A.Lee wrote:

Tristán White wrote:


Can anyone recommend someone in East London who knows what they're doing,
to remove ivy from the back of our house? It's beginning to take over, and
now that today it's raining for the first time in months, it's going to
grow even more.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25124954@N00/488155387/


It's full of nasty webs and it's beginning to push in through the windows
and under the rooftiles. And I don't know what I'm doing, so yanking at it
would not be a good idea.


I know you said you didnt want to DIY, but it would make it much easier,
and stop the growing, if firstly, you follow it down to where it is
growing from, then just cut through the trunk part, or parts.
What is already on the walls will then die off within 2 weeks.
If I was asked to remove it, that is what I would do first, then I'd
come back 2 weeks later to clear the remains off.

This will make it far easier to remove, as it tends to root into the
tiniest cracks in the wall, and when alive, these roots are quite
strong. When dead, they dry and get brittle, thus making it easier to
remove.
Alan.

I have tried this with an infestation - I didn't work - the Ivy seemed
to be getting moisture fron the wall. By all means chop it off at the
knees but a good dose (or 2) of Root Out works wonders. Spray the top
growth and put crystals on the freshly cut root and protect from rain -
Duct tape works well) - this should kill the root.

Malcolm