Ivy cutting off trees. Do it or not ?

There seems to be a range of views.

Do you cut Ivy off trees or leave it on for wildlife etc

I would be interested to hear views

 

I compromise. We've an ancient apple and an ancient pear, I let the ivy grow on the trunks but every couple of years I cut it back and pull it off to prevent it invading the canopies.

 

Good to know Dave W, I have the same problem, Theres so much wild life in mine, unfortunatly its grown into the canopy, I can't decide what to do, if i leave it will it harm the tree?

 

It`s not so much that the ivy can harm the tree. The problem is, when it`s in the canopy the weight it puts on the branches can result in damage to those branches, especially when it`s wet like now.

 

Although I have heard differently, I am still firmly of the opinion that ivy will kill your tree

 

From my experience whis4ey, they only use trees as a support. I suppose that once they get into the canopy they could become so big that they prevent the leaves from photosynthesing, but that would take quite a while. Even if Ivy was a parasitic plant, it still wouldn`t kill it`s host.

 

ok, im gonna cut it out...

 

Thing is David its taking over the Tree, I think ill cut it back to bottom of the trunk and dig it out..

 

I usually cut it, certainly if its a tree im working on or near.

The weight of it can to my mind cause problems and in the event the tree needs to be felled ivy is to put it polietly a right * nusiance.

 

Hi Pro, I know I'll have to do it, been putting it off due to lazyness When i do it will the ivy in the canopy eventually turn brown and fall, because i dont fancy climbing the tree and pulling it down :eek: ..

 

Dee, I spent a fair amount of this morning ripping as much of it from a clients conifers as I could. Once you`ve severed the ivy from the tree then you lessen the problem.

 

Yes, it will eventually brown and fall off.

 

I still think it is a parasite and will kill your tree

 

whis4ey, it`s rooted in the soil, feeding from the soil. It is not a parasitic plant.

 

Its coming off..Ive made my mind up....