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The front of our house is covered with ivy that needs regular trimming. As we are now of pensionable age it is becoming a nightmare. Can you please tell me how to kill and remove the ivy without damage or detritus left on the wall.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Status: Closed Value: $9

Hello - Ivy can be a real pain as you know. I do not like to use chemicals to "kill" plant matter (grass, weeds, etc) The best method is to eliminate the ivy by digging it up at the base of the wall. Depending on how much you have and what type of walls the home is (brick, wood, vinyl, etc) will determine how to go about removing it from the surface. Usually it requires a bit of effort to restore the walls to an "ivy free" state. As you know it gets into every crack and crevise. Let me know what size area you are dealing with and the exterior surface, and I'll get back to you with more detailed info on removal.

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Reply to David DeKeyser's Post: Many thanks for your quick response.
The ivy is over the front of a two storey building. The stem at the bese is probably over 12 inches in circumference. It is difficult to measure as it is flush against the house.
Pulling some of the ivy off the wall just leaves little "hairy fingers" which seem impossible to remove,
If it is too hard to remove do you know of any method to stop it growing, as left to it's own will it would cover the roof and the whole house.
Thanks again for your time
Kathleen

Hi again, What you can do is cut the ivy near the stem and dig out the roots. This should kill it off. The little"fingers" are the royal pain to eliminate. You can try just letting it die off (after cutting its roots off) and see whats left next year, or pull it all off and scrape or wire brush the "fingers". You forgot to mention what the exterior was ? After it dies off it may be easier to pressure wash it off next season.

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Reply to David DeKeyser's Post: Hi
Our walls are brick, so am a little worried about any damage.
Kathleen

Hi Kathleen - Ivy can cause serious damage to brick on homes. It gets in any crack and crevice and sucks the moisture out as well as growing in the cracks causing the brick to fall apart in some cases. I would cut it off at the base and dig out the roots. Then either wait for it to die off and pressure wash the entire, or it is sometimes easier to remove while it is still green, THEN pressure wash it. Once it dies off and dries up it may come off entirely with a pressure washer, or you may need to resort to using a wire brush to get all the "fingers" off the brick. You may also consider having someone come out and apply a muriatic acid wash to the affected area which will also clean the brick. Eliminating Ivy from a building is a case by case situation depending on how thick it is and how much surface it covers. (more than one way to skin a cat kind of thing) Let me know if you need more, Thanks

Edited by The go to guy on June 3 2006 at 9:34 AM

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