The tendrils of the ivy search along the trunk and limbs of your favorite tree,
cling and caress, flower and flourish, and you rock on your porch swing and
you are pleased.

But you are deceived.

English ivy is so widespread in western Oregon you probably think it belongs
here.

But you are wrong.

If you think it came from Europe with some of your ancestors, at least you got
that one right.

“If English ivy has turned some of your shade trees into ivy monsters, you can
fight back,” said Russ Plaeger of the Sandy Basin Watershed Council. “On hot
summer days you’ll be glad that you saved those big trees and the shady
oases they create.”

The weight of large masses of ivy vines can topple mature trees – especially
during an ice storm when the evergreen leaves collect a coat of ice.

Killing these ivy vines accomplishes two important things. First, the trees will
be protected and their health will improve by eliminating the added weight of
the ivy leaves and making more sun available. Dense ivy growth can actually
shade the needles or leaves on the host tree. Second, by killing the ivy in the
top of a tree the vines will not be able to flower and produce seeds. That
means fewer new ivy plants, and less work in the future.

Local resident Mitch Williams is a great example of the positive difference that
individuals can make in efforts to control English ivy,” Plaeger said. “Over the
last few years Mitch has volunteered his time to pull ivy and lead local youth
crews on ivy control projects in the Barlow Trail Park at the confluence of the
Sandy and Salmon rivers. The ivy is no longer out of control there.”

English ivy has both juvenile and mature plant forms. The leaves on juvenile
plants are deeply lobed with three to five hairs on the leaves and young
shoots.

Immature plants do not produce seed during the juvenile phase which lasts up
to 10 years.

Mature plants have leathery, dark-green leaves that are un-lobed or only
slightly lobed on the edges. When mature plants begin to grow vertically they
produce flowers.

Mature vines produce clusters of small, greenish-white flowers in autumn
which lead to dark-colored berry-like fruits in spring. Many birds eat the fruits
and aid the spread of ivy into local forests.

It is possible to develop a game plan and set priorities to get ahead of the ivy.
Persistency will free up the trees and other native plants which provide better
habitat for native song birds and other wildlife.

Ivy that is growing on the ground can be pulled or dug up. The fall through
springs is a good time to do this while the soil is moist. Some people react to
the ivy’s sap so it is a good idea to wear gloves. Vines can be disposed of by
piling them so they’ll dry out to prevent re-rooting or put into yard debris
containers.

The vines growing on trees are pretty easy to kill. Begin by cutting out a
section of every vine on the trunk of each tree. Use a pair of sturdy lopping
shears and follow these simple steps: 1. Make the first cut at shoulder height

and cut each vine as you work your way around the tree; 2. Make a second
cut at knee height and go completely around the tree; 3. Pull, or gently pry,
off the cut sections of vines.

Avoid damaging the thin bark of trees such as red alder. Be sure no vines are
hiding in the furrows of the bark. As the cut vines die, the leaves will dry out
and fall off.

The new ivy-free zone can be kept clear by pulling new vines by hand while
they’re young and supple.

“To make your accomplishment last even longer, you can pull and dig the ivy
vines out of the soil so that you have a cleared circle around the base of each
tree,” Plaeger said. “If you want to go for the gold you can remove all of the
ground ivy from your site.”

Fortunately, English ivy can no longer be sold in Oregon for outdoor or
landscaping plantings, Plaeger said. “But concerned gardeners should also be
careful with any of the other ivy cultivars that can also become invasive.”