

16 minutes ago, Stubby said:

Not much Ivy growing down the mines either .

Not many mines either, that are still working, I hasten to add.

[Peasgood]

1 hour ago, Stubby said:

Not much Ivy growing down the mines either .

Well that's it's own silly fault for killing all the trees down there!

[gary112]

These guys love the ivy on our trees

[CambridgeJC]

Mick. Please let us know your qualifications. I confess to being amateur but one with sound scientific background and familiarity with interpretation of data. I want to be able to trust my information so accept what  you say. I am a new observer but one with a fresh pair of eyes. We have a problem in this location with ivy and need to define the level of threat before it overtakes our ability to combat it. Hopefully its not too late. We can work together to handle this. But we need facts. Not opinions. Do you agree?

[john87]

2 hours ago, Mick Dempsey said:

It competes with trees for resources and light, lower down.

It has done for millennia.
But it won’t kill a healthy tree, like I said, look at an ivy covered tree, it never engulfs the crown, it sits just beneath, how it knows I don’t know.

I know of a small one, only about 12 foot high and it looks to have covered the lot, but perhaps ivy only grows to a certain height, maybe 25 foot or so?? No idea really

 

john..

[john87]

2 hours ago, gary112 said:

Maybe your tree has other issues thats making it look dead at the bottom 2/3rds,as Mick says it doesn,t kill healthy trees

Yes, perhaps.. It is not something i know much about, tree diseases i mean..

 

john..

[daveatdave]

you want to mix a wetting agent with the glyphosate it will pernitrate the leaves better 

[john87]

I just cut through the bases of the stuff if it is going up a tree, Takes a long time to die off, but it does!!

 

On the ground glyphosate would be good though.. What about one of them "Sheen" flame guns???

 

john..

[CambridgeJC]

Tree diseases are just one aspect of this. The problem as I see it comes with ivy growth so fast and vigorous that it starts to overwhelm the tree’s ability to bear the weight and grow normally. Extreme examples which reduce  light acquisition will inevitably reduce photosynthesis. 
But the real physical issue is reduced resistance to strong winds. 
There are many examples of heavily affected trees where the ivy acts as a sail in winter when trees are dormant and winds are strongest. As uncleared lower growth becomes saturated with ivy the trees grow thinner and taller. Less able to tolerate the sail effects of canopy growth of ivy. 
So many hedges show blown over shrubs and trees covered with ivy. 
here are other images. 
I cannot be alone to notice this. 
I believe this issue is escalating due to climate and changed attitudes to countryside husbandry. Recognising the problem is the first step towards addressing the issue and taking steps to prevent a catastrophe for our countryside trees and hedgerows. 

[CambridgeJC]

Hi Gary112. I loved your photo. Great. This little fella seemed quite at home on my hand🤣. A purple hairstreak butterfly as I understand. 
Luckily there will always be more than enough ivy to go around. But we’re in danger of letting it take over if we’re not careful.