Ivy Killer wanted

[WhiteWolf]

Hi Everybody

I just wondered if anybody has a "fool Proof" Ivy killer?

We have tried Glyphosate and SBK both with and without washing up liquid to help it stick, but with no effect.

It run along both sides of the back fence and has started to invade the greenhouse and we want it gone.

The sprays are dealing with the Russian vine that is entwined with the Ivy, but not the Ivy itself and it's doing my nut in.

Regards

WW

[MKG]

I hate to say this to you, WW. Glyphosate only deals with very local ivy in my experience - 3 feet away, it's still thriving. We've had an ivy problem for ten years and we're only just getting on top of it now. Glyphosate is useful, certainly - but nowhere near as useful as getting a fork in underneath the runners and hoiking them out (hoiking: a sort of strange Midlands and North-Eastern expression: stronger than 'removing' but not as strong as certain other expressions which cannot here be repeated). Spring is the best time to do this - just as the plants are beginning to expend their energy on growth. You need a fork, gloves (definitely gloves) and a strong back - and glyphosate. In ten years time, you'll have a relatively ivy-free garden. And a broken back.

The joys of soil wardenship!

Mike

Edit: If it's along the edge of your boundary, it may well be living happily in your neighbour's garden.

[Green Aura]

Have a look at this WW.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonium_sulfamate

You could cut a lot of it down and use this to compost it. If, in the process, some were to spill on the growing plant - who knows what might happen.

[WhiteWolf]

Cheers Peeps

Mike, It's growing up, over and through a 7foot fence. I am seriously think of accidentally setting fire to the whole fence and blaming it on spontanious combustion

GA, I'll go have a read and see where I could get some from.

Regards

WW

[ojay54]

I haven't seem Ammonium Sulphamate (even Thickypedia gets it wrong sometimes) for ages.Unfortunately when the HDRA became 'Garden Titanic' it went a bit pc,up 'till then it had been a strong supporter of the stuff,as a direct substitute for glyphosate.If you can source some please inform us.
My partner's Dad has a strange mania,i.e. he hates ivy,and if he sees it suckered on a wall,or similar,he spends hours pulling it off.I guess it's like a child peeling off wallpaper.Anyhow,I can rent him out at very competitive rates...

[WhiteWolf]

I am at the minute using my Google-fu to try find a supplier of napalm

I think it may come down to brute force and ignorance and take the loppers, axe and machete to it

WW

[Green Aura]

Ammonium sulphamate is for sale as a compost accelerator. As far as weedkillers (erm compost accelerators) go it's the only one I'd use, and then only in areas not going to be used for food production. You can't plant in the area for 3 months after using it.

I agree, Ted, that manual extraction is by far the best method. But sometimes you just need a bit of help. And Ivy would be just one such case, for me.