Needing to get rid of Ivy, advice please?

Hello people. I've got Ivy growing across a wall in my garden and I wish to get rid of it. I went looking for a proper weedkiller, but found out that a certain type (ammonium sulphamate) and products containing it, had been withdrawn due to an EU directive.

However, I have found 1 product that I believe STILL contains the chemical, and that is Dax RootOut. From what I understand, it comes in crystals which can be used by themselves or dissolved into water and used as a spray.

What I need to know is how the many, withdrawn products containing the chemical were applied and whether I can use the current Dax Root Out on Ivy Stumps, as the method seems to be either crystals (?) or spray.

Thanks in advance.

 

Hi Earthman. You can use SBK to control Ivy. Check the instructions, as I remember, it has to be diluted in paraffin. Good Luck

 

We had a lot of ivy in the garden when we moved in, it had taken over in places, covering totaly a pergola and the fence. We chopped it at the ground and then gradually cleared it. New shoots which formed were removed, and eventually just sprayed with round up, which did the trick.

 

Can't help with the ammonium sulphamate (although I too am looking for products containing it to do battle with Mares Tails here).

However, whenever I have removed Ivy I have cut it at the bottom and not been in a rush to remove it - the air-roots, or whatever they are called, can pull away whatever they are clinging too, and I've just let it die & dry for a year or more before removing. But I suppose it does depend on whether its an eyesore and you want it looking smart quickly, or not.

 

I have some ammonium sulphamate crystals sold as 'Deep Root' sold by 'Growing success' I've found it very good on stumps of all kinds. Cut the ivy close to ground. Dampen the stump to help the crystal stick cover the cut surface of the stump with a layer of crystal. Ideally put a plastic bag over the stump for a few days, to stop rain washing the crystals away.
To get off ivy clinging to a wall I use a flat bladed hoe, and run it across the wall behind the ivy. The hoe helps to you to reach a long way in one go.

 

Thanks for your help people. To Beechleaf I don't think Growing Success sell any products with ammonium sulphamate now. Because of that EU directive recently saying it can't be used as a herbicide etc. I think the only company that's got away with it is Dax and it's "Root Out" product, as they market it as a "compost accelerator". I haven't yet tried to order it, but I think you can only do it via their website.

Other than that, I have heard about SBK. I wonder how it works, what the chemical is, etc. I will have a look at it though. There's always Glyphosate products like Roundup aswell.

 

I just seem to keep pulling it off by hand every year. Back down as far as I can. Gets into the wall though, but I hate the idea of using weedkiller. There's an awful lot of wildlife in there...

 

Hi dunlin,

simply by removing the ivy you are discouraging the wildlife. robins nest in them, ladybirds hide in them etc, so don`t worry too much about weedkiller.

 

I never spray ivy, the waxy leaves repel spraying and dead ivy is harder to scrape off.

IMO the best method is to cut it off at ground level and pickaxe out the roots, if on a wall, scrape off / pull off the shoots with a stripping knife.