Out of control Ivy!

Merlin5

Merlin5

Merlin5

Soldato
Joined
17 Aug 2009
Posts
18,391
Location
Finchley, London
Haven't been out in my garden for a year, about to begin some hard work of deweeding and grass cutting, jetwashing the patio and some painting. But I noticed how the Ivy has taken over and gotten up to the roof! Clearly worrying as it can compromise the integrity of the brickwork. I've just pulled away what I can on my bricks up to the flat above.

https://s18.postimg.cc/o45il12mx/20180417_182406.jpg
https://s18.postimg.cc/xbxr1rca1/20180417_182500.jpg

I'm wondering how to go about getting it sorted. I own my ground floor flat and the rear garden of a terraced house. The Ivy is coming from the fence. That fence as far as I'm aware is technically owned by my neighbour as the right side fence is the one I replaced a year or two ago.

https://s18.postimg.cc/bcrcezazt/20180417_183406.jpg

Firstly, it's hard to say which side of the fence the Ivy originated. So I'm guessing it's part my responsibility in terms of any expense.

Secondly, the ground floor flat next door is rented out and I've tried to call the owner to discuss it but the mobile is just ringing.

Thirdly, the flat above me is rented out and I'm wondering, since the Ivy originates from the fence, if the owner will accept or deny some responsibility for sharing the work to get it removed. Or maybe he'll say its all my responsibility as nothing in the garden is his.

Likewise, I don't know if the owner of the ground floor flat next door would expect the owner of the flat above his (also rented out, I'm the only owner occupier of all 4 flats) to accept some responsibility. At the end of the day, it's in all our interests to protect our investments.

Where do I stand?
 
Mercenary Keyboard Warrior said:
Kill it with glycol, you can get this in Tesco this time of year, about £6-8 for a decent bottle

Its nasty stuff but it will do the trick, it goes down into the plant and kills it.

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/glyphosate-kill-ivy-68524.html

If its really out of control you may need to treat it a few times over the summer.
Click to expand...
Do I need to spray it all over, even climbing onto the roof or just spray some of the Ivy and it'll find it's way up the wall and roof?
 
Mercenary Keyboard Warrior said:
Opposite you want it to go down and kill the roots. Once its dead, it goes very dry you can remove it.
Its best to treat plants when they are growing, they are more active, rather than cutting them back then treating.
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You know what, I've just been out to take a look and friom what I can see, none of the roots are on my side. There's loads of thick Ivy branches that have made their way over and through the fence. So this is really looking like it's all the neighbours responsibility. And I can't even get in touch with him. To be honest, I wouldn't quibble with sharing the expense of a few bottles of Glycol. If I can't get in touch with him though I might have to jump over the fence and do it myself.
 
Thanks MKW, sounds good. And I've spoken to the owner next door now. Friendly chat and he said he'll take care of it. I offered to contribute towards costs but he said don't worry. So hopefully he'll get it done soon. He reckons once it's been treated and starts to work it'll fall away. Do you think that'll happen, it'll fall away from where it's started to meet the roof and all up the walls without us needing to go up and remove it?

Here's that epic Ivy picture again.
https://s18.postimg.cc/o45il12mx/20180417_182406.jpg
 
Thanks for the replies guys and good job Skillmister on tackling yours!

The next door owner told me he recalls it being two main roots and that he'll get his tenant to deal with it today. I somehow don't think it'll get done today but we'll see. If he can cut those roots then we can wait and see how long it takes before it all wilts and dries up. I mentioned the glycol to him but I doubt he'll spend any money on that.
 
Last edited:
jpaul said:
doesn't he ever look out the window !

vegetable oil will do, wipe a bit on blades, or just general purpose hinge/bike oil ...
can get a wet stone too, for re-sharpening ... cutting privet hedges/ borders/ivy-stems take their toll.
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Lol, actually, the owner doesn't live there, he rents it out but he came over today to look at some repairs he needs to do above my flat.

Awesome, I've got plenty of vegetable oil I can use.
 
I'm absolutely knackered. Spent all afternoon and evening in the garden. Got the grass cut with my old petrol mower, pulled tons of weeds, have scars to prove the stinging nettles were alive and kicking. Put the veg oil on my blades and then again after cleaning them.

They're good and I got rid of some Ivy twigs on the fence, but there's lots of tough thick branches that are too much for shears, they need power tools. I twisted and broke off lots of them by hand. Anyway, I've exposed some of the neighbours fence, and part of a trellis just fell to bits when I pulled some ivy away. So now there's a gaping hole which is an eyesore. Take a look, his fence needs replacing right?

https://s9.postimg.cc/qhkq9q7hr/20180426_165658.jpg
https://s9.postimg.cc/uf7zzbp7z/20180426_170708.jpg
https://s9.postimg.cc/or1p8ism7/20180426_184935.jpg
https://s9.postimg.cc/jto4mudm7/20180426_185001.jpg
https://s9.postimg.cc/n0io6hsxb/20180426_184953.jpg

That would be three panels as he already replaced the end two panels. I'm hoping he'll do it and the tenant next door who was using a saw on his side of the fence to cut the stems of the ivy going up the wall says he also expects them to be replaced.

There's just too many thick branches that have woven themselves through and over the trellis and even between the fence panel slats. It's a mess. They need to replace the fence and that means they'll have to remove all the branch and twig infestation. Amirite?
 
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