Re: OT: Training English Ivy (staples, nails, killing trees)

From: rdhager@dmv.com

When English ivy is ready to climb, it will. There is no reason to rush
it.  There are some cultivars that do not climb, or are slow to develop
tendrils. You should avoid these cultivars, if you want it climb a tree.
If you feel compelled to help the ivy take to the tree, I would
recommend a medium weight staple gun, that uses a staple that will
deteriorate. To prevent damage to the stem of the ivy, hold a large nail
parallel to the stem to be stapled. Staple both together and slide the
nail out. 

Heavy wire staples (U shaped nails which are driven in with a hammer)
are definitely over kill and just like nails, can cause problems with
subsequent wood harvest for cabinet use. If you are considering
harvesting garden trees and milling them, some custom saw mills use
metal detectors to locate imbedded metal before cutting into the logs.
With some valuable cabinet woods, such as walnut, metal can imbed deep
in the log, leaving no visible mark and eventually lodge so deeply as to
escape the metal detectors.

I have always heard that English ivy could kill trees, but, some time in
the last year or so, I read a report on the effect of English ivy
growing on trees. I wanted to reread the report before posting, but I
haven't been able to locate it. As I recall, it was a British study. The
conclusion was that English ivy growing on trees does NOT harm the tree.
The evaluation was done in a "wood lot" where trees are grown for
firewood, rather than lumber. These trees may be harvested when smaller.
Furthermore, the results of this study may not be applicable to other
areas, where English ivy may be more aggressive.

I have had considerable experience dealing with "out of control" English
ivy here on Delmarva. I have noticed that it is much slower to attach to
trees with smooth and exfoliating barks. Beech, cherry and sycamore
trees are not likely to support English ivy. Mature oaks and Norway
maples are perfect targets for vertical growth of English ivy. I don't
recall having seen an oak succumb to English ivy, but not so with Norway
maples. Relatively speaking, Norway maples are short lived trees. I
suspect that I ahve English ivy with killing Norway maples that were
destined to die, irregardless of what was growing on it. 

I'll shut up now.

R. Dennis Hager
on Delmarva 
Zone 6-7

(Sorry for this late response-=-I've been igoring e-mail for a few days,
because the weather has been too good)


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