Why does nobody talk about how invasive English ivy really is

Last spring I spotted this vine creeping up my neighbor's fence in Portland, and I thought it looked kinda pretty so I let it grow into my yard. Fast forward 3 months, it had wrapped around my entire back porch and started killing a 20 year old oak tree. Has anyone else had this stuff completely take over their garden without warning?

2 comments

2 Comments

beth_hart6814d ago

...killed your oak tree? That's terrifying, I had no idea it could do that kind of damage. I always just thought it was a pretty ground cover, not a total tree assassin.

lily36014d ago

I had a 60 year old live oak die from English ivy growing up its trunk. The ivy was so thick it kept water against the bark and rotted the cambium layer. That tree was the centerpiece of my yard and it took three years for it to fully die after we noticed the ivy. Now I go after any ivy near my trees with clippers and a shovel.