A small amount of ivy on a tree can make it look charming, but it can be very harmful.
Ivy is one of the most classically beautiful things that many homeowners incorporate into their landscaping, but it can also do major damage to your trees if you aren’t careful. If you are struggling with ivy on the trees in your yard, here is what you need to know about it and its removal.
Is Ivy Growth a Bad Thing?
A small amount of ivy on a tree can make it look charming and beautiful, but too much ivy on your tree can actually harm the tree itself. English ivy is known for being one of the most dangerous types of ivy, as it grows very rapidly and is difficult to control. Why should you consider removing the ivy from your trees?
- Trees and ivy are competing for nutrients like water and sunlight. Since ivy grows so rapidly and can overtake the tree trunk entirely, your tree might not be able to get as many nutrients as it needs.
- Ivy can cause crowding on your tree branches that will, again, block out the sunlight that your tree needs to thrive
- Ivy vines can add tons of weight to individual branches and tree limbs, so they will be at a higher risk of falling during a thunderstorm
- Over the course of months and years, ivy will weaken your tree as a whole and make it more susceptible to insect infestation
How Can You Get Rid of Ivy?
If your tree simply has too much ivy and it is time to get rid of it, some of the best ways include:
- Pulling out the ivy roots to prevent regrowth. Use a hand pruner to first cut the stems from the roots and then go as deep as you need to to banish the roots. Don’t rip off the ivy from the tree bark. Instead, let it die on the tree on its own.
- Use a spray bottle filled with white vinegar and douse the ivy plants with it. If the leaves turn brown, it’s a sign that the work is in progress.
- Call the professionals at Nelson Tree Specialist for a little extra help!
Tree Care for Every Tree from Nelson Tree Specialist
Nelson Tree Specialist provides specialty arborist services, tree crane services, tree care services, and dead tree removal services. We are well known for our top-notch skills and professionalism. We are members of the International Society of Arboriculture and we are considered certified arborists. We are also an accredited business through the Better Business Bureau and we have great reviews through Angie’s List. To find out how we can help your trees, whether they are exotic and strange or normal and plan, give us a call at (301) 854-2218 (Washington, D.C.) or (202) 909-5662 (Baltimore) or visit us online. For more interesting tree facts and tips, follow us on social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.