Getting rid of ivy and shrubs in a border

Hello everyone! I'm a newbie to this forum and have some limited experience gardening. Me and my partner moved into a new house in Feb and the garden was full of unhealthy old shrubs that were overcrowded. We've had quite a few of them cleared but there's still work to do, and some have grown back around the old stump as I haven't got round to digging them up or using stump killer.

I've been trying to remove the one in the attached pic today but it's firmly rooted. I've added a leaf pic in case anyone can identify what it is. Once mature it has small spikes along the branches. I really hate it. Is there any way I can get rid of it other than using a weed killer? I'd prefer not to but it almost ended me today trying to dig it up - I got nowhere with it. Of course, my method could be all wrong... There's also the added issue that the borders seem to have rocks and small boulders in them - I think maybe they were used as a rockery - either way it makes digging a nightmare.

I also have a ton of ivy growing all over the borders - I've tarped a section of it on the advice of the guy who did some shrub clearing for us (see pic) but am keen to have the border clear quite soon so I can plan/plant things. Is tarping the only sensible way, unless I want to break my back digging it all up? And is what I've done sufficient? How long will it take to die off?

Any help much appreciated, thank you!

 

I'd hazard a guess at some kind of cotoneaster.
I think if you dont want to use weedkiller then digging is the only option, even if you did use weedkiller you would need to dig it over before replanting anyway, removing rocks and big stones as you go.
What kind of plants do you want to plant?

 

This is my method for digging established shrubs and trees out Arm yourself with a strong, sharp spade (and a fork for the stones), a cheapie pruning saw and a garden sheet or tarpaulin. Chop all round the plant - 8-12" from the trunk. If you come across roots too thick to chop with the spade, saw them (hence the cheapie saw...soil and stones don't do the blade any favours). That will get rid of horizontal roots. Rock it backwards and forwards. If it resists, there are vertical roots and probably a tap root, so the only way then is to dig out a trench round the trunk so you can get in underneath and chop/saw what's holding it. That's why you need a tarpaulin...it's much easier to pile the soil onto that and then tip it back into the hole afterwards, than to dig over compacted soil.
I'd also recommend having a sit down and a glass of wine afterwards, to allow your blood pressure to subside and that lovely, warm feeling of triumph to seep in
Oh, and Ivy.....you might as well dig it out, because I'm fairly certain that it will regenerate from the stems once it sees daylight again.

 

Thank you all for your comments!

@pete - I'm not sure what kind of plants I want in there yet, but definitely lots of bee-friendly things!

@noisette47 - I think I will give this a go, thank you. Re. the ivy; is it worth me tarping it do you think, or should I just get on with digging it out without trying to kill it first?

 

Hi @Naomi85 , welcome to the forum!

Digging is indeed the best option and if you are looking for a bee friendly garden, there's nothing better than mature Ivy. When it reaches the top of whatever it's climbing on, it will flower and fruit, bees and butterflies are mad about the nectar and birds take the berries.

On another note, the stones are worth keeping if you have a corner where they can be piled. If you get rid of them, you will sooner or later crave for a rockery or natural pond

Good luck with the digging!

 

Hi @Naomi85 I agree with the others, if you tarp it, it will take a long time to die off, digging is the only answer if you want to be quick,but take it a bit at a time. If you want to keep the ivy it has to be kept in check or it will grow everywhere.

 

Hi Naomi, if you've got the energy, remove it. You'd have to leave the tarpaulin there for years in order to definitively kill ivy. The quickest way is to take aforementioned sharp spade and shove it forwards and backwards horizontally just under the ivy stems. You can clear a big area in a short time doing that! If you can track down the main stem/trunk, saw it off, drill it and pour SBK into the hole(s). It should think twice about regenerating after that

 

Here's a video on how to dig properly

 

The shrub is Cotoneaster, good for the bees, berries later in the year for the birds.

 

I would reach into my shed (or somebody's) for this:
https://www.screwfix.com/p/roughnec...VAtDtCh1uaQHqEAQYBSABEgJdYvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

As said above, although it looks very like Cotoneaster, according to all the best authorities, they're not thorny. They certainly don't look like Pyracantha leaves, though. Bit of a puzzle!

 

@infradig - Thanks for this recommendation, this looks like a game changer!

 

If you cannot borrow one, try second hand shops that do house/shed clearance- its called a grubbing mattock and will come with a loose reverse- taper handle. Also ? Gum-tree, Ebay etc ?Awkward to post though.....

 

Looks like Cotoneaster as others have said, dig is your best bet to get rid if you want that