20 November 2008Ivy can add important wildlife value to trees in woods and rural gardens. However, in urban gardens, ivy within tree canopies can increase the shading effect of trees.
Moreover, it can hide any structural defects that trees may develop making visual tree inspections more difficult. It can also add to the wind resistance of the tree to high winds.
A balance needs to be made by managing the Ivy rather than complete removal. By severing the Ivy it will die back from the severed point and will be easier to remove as it dies back.
The Ivy can be carefully removed by hand using secateurs taking care not to damage the tree bark.
