Ivy up a brick wall

[kram]

I have trimmed a reasonable amount of ivy, usually with chainsaw. Two partial cuts and then hit the middle, the lump will ping off with no damage to bark and no risk to chain.

 

A friend has a brick wall garage, lots of inch thick ivy. It occurs to me I have not tried my 3 blade brush cutter attachement yet.  (Used plenty of trimmers). I'll likely do it with chainsaw as it works and its quick, atleast the higher up stuff.

Is a brush cutter blade any good for ivy along the base of the wall? I realise it would need a lot of care, but as I said, not used it before. Good excuse to try a new tool or a bad idea?

 

Thanks.

[Mick Dempsey]

Start from the top with the smallest stuff, then after a while you can peel the lot off.

[peds]

What's the goal? To remove the ivy without damaging either the wall or your tools, or to remove the ivy in the quickest possible time, tools and bricks be damned?

 

Unless the wall is several hundred metres long, secateurs, loppers, and a paint scraper at shoulder height, then peeling down as Mick says before snipping the base; then peeling above shoulder height if it isn't too grippy, or leaving it to die before easily pulling down in one long mat.

 

Your tools though, and not my wall, so do what you think best!

 

Edit:

I spent a week in early April 2019 peeling ivy from a Victorian walled kitchen garden in a run-down stately home. 100 yards each wall, four walls, inside and out. 730m, by my maths. Only partial coverage thank god, a lot of still-bare brickwork, but some good thick patches that had really worked their way in there. It was great weather the whole week, and a very relaxing experience. Cathartic.

Edited 1 hour ago by peds

[sime42]

Yeah, peeling ivy is definitely cathartic, but can be tedious also. A solid week of it is epic. The elation that results from a big sheet of it being removed cleanly in one go is one of those things that only those who have done a lot of tedious ivy peeling will appreciate! Shame about the irritating dust, makes me cough like a good'un.

 

 

[sime42]

A small crowbar can be a useful addition to the tool kit, saves muntering your silky/lopers/secateur if push comes to shove.

[Stubby]

A flat bladed spade . shove it up as far as  you can then grab the bottom and pull and sometimes it comes off in a big sheet . 

Edited 51 minutes ago by Stubby

[Stere]

Yes the dust is the worst part, esp if it hasn't rained for ages, should wear a mask really....

 

Anyone got recommendations for what type mask etc?

 

A "Big mutt" can be  useful.

 

 

Roughneck Big Mutt | Toolstation

WWW.TOOLSTATION.COM

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Ideal for heavy duty applications such as floor tile removal. 1370mm hardwood handle. 177mm blade width.