On 8/23/12 7:36 PM, F Murtz wrote:
Is this parasitic evil triffid ivy ?


https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...t=d irectlink

I have cut all the vine trunks from a metre of plum tree trunk,will the
rest die ?
the roots are close to the plum tree roots and hard to remove, if I keep
removing green bits as they regrow will the roots die.
I did not want to use glyphosate as it might get to plum tree.


It strongly appears to be English ivy (Hedera helix). Cutting all stems
near the ground will cause all ivy growth in the tree to die. With
sufficient wind and other disturbances plus seasonal renewal of the
tree's bark, most of the dead growth will eventually fall away.

It is generally recommended that you do not allow ivy to climb trees or
shrubs. The weight of the ivy can cause a tree to fall in a heavy wind
while the shade of the ivy's foliage can smother shrubs. You can
prevent that problem by trimming all climbing shoots 1-3 times a year.

On the other hand, ivy mixed with another vigorous ground cover is an
excellent way to prevent erosion on a steep slope. I have a very steep
hill in my back yard, planted in a mix of English ivy and African daisy
(Osteospermum fruticosum). Each alone is not recommended because each
sends roots to a certain depth, where they form a mat; the surface of
the slope could fail just below that mat. However, the two send their
roots to different depths, eliminating that problem. Furthermore, while
each can aggressively smother other plants, neither of them can conquer
the other.

If you really want to kill the ivy, apply Roundup to the foliage with a
sponge or brush, which will avoid damaging the tree on which it is
growing. Mix a little liquid soap with the Roundup to ensure it wets
the ivy foliage.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary