On 4/20/10 2:17 AM, john hamilton wrote:
Our local council has a lot of trees with ivy growing on them like this.
They have been notified about it, but they do nothing.

See picture on this link on Tinypic webpage.

http://tinypic.com/r/16hj0iw/5

Would ivy growing like this do any damage to a tree?



There are two issues with ivy growing on trees.

Sometimes, the ivy can become heavy enough to cause limbs to break or
even the whole tree to topple. If the tree variety tends to have deep
roots and if this particular tree is otherwise healthy, then this is not
a problem. However, if the tree variety tends to have shallow roots or
if this particular tree is diseased, the load of ivy shown in the photo
is a major problem.

The other issue involves whether the variety of the tree thrives best
with the bark exposed to the sun or with the bark shaded. For the
former, the ivy must definitely be removed. For the latter, the ivy
should merely be thinned.

In any case, if the tree is otherwise still healthy, just cut the ivy
near the ground. Remove about a one-foot length of ivy all the way
around the tree. Above the cut, the ivy will die and eventually fall
away from the tree. Depending on the two issues discussed above, either
allow new ivy shoots to climb the tree or else keep cutting until the
ivy completely dies.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary