In message , Martin Brown
writes
On 28/02/2017 01:17, Adam Aglionby wrote:
Have taken over property that has about 60 yards of 45 degree banking
covered in ivy, which is fine as ground cover goes, but it has been
left to run riot for several years, pushed over and grown through
boundary chainlink fence at top of bank.

Manual removal is probably the best bet.

Also currently have `evergreen` mountain ash and silver birch on the
banking because the ivy has climbed up it uncontrolled for , er, some
time.

Have cut through vines at base of trees but would like to arrest the
spread across an old roadway where it appears to be a mature covering
a few inches deep.

Cutting its connection to the ground and water supply will generally
see it off, but you might want to pull off as much as you can. It looks
unsightly dead and clinging to trees.

Guess there is no alternative but manual removal in large, but what
chemical attack might start the process off or at least deter
continued spread?

Glyphosate almost bounces off ivy. It will kill it eventually but it
may bankrupt you in the process. Ivy and holly seedlings typically
survive an application of glyphosate to scrubland as do a few
buttercups. If there is enough other stuff then glyphosate follwed when
the rest is tinder dry will burn the ivy too but with a lot of smoke.

SBK has more aggressive wetting agents in and is supposed to work a bit
better on ivy but I have never bothered. I just go for manual removal
followed by a bonfire fuelled by dried bramble and brushwood. It comes
off in handfuls if you grab hold and pull hard (unlike honeysuckle
where even a relatively thin stem will resist my entire body weight).

A drop or two of Fairy Liquid (or similar) helps it to wet 'waxy'
leaves. However, as it's not approved for horticultural purpose, I
believe that is against the EU rules.
--
Ian