"Rupert (W.Yorkshire)" wrote in message
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"John McMillan" wrote in message
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In article ,
Sacha wrote:
On 9/1/07 17:41, in article ,
"Eric L
Drever" wrote:
I have just acquired a garden with some big, established trees. They
have a lot of ivy growing up them. I have asked friends whether I
should leave this or remove it, and so far have had two responses:
1 Ivy isn't a parasite and doesn't do the trees any harm, so leave
it.
2 Ivy may not be a parasite but the weight of it is bad for the
trees,
and it isn't doing them any good, so get rid of it.
My friends are now hardly on speaking terms. Who is right?
AFAIK, it doesn't do the trees any harm but in big gales, such as we are
having now, the windage of the ivy on a leafless tree will still act as
a
sail and might bring the tree down. Personally, I'd be rid of it on
most
trees and perhaps leave it on one or two that are more sheltered or
about
which you're less concerned.
Another point to consider is that a tree without ivy will shade the
ground to some extent. A tree covered with ivy will normally be much
denser and bigger than the original tree and the shade will be deeper.
If you like gardening in dry shade then thats fine.
I grow reasonable clumps of ivy broomrape (orobanche hederae) on the
ivy growing on some of my trees. Its a root parasite of ivy.
You don't actually see anything until it flowers - when it looks like
some kind of orchid. Seed from Chiltern.
John that's going to cost me money Chiltern here I come. I've had a look
at the description and it sounds like it grows in the ground as tubers?
I assume from what you say that it can be treated as an epiphytic type
thing way up in the branches of an ivy clad tree.
I think they only grow in the ground (on roots)? Pretty plants when the
flowers are fresh; odd looking inconspicuous things otherwise.
Nice talking point though. I always stop and have a look when I see them in
the wild.
A close relative is Lathraea which is bright pink when fresh (with no green
bits). One species is native I think (in Ireland anyway) but there is a
second that I have seen in the Dublin botanic gardens which I guess is
cultivated. I cannot remember what they grown on (they all grow in the
ground on roots of other things).
Des