Jack and the beanstalk

pineapple

Not a beanstalk but an ivy. My new neighbour has inherited a house where the front is virtually knee deep in a type of ivy. Squirrels and all sorts have been seen popping in and out. It's tendrils are crossing his first floor windows, sneaking into his guttering and across to my side. I've asked him to cut it back but I think the whole thing needs to come off. It grows very fast and has suckers which dig into the stone and the pointing. Mainly for his sake but partly for mine (!) what is the best way to get rid? If he rips it off, he may end up with a re-pointing bill. One neighbour has suggested severing the base or putting down plant killer.

abankerbutnotafatcat

We've just been ripping ours off - not sure if ours maybe had less of a hold than yours/your neighbour's but it hasn't taken any mortar with it. We actually have the opposite problem - we don't want to cut off the roots until we've spoken to our neighbour as it's still growing on their side (including partly going over their windows) and we want to make sure they won't be angry with us if suddennly their house is covered with dead ivy!!!!

Suzy_M

With ivy as overgrown as you describe repointing will be necessary anyway.

However by cutting off the plant at ground level (and killing off the stump) the attached ivy will die off naturally and once dried off will be easier to remove and cause less damage to the brickwork.

With the current hot weather now would be an ideal time to cut it and in about a month (or less if the current temperatures hold) it should be ready to come down.

Chances are that the ivy may have also damaged the brick faces as well as the mortar joints - BUT do not mention this to your neighbour if you really want completely rid of it yourself!

Doozergirl

Suzy_M wrote: »

With ivy as overgrown as you describe repointing will be necessary anyway.

However by cutting off the plant at ground level (and killing off the stump) the attached ivy will die off naturally and once dried off will be easier to remove and cause less damage to the brickwork.

With the current hot weather now would be an ideal time to cut it and in about a month (or less if the current temperatures hold) it should be ready to come down.

Chances are that the ivy may have also damaged the brick faces as well as the mortar joints - BUT do not mention this to your neighbour if you really want completely rid of it yourself!

Exactly that!

pineapple

Thanks peeps.
Yesterday a few neighbours tackled it - I'm talking mallet, crowbar and saw stuff! They have at least removed the lower half and hopefully the top half will die back - though he still needs to get up those ladders and get it out of his guttering. It's left nasty little brown bits still clinging to some of the stone. I'm thinking these might come off another time or maybe could be left as they will eventually be covered by a less lethal climber. Fortunately his pointing seems mostly intact though he may need to spot point here and there. There is a a big gnarled stump remaining with a bit of greenery coming off it. I am going to suggest some stump killer (or maybe SBK?).