How to kill off ivy but not grass.

I have lots of ivy growing from a neighbours garden. It is beginning to kill my grass. What, if anything can I put on my grass to kill the ivy and all the weeds/clover etc. thanks

 

Welcome to GC Steve. Ivy is one of the most difficult plants to kill and while it grows in your neighbours garden you won't be free of it unfortunately. It sends out runners underground which is why it's appearing in your lawn. There is no point in attempting to dig it out as the smallest piece of root left behind will allow it to re-shoot.

Unfortunately you may have to sacrifice your lawn for a while if you are to have any chance of getting rid of it. A systemic weed killer may work such as 'Round-Up' in spray form, or in Gel form which is now available but that has to be painted on and is time consuming. Systemic killers work down through the plant's foliage and stem to kill the roots. It may also take more than one application. If you decide to try this only spray on a windless day as it could drift to other plants and it will kill or damage them.

My brother used Creosote in the past and that worked but it's been banned in recent years. Members here on GC may be able to give you other suggestions.

 

Thanks. Hopefully I'll be able to manage something. Maybe reseed the grass instead?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I have a similar situation. I dug out and made a narrow border which I filled with gravel. The Ivy doesn't go away but it's fairly easy to pull up from the gravel - but it does have to be a regular task.

 

If you can find a selective weedkiller with the active ingredient 2,4D, that will do the trick eventually, and will certainly deal with less persistent weeds without harming the grass.

 

Yes you could re-seed the lawn after. Glyphosate neutralises on contact with the soil.