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Hilton Road, Ferny Creek

Control - don't grow

Ivy was planted as an attractive ornamental plant - its' invasive nature was not known about or suspected.  If you have ivy in your garden or managed parks, you will need to control it - and preferrably remove it.

 

  • Don't buy ivy

  • Don't plant ivy

  • Control ivy within your garden/managed park

  • Don't let it flower

  • Don't let berries form

Seeds and berries appear in late summer and autumn. 

They are transported by birds, animals, watercourses

and humans.

Methods of control

As a first priority, cut the climbing stems as close to the base of ivy clad trees or shrubs.  Immediately dab or paint the cut stem with a recommended chemical product.  Small pots and paintbrushes, or dabber bottles are suitable.

Ivy requires height and light to produce seeds and berries.  It is these berries that are ingested by birds and dispersed throughout the forest, gardens, fields – anywhere birds deposit droppings.

 

The best time to remove ivy is before seeds form – this is normally in autumn but could be earlier or later depending on the climate.

Ivy on the ground can be removed by hand, ideally when the soil is moist.

 

A metal rake is useful to pull the ivy away from the soil.

If there is a large area of ivy on the ground, chemical weed control sprays can be used. 

 

Ensure all necessary safety measures are followed according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.

Ivy off trees

Working tirelessly to remove weeds from the Dandenong Ranges, the Community Weed Alliance of the Dandenongs (CWAD) has produced an excellent leaflet showing the correct way to remove and kill ivy on trees. 

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This step-by-step guide covers everything from the right tools and herbicides to the best methods for removal.  Excellent work CWAD. Click on the image.

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For more information about CWAD visit their website: http://www.cwad.org.au

Removal techniques for invasive ivy

Environmental Fact Sheets

There are many Environmental Weed Factsheets (EWF) produced by government, councils and park management groups. 

 

These documents provide valuable information on the behaviour of weeds and treatment methods.

 

Listed opposite are some EWFs, on English Ivy, from Yarra Ranges and Cardinia Councils.  

 

Click on the image to view the full document.

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