Ive noticed that an Elm just on the other side of our fence has a hell
of a lot of ivy on it gonig up and covering pretty much all the main
trunk up to 30 feet and one main branch too.

Now, it provides some nice privacy in the summer when in leaf and I
always believed that ivy choked trees but then happened to hear on the
winter edition of Springwatch that you shouldnt remove the ivy as it
provided habitats for wildlife etc.

So, now im wondering if what Ive believed is right or wrong??

--
Donnie

On 01/01/2011 15:00, Donnie wrote:
Ive noticed that an Elm just on the other side of our fence has a hell
of a lot of ivy on it gonig up and covering pretty much all the main
trunk up to 30 feet and one main branch too.

Now, it provides some nice privacy in the summer when in leaf and I
always believed that ivy choked trees but then happened to hear on the
winter edition of Springwatch that you shouldnt remove the ivy as it
provided habitats for wildlife etc.

So, now im wondering if what Ive believed is right or wrong??

Well- it depends. A big vigorous tree is unlikely to be affected. OTOH
we had an alder on the local nature reserve that was looking very sickly
with most branches covered with ivy. Cutting that off gave the tree a
new lease of life.
If in the summer you can mostly see ivy leaves then rescue may be needed.

--
CTC Right to Ride Rep. for Richmond upon Thames

In message , Donnie
wrote
I
always believed that ivy choked trees but then happened to hear on the
winter edition of Springwatch that you shouldnt remove the ivy as it
provided habitats for wildlife etc.

A habitat for rats in an urban environment.

--
Alan
news2009 {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

Alan wrote in news
In message , Donnie
wrote
I
always believed that ivy choked trees but then happened to hear on the
winter edition of Springwatch that you shouldnt remove the ivy as it
provided habitats for wildlife etc.

A habitat for rats in an urban environment.


I think so too. Possibly looking for eggs to feed the festering brood.
O.K. not this time of year. Do birds roost in ivy? If they do then the rats
would certainly take a weak undernourished bird. (if that is the correct
spelling, Pete, the Perfect Prefect, Present Periodically Pertaining to the
Parsing of Permanent Precipitation. ie:canal water)
Grey squirrels too if I'm not wrong. Who would want a squirrel in their
garden? not me, but apparently if caught and released is illegal, but make
nice eating.

Baz

Baz wrote:

Alan wrote in
news
In message , Donnie
wrote
I
always believed that ivy choked trees but then happened to hear
on the winter edition of Springwatch that you shouldnt remove the
ivy as it provided habitats for wildlife etc.

A habitat for rats in an urban environment.


I think so too. Possibly looking for eggs to feed the festering brood.
O.K. not this time of year. Do birds roost in ivy? If they do then
the rats would certainly take a weak undernourished bird. (if that is
the correct spelling, Pete, the Perfect Prefect, Present Periodically
Pertaining to the Parsing of Permanent Precipitation. ie:canal water)
Grey squirrels too if I'm not wrong. Who would want a squirrel in
their garden? not me, but apparently if caught and released is
illegal, but make nice eating.

Thanks all, well, there are several other trees too that are ivy
"infested" mainly hawthorns, but its this particular elm im worried
about so wll keep an eye on it as spring progresses.

We've never had rats here though, nor has the one grey squirrel that
does live across the fence ever come in the garden:-)

Donnie

In article ,
Donnie wrote:
We've never had
Spelling mistake I think - it's not 'had' it's 'seen'

rats here though, nor has the one grey
squirrel that does live across the fence ever come in the
garden:-)

John

JTM wrote:

In article ,
Donnie wrote:
We've never had
Spelling mistake I think - it's not 'had' it's 'seen'

rats here though, nor has the one grey
squirrel that does live across the fence ever come in the
garden:-)

Nooooo it's had, I was writing in English, what were you reading?

--
Donnie

"Donnie" wrote in message
...
Ive noticed that an Elm just on the other side of our fence has a hell
of a lot of ivy on it gonig up and covering pretty much all the main
trunk up to 30 feet and one main branch too.

Now, it provides some nice privacy in the summer when in leaf and I
always believed that ivy choked trees but then happened to hear on the
winter edition of Springwatch that you shouldnt remove the ivy as it
provided habitats for wildlife etc.

So, now im wondering if what Ive believed is right or wrong??


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.