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Old 04-01-2011, 11:10 AM posted to uk.rec.gardening
[email protected] nmm1@cam.ac.uk is offline
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Default So, does ivy really choke trees?

In article ,
john brook wrote:
"Christina Websell" wrote in message
...

Ivy grew up my ash trees. No sign it's harmed them. Ivy is great for
birds, they hide in it from cold and some nest in it.


Apart from looking unsightly to some, it can cause damage to the tree from
high winds. the tree calculates how strong to make its branches to a fine
degree and doesnt allow for the added *wind- resistance* of ivy. you often
see broken branches from ivy infested trees.


That applies only when it gets out into the canopy. Even a thick
coat of ivy on the trunk and main branches will not harm a healthy
tree (or most unhealthy ones, for that matter).


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.