"Stephen M. Henning" wrote :

Treers wrote:

Behind my new house (zone 6) there is a huge maple, probably 5-6 feet
in diameter, which the previous owners allowed to be swamped by
english ivy. I'm guessing that from time to time someone went over
the patch with a lawnmower but did nothing to actually uproot the
ivy. I've pulled out the mat about a foot from the trunk but I'm
wondering how much more I should yank it out -- it extends probably 4
feet from the trunk, so I'm guessing it covers 100+ square feet.
Would it make more sense to just cut and yank out the ivy as it
reappears
and let the roots starve to death, then let the mat slowly decompose,
or is more active removal wise? I know that ivy roots are very
resistant to rot, so I'm reluctant to let nature run its course if
that means smothering the roots of this tree.

The tree is 5-6 feet in diameter. The ivy is in a ring only 13-14
feet in diameter (4 feet outside the tree trunk). The drip line is
much bigger than this. I doubt that the ivy is interfering with the
roots much any more. Probably just mowing it would keep the ivy in
check and keeping it away from the bark will keep the tree healthy.

Thanks for the comment.

Any suggestions on how to turn this tangled mat of roots and leaves and
stems and who knows what else into something plantable without pulling it
up? Will mulching over it help speed the killing and decomposition
process, or will it just give the ivy a better environment for spreading?

I'd like to put some kind of shade-tolerant non-invasive ground cover in
place of the ivy, or even just mulch, something to cover up this ugly
thicket. But I don't want to do anything until I know I have the ivy under
control (I know it's not easy to kill for good).