11-01-2007, 10:41 AM
posted to uk.rec.gardening
|
|
external usenet poster
|
|
First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Jul 2006
Posts: 520
|
|
Is ivy bad for trees?
"John McMillan" wrote in message
...
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.
Kewl!!!! Was it easy to grow??
Des in Dublin
|