"torge conrad maguar" wrote in message
...
a couple of years ago i went to huge expense to put in a new wooden fence.
the neighbours promptly grew rampant ivy on it, which is climbing up on to
my
shrubs my side and also forcing its way through the vertical fence panes.

i have taken to spraying the ivy thats forcing its way through the fence
panes with a ready made up solution of glyphospate systemic weed killer
which i bought a couple of years ago, but it doesnt seem to be affecting
the leaves at all. is it because its too old, or do i need to make the
ivy leaves wet before spraying them? Any other effective suggestions
please?

It's a tough beast.

We had one growing on a pier on our garden wall in the street. I pulled off
all the leaves and cut through the trunk near the ground, the upper parts
were attached too strongly to the wall to remove. I also pulled or cutt off
all branches and twigs which might touch the soil and take root.

It was a very interesting shape so I made a feature of it by spraying the
twining trunk bronze and lots of people commented on it, it gave a lot of
pleasure to passers-by.

Then, after two years, it began to grow little leaves, then more and bigger
ones, now it shrouds the wall entirely and birds are once more nesting in
it.

The base of the trunk is still not attached to its roots.

This all took three or four years.

Mary