Ivy on mature oak trees

[Countryboy]

I had the same problem with my woodland, loads of trees were covered in ivy when I bought it. I cut the stems of the ivy at the base of the trees and it haas taken about a year for it to die off but depends on the size of the stem. The ivy had dried out now and has started coming away from the trees

[Joe Newton]

It's easier to remove live ivy than long dead stuff.

 

 

On smooth bark trees, sometimes, not on mature oak.

[treeseer]

What's the objective?

 

Cutting the ivy higher up prevents light competition while retaining wildlife benefits.

 

"It can be quite therapeutic if there's no time pressure." so be sure you're paid by the hour!

'Be prepared for a flush of water shoots/epicormic growth next year as light hits the inner structure of the tree." This points up the question--why remove dead ivy? If the owner thinks it's ugly they might reconsider the financial and biological costs of removing it.

[TIMON]

What's the objective?

 

Cutting the ivy higher up prevents light competition while retaining wildlife benefits.

 

"It can be quite therapeutic if there's no time pressure." so be sure you're paid by the hour!

'Be prepared for a flush of water shoots/epicormic growth next year as light hits the inner structure of the tree." This points up the question--why remove dead ivy? If the owner thinks it's ugly they might reconsider the financial and biological costs of removing it.

 

 

The objective is to maintain healthy oak trees. We don't want to lose any more. While we don't want to destroy wildlife habitat, the trees are the priority.

Thanks

[TIMON]

What's the objective?

 

Cutting the ivy higher up prevents light competition while retaining wildlife benefits.

 

"It can be quite therapeutic if there's no time pressure." so be sure you're paid by the hour!

'Be prepared for a flush of water shoots/epicormic growth next year as light hits the inner structure of the tree." This points up the question--why remove dead ivy? If the owner thinks it's ugly they might reconsider the financial and biological costs of removing it.

 

 

It's on our own property so the work would have to be done "out of work hours" might be a good training project for some of our guys who are keen to learn to climb.

[dogman]

Had a fair few tree's suffering with this on a property I maintain. I use a small crow bar which I find the best thing for taking it off. I've cut through all the big stems taking out a section, & now when I have a few minutes I take a bit more off each time I go.

 

Rob

[treequip]

Forgot to mention.., on quite a few it has completely dominated the stem and canopy.

One tree was removed last year. It was completely covered and had died.

Can anyone tell me how long it takes ivy to kill an oak once it has covered it?

 

The tree needs leaves, much ivy equals few leaves, the tree dies when its got no leaves but its in a poor state long before that

[Will Heal]

It's on our own property so the work would have to be done "out of work hours" might be a good training project for some of our guys who are keen to learn to climb.

 

 

No one should be made to climb a tree covered in ivy, even if they want to! Horrid stuff!

Put some pics of the trees up ti, then u may get some better advice.

But I would just sever the ivy at the bottom and remove the first metre on the trunk. A small chainsaw and a claw hammer is what I use and I very rarely cut the bark

[TIMON]

No one should be made to climb a tree covered in ivy, even if they want to! Horrid stuff!

Put some pics of the trees up ti, then u may get some better advice.

But I would just sever the ivy at the bottom and remove the first metre on the trunk. A small chainsaw and a claw hammer is what I use and I very rarely cut the bark

 

 

I agree, Billy. Stinking stuff

 

I'll post some tomorrow when I get home

Thanks

[woodyguy]

Sorry but why are you assuming that Ivy kills oak trees? I've never seen any evidence of that. Young trees carry ivy happily, old nearly dead trees die leaving the ivy behind. Its such an important wildlife habitat, you need a good and genuine reason to remove it.