Question: Two sides of our house are covered with ivy planted by the previous owner. Our home looks like a giant trellis. We want to remove this gigantic mass but don't know where to start. Can you offer any suggestions?
Answer: Uncontrolled growth of ivy on a home presents serious problems. Often the vine's suckers work their way under siding and even through windows -- an invitation to moisture and rot. Unwanted critters -- bats, birds and an assortment of bugs -- find the foliage an attractive home. Even stucco homes suffer exterior damage and staining with the uncontrolled growth of ivy. Removing it is a difficult task.
Ivy is held in place by tiny, but tough, hair-like tendrils. These tendrils invade every available crack and cranny where they are almost impossible to pry out, especially on masonry walls. Water easily penetrates into the tiny cracks that have been formed by these tendrils, causing damage, especially in areas that experience a freeze-and-thaw cycle.
People are also reading…
To remove ivy, avoid pulling vines away from the wall, since this can loosen siding as well as masonry units.
Start by cutting apart the bulk of the vine using pruning shears. Use a good pair of gloves to avoid injuring your hands as you pull the sheared vine away from the wall.
Once the bulk of the vines has been removed, you will still the suckers that attached to the vines. They should be left alone for two or three weeks until they dry up and turn dark. Then they can be removed with a stiff brush and some laundry detergent. Do not use harsh chemicals or acids, which tend to do more damage to the wall than the plant remnants.
A warning: If the suckers are left alone too long, they will rot and oxidize, becoming very hard and nearly impossible to remove.
On masonry walls, there is another option for removing tendrils. You can use a small torch to burn off the tips of the tendrils, getting rid of all vegetation. Brush away any remaining residue with a stiff brush (do not use a wire brush, which can cause rust stains). Remember to keep a hose and spray nozzle handy when working with a propane torch. Immediately spray down any surface that is hit with the flame.
On wood surfaces, you can use a paint scraper or wire brush to remove tendrils that cling to the smooth surface. Take special care if you decide to burn off the tendrils from wood siding.
Once the tendrils have been removed from wood siding, you will have to prepare the surface for new exterior paint. On masonry surfaces, you can often remove staining by using Sure Klean Heavy Duty Paint Stripper. It is marketed by ProSoCo Inc., which can be contacted at www.prosoco.com or CustomerCare@prosoco.com This product is applied to masonry surfaces and left on for 12 hours or overnight.
Then you pressure rinse and wash with Sure Klean restorative cleaner. These products will not harm your masonry surface, but they are not suitable for use on wood.
