Getting rid of Ivy! Help!

[kit-e-kate]

With our new garden we seem to have inherited a LOT of ivy that has been left to run wild. As well as the type that i would class as ordinary (like you sometimes see as a house plant) we have got a ton of what i believe is Flowering ivy/English ivy covering a couple af small (dead) trees. Here is a photo showing it (on the right hand side of the photo) :



My question is, of course, what is the best way of getting rid of it?
I've read up a little and i know it'll be hard work, but what i've been doing so far is just being really brutal with it- cutting it away and ripping up roots. I though that now would be a good time of year to do garden clearing things? I am planning to burn the ripped up bits tomorrow.
But i'm worried now, cause one of the guys at work reckons i'll NEVER get rid of it!!!!

Am i doing any good? Or is it really hopeless? Does anyone have any tried and tested methods they can recommend?

[Nomada]

Personally I wouldn't get rid of it, it's one of the best things you can have in your garden for wildlife. If you really have to then you have to cut the base of the plant, it's easier than ripping it up top down and then trying to get the roots out.

[Eigon]

What do you plan to put in the place of the small dead trees and the ivy? Would it look better than what you have now?

[red]

you wont get rid of it.. but you should be able to get it down to a managable level.

Just keep cutting it back.

[kit-e-kate]

What do you plan to put in the place of the small dead trees and the ivy? Would it look better than what you have now?

I'm planning to site a greenhouse on that spot, its actually the bottom of our (south facing) garden, and that bit gets lots of lovely light (or will do once the ivy hedge is gone!). We're also planning to move the shed round so its back is against the end fence as well.

[MuddyWitch]

Perhaps the answer might be to pave the greenhouse & use tubs/pots/growbags to avoid the ivy encroaching.

If you find a cure let me know though...some of our grows through the shed floor and the stuff in the hedge that abuts the house comes into the loft!

MW

[ajs88]

I've just spent the day hacking at the ivy on the fence that I'm planning for my new bed, problem is I'm now left with a huge pile of the stuff and am unsure what to do with it, is burning the only option?

[red]

if only you had some sheep... my sheep love it...