Re: Eradicating English Ivy

In a message dated 11/2/02 11:12:38 PM Eastern Standard Time, mtalt@hort.net 
writes:


> doable with some effort.  If that is not possible, keep it cut back
> to the ground and don't allow any new shoots to leaf out.  That ought
> to do it in within a year.  You must, however, be vigilant and not
> allow any leaves to open.  The object is to deprive it of the ability
> to photosynthesize, which means it has to use all its reserves to
> survive and it will run out of those in a growing season.  


This procedure will really kill dead forever almost any plant if you 
persevere.  You should cut any new growth below the soil line.  If you fork 
out most of the roots as most as is the best you hope for you can replant.  
It is just that most gardeners have more garden than they can housekeep so 
the unwanted creep back when you are working elsewhere.  Some vines and 
surface rooters and those with stolons will take more than one year but it 
can be done.

In my area, hedera is almost always killed by a cold winter unless in a 
protected spot and brought along until it develops a barked over base to 
protect it.  Still, it winterkills a lot of the previous years growth so 
remains checked if you can get it to grow at all.  

I have been three years now stopping the re-emergence of an old scarlet 
quince.  Last summer there were only a few new suckers.  The first year after 
pulling out the huge old original, there were suckers all summer.  I cut them 
off underground.  I do need to remind my self when walking by with pruners to 
have a look around that spot and detect any new ones sneaking back.  Left 
alone they will make a four foot branched sucker in several weeks.  If you 
are willing to police an area, repeatedly,  nearly any invasive plant can be 
removed.

Ther would be some exceptions as bindweed and horsetail.  I am gaining on 
some horsetail in the veg beds but I reget to say it is just shy of ten years 
work.  Whilst some of us are vigorously attacking ivy, vinca and some 
pachysandra, we in colder zones coax it to cover some ground for us.  In the 
garden, it is always something. 

Garden Design has an article on Julia Childs moving back to California and 
enjoying a lovely garden, a garden to serve meals and stroll about.  When 
asked about her gardening she says that she does not like gardening so has 
this terrific woman come in once a week and make it look so good.   There are 
times when I think a terrific woman would be a good idea.  You could just 
assign the ivy to the terrific woman of which I have never found any in my 
town.

One more newsy item.  PPP of New England has announced that they will bring 
forth a Middle Atlantic issue in March.  This is Plants, People and Places, a 
magazine with every show, event, supplier and notable in our area (I live on 
the Mass. line by both CT and VT).  I hope your edition is as informative as 
ours which is published in Maine. Every small and large event is listed and 
the spring nursery listings are quite valuable for daytripping.  There are 
articles on local notables and advertisments galore for only our area.  They 
do not say which states will be covered.  It has been reasonably priced and 
the best Northeastern magazine for area information, maybe the only one.

Claire Peplowski
NYS z4 

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