On 25/10/2020 09:13, Peter wrote:
What is the best weedkiller for dealing with ivy?

There isn't one available to the public, and I doubt there's one for
professional use.

I've wasted time and money trying to control ivy with glyphosate. It
might brown a few of the new leaves before they get a waxy covering, bu
that's about all. Even Monsanto admit it's ineffective
(https://www.monsanto-ag.co.uk/roundup/roundup-amenity/difficult-weeds/ivy/):
"Due to the exceptionally thick waxy cuticle, fairly small leaf area and
creeping nature, this weed is usually classed as resistant to glyphosate."

They claim that Roundup Biactive or Roundup Probio offers the best
chance, but these are just formulations with varying surface-active
agents to try to give better penetration.

Several years ago I tried making different formulations of glyphosate
(all maximum recommended strength) and spraying adjacent areas of ivy. A
solution in about 30% isopropyl alcohol, and another in a white spirit
emulsion, were no better than glyphosate alone - and that was entirely
ineffective.

If it's growing up walls or trees, cut through the stems just above
ground level. It is better to try to pull of the stems as soon as you've
done the cutting; once dead and dry they are rather brittle and will
tend to break up rather than pull away.

If it's ground-cover ivy, some people have tried bringing in goats to
eat it. It /might/ work if there's nothing else they find more palatable
in your garden (which is very unlikely). Other than that, it's a
heavy-duty strimmer/brushwood cutter to bring it down to ground level.
You can then try spraying what's left with glyphosate and hope it gets
absorbed through the cut stems. If it's just a small area, covering that
with black polythene will stop the ivy growing, but it will also stop
anything else wanted growing.

--

Jeff