How to Remove Overgrown Ivy | Ask This Old House

Ask This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook gives a tutorial on removing unwanted and overgrown ivy.
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Time: 3-4 hours
Cost: $45 for the herbicide
Skill Level: Easy
Tools:
Gloves []
Loppers []
Ladders []
Steps:
1. The best season to remove ivy is in the late winter – early spring before the plant is in full bloom.
2. Whether the ivy is attached to a tree or a home, start removing the ivy by pulling it up gently with your hands. Be sure to use gloves in case you encounter poison ivy as well.
3. If the ivy has grown high on a home, you’ll need a sturdy ladder to climb up and remove it. Be sure to use one with stabilizer bars attached. These will help keep a strong footing at the bottom and at the peak of the ladder.
4. For any thicker roots and stems, use a pair of loppers to cut through the root. Continue until all of the thicker roots are trimmed back to the ground.
5. When the plant begins to flower in the following season, cover the leaves with an herbicide. This will bring poison all the way down to the roots and kill the ivy plant for good.
6. To remove any buds left on the siding of a home by the ivy, use a palm sander with 120 grit paper to grind down the buds.
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Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.
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How to Remove Overgrown Ivy | Ask This Old House
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