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Ivy covered tree
I have a tree badly covered with ivy. Is the correct procedure to sever the
ivy, pull it off the tree and then dig out the ivy roots. -- Art Garden Web http://www.gardenweb.com My Garden Web exchange page http://www.gardenweb.com/members/exch/art1952 |
#2
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Ivy covered tree
"Carol Russell" wrote in message
... I have a tree badly covered with ivy. Is the correct procedure to sever the ivy, pull it off the tree and then dig out the ivy roots. You might find it easier to do just the first two, and then just cut off new growth as it reoccurs. Ivy can be v difficult to dig out and you may well damage the tree roots. I killed some ivy this year(at the base of a brick wall) by doing this after I found it too difficult to get all the roots out and its worked, I didnt get much regrowth and removing that seems to have done the trick. I am still working on some other ivy that was covering an area about 1m by 2m, after cutting it to ground level I have covered it with black polythene (Its in an unconspicuous area of my garden!) and am waiting until spring before trying to get the roots out. -- Tumbleweed Remove my socks before replying (but no email reply necessary to newsgroups) |
#3
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Ivy covered tree
"Sue & Bob Hobden" wrote in message ... "Carol wrote in message I have a tree badly covered with ivy. Is the correct procedure to sever the ivy, pull it off the tree and then dig out the ivy roots. Do you need to? Ivy is the winter home for some of our small birds especially Wrens. I always smile at that argument. :-) The amount of habitat damage that an individual can do is miniscule compared to the national ivy population. You might just as well say "Don't cut your grass. You are damaging essential habitat for larks, linnets and corncrakes. Don't kill off those nettles. They are an essential food source for caterpillars. Don't paint your eaves woodwork. It will make a wonderful lichen and fungus habitat." There must be acres of uninhabited ivy just waiting for prospective wrens to occupy. -- ned |
#4
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Ivy covered tree
"Sue & Bob Hobden" wrote in message ... "ned" wrote in message snip There must be acres of uninhabited ivy just waiting for prospective wrens to occupy. There might be where you live but there ain't round here. Very true. My views are coloured by an ivy and nettle infested rural location. So, in future I'll smile privately. :-)) -- ned |
#5
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Ivy covered tree
In article , "Duncan Russell"
wrote: I know it's drastic, and exagerating but if gardeners join in the fight to exterminate everything useful to wildlife as well, then I would imagine the world is going to become a very sorry place indeed. Well said! But with luck the ivy will get its own back. The dead ivy stalks left on the tree after its roots have been severed will in 6 months or so fall off as a heavy clump, hopefully fatally injuring its murderer - one less human to destroy the planet. -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Paul Moynagh |
#6
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Ivy covered tree
In article , ned
writes Perhaps saving the ivy is just a way of salving the guilty gardening conscience. :-) This is a personal opinion, but it is also expressed by arborculturists and forestry people who know a good deal more about trees than I. When ivy is seen growing up a tree, it is often assumed by gardeners to be 'attacking' or setting about to harm the tree and finally to kill it. In some cases this may be true, but it is more often the case that the tree is already sick or in trouble of some kind and the ivy is growing up it in preparation to act in its natural role of scavenging. As the ivy develops, the tree deteriorates and finally dies, giving every impression that the ivy killed it. If left to do so, the ivy will remain on the tree until it is all gone, stump, roots and all. We often have questions about stump removal in this group and that is nature's way of doing it - if given the time. In some cases, when ivy is seen to be starting to grow up a tree, that can be taken by gardeners as an early warning that the tree needs more attention than just removing the ivy. I saved a very old Cox's apple like that. It had become smothered in ivy and had given up fruiting. We had replaced it with a young Sunset because we thought it to be lost. I took all the ivy off the Cox's and removed a lot of old and dead branches etc. The tree is now back to full health and vigour and free of ivy. It and the Sunset apple seem to vie with each other each year now to see which can produce the better crop. -- Alan & Joan Gould, North Lincs. |
#7
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Ivy covered tree
In article , ned
writes Indeed. Every weed is simply a natural plant which the 'arrogant' gardener decides is spoiling the look of his/her grand plan. Er . . not entirely!! The thing about 'weeds' is that they are thugs. They multiply and multiply and don't give the more 'delicate' plants a chance. I know the brutal fact of nature is survival of the fittest and I know dandelions are pretty but I do want to see a bit of variety in my garden so I have a bit of a tussle with mother nature in the bit of space that 'belongs' to me ))))))))) -- Jane Ransom in Lancaster. I won't respond to private emails that are on topic for urg but if you need to email me for any other reason, put jandg dot demon dot co dot uk where you see deadspam.com |
#8
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Ivy covered tree
On Wed, 23 Oct 2002 23:29:46 +0100, "ned" wrote:
Indeed. Every weed is simply a natural plant which the 'arrogant' gardener decides is spoiling the look of his/her grand plan. That's no criticism at all. You are beating a straw man you have erected. Gardens are by ~definition~ artificial assemblages in which certain plants are wanted and all others unwanted. Moreover, your definition of weed is far too broad. Most common weeds (in common parlance) are plants found natively in sites where the earth is continually disturbed -- a slow landslip is one such site. That's why weeds do so well in cultivated ground. Take humanity out of the picture, stop cultivating, and most of these weeds would become rather rare plants because there are so few suitable natural sites for them. Moreover, such weeds (and most common weeds are of this class) actually occur unnaturally, having been spread by man himself via cultivation, both horticultural and agricultural. Any gardener worth their salt knows perfectly well the difference between a weed and a volunteer seedling (as likely as not of an exotic species anyway) that has placed itself inesthetically. You further betray your ignorance by failing to remark on the frequency with which gardeners write about volunteer seedlings turning out to be perfectly placed, even if not according to plan. And to think that gardeners have some Grand Plan or Scheme? Ludicrous: most gardens are like my own, developed piecemeal over many years with the guiding prinicple being "I wonder what will grow there?" Finally, you try to tar gardeners as "arrogant". Quite the contrary. Most gardeners are humble: they know they can't do a lot about climate and soil, and that the plants have to thrive on their own. You can't make a plant thrive if it doesn't want to. All you can do is offer encouragement and good conditions and then hope for the best. Oh, well, I guess it doesn't hurt to set up a straw man and give it a few whacks now and then. Heave to, my good man! -- Rodger Whitlock Victoria, British Columbia, Canada |
#9
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Ivy covered tree
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#10
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Ivy covered tree
In article , Steve
Harris writes In article , (Jane Ransom) wrote: The thing about 'weeds' is that they are thugs. They multiply and multiply and don't give the more 'delicate' plants a chance. So what's the difference between weeds and good "ground cover"? I suppose ground cover is just that - something that spreads from a central 'root' as it were. It's easy to chop off round the edges to stop it encroaching. Weeds (in the dandelion, dock, thistle etc category) spread seeds everywhere and do not stay in just one central spot and consequently are difficult to control. -- Jane Ransom in Lancaster. I won't respond to private emails that are on topic for urg but if you need to email me for any other reason, put jandg dot demon dot co dot uk where you see deadspam.com |
#11
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Ivy covered tree
In article , Carol Russell Russells@
queenborough42.freeserve.co.uk writes I have a tree badly covered with ivy. Is the correct procedure to sever the ivy, pull it off the tree and then dig out the ivy roots. Carol you have seen all the 'Tree Huggers' replies and what should and should not be done. Well, as someone else has pointed out, it is 'your' garden for a few years for you to do what you wish, so do what 'you' want to do. We had a very old Apple Tree in our last garden and just like your tree it had a lot of Ivy growing up it. I cut the Ivy stem and kept the tree clear. The Earth is reputed to be 36 Thousand Million Years old. How long has 'Man' been on it? Well it has been said that if the age of the Earth is related to a 24 hour clock, we have been on this Earth since 23.59.30. It doesn't matter what you as 'an individual' do, Nature will 'correct' it after you have gone:-(( Look at the Twyford Gap on the M3 near Winchester, colouring over all ready :-)) Mike -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, because you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup. |
#12
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Ivy covered tree
"Rodger Whitlock" wrote in message ... snip Moreover, such weeds (and most common weeds are of this class) actually occur unnaturally, having been spread by man himself via cultivation, both horticultural and agricultural. Since when are people not 'natural'? -- Tumbleweed Remove my socks before replying (but no email reply necessary to newsgroups) |
#13
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Ivy covered tree
"Mike" wrote in message ... In article , Carol Russell Russells@ queenborough42.freeserve.co.uk writes I have a tree badly covered with ivy. Is the correct procedure to sever the ivy, pull it off the tree and then dig out the ivy roots. Carol you have seen all the 'Tree Huggers' replies and what should and should not be done. Well, as someone else has pointed out, it is 'your' garden for a few years for you to do what you wish, so do what 'you' want to do. We had a very old Apple Tree in our last garden and just like your tree it had a lot of Ivy growing up it. I cut the Ivy stem and kept the tree clear. The Earth is reputed to be 36 Thousand Million Years old. How long has 'Man' been on it? Well it has been said that if the age of the Earth is related to a 24 hour clock, we have been on this Earth since 23.59.30. It doesn't matter what you as 'an individual' do, Nature will 'correct' it after you have gone:-(( Look at the Twyford Gap on the M3 near Winchester, colouring over all ready :-)) :-)) Nice summation Mike. As you see Carol, there are few right or wrong answers to be had but, lots of shades of grey. Every argument will have its protagonists. And sometimes, even highly respected scientific minds will disagree. No matter what you do, you won't please everyone. -- ned |
#14
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Ivy covered tree
"Rodger Whitlock" wrote in message ... On Wed, 23 Oct 2002 23:29:46 +0100, "ned" wrote: Indeed. Every weed is simply a natural plant which the 'arrogant' gardener decides is spoiling the look of his/her grand plan. big snip Finally, you try to tar gardeners as "arrogant". ......Errr, not quite. The use of the adjective "arrogant" implies a 'class' of gardeners - not 'all' gardeners. You surely don't think I would class myself as an arrogant gardener, do you? :-)) I'm the one who nurtures all the exotics which spring up under the bird seed feeder. :-)) -- ned |
#15
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Ivy covered tree
"Alan Gould" wrote in message ... In article , ned writes Perhaps saving the ivy is just a way of salving the guilty gardening conscience. :-) This is a personal opinion, but it is also expressed by arborculturists and forestry people who know a good deal more about trees than I. When ivy is seen growing up a tree, it is often assumed by gardeners to be 'attacking' or setting about to harm the tree and finally to kill it. In some cases this may be true, but it is more often the case that the tree is already sick or in trouble of some kind and the ivy is growing up it in preparation to act in its natural role of scavenging. I have yet to come across an ivy seedling with the intelligence to select an ailing tree. They are all opportunists who will clamber up anything and everything which is adjacent. Your implication is that every tree is, by definition, sick or ailing. I hope this is not so. And much as I defend the tree, I can't see ivy as a natural scavenger. The only thing that comes naturally to it , is procreating. I may be wrong (Good heavens, surely not) but I think ivy has to climb to flower. A pollination requirement perhaps. I cannot recall seeing any flowers or fruit at ground level. -- ned |
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