SHOULD I REMOVE THE IVY FROM A TREE IN MY GARDEN?

There has always been a lot of controversy about the effect of Ivy on trees and whether it is a good idea to remove it or not. In the end your decision may depend on what you want from your tree - a classic uncluttered shape or a wildlife habitat and a more natural, woodland appearance.

Ivy is a native, evergreen climber able to thrive in very low light levels such as often exist on the woodland floor or underneath the canopy of a tree. It uses a tree as a means of support, a way of climbing from the darkness at the ground to the relatively higher light levels at the top of trees. When it arrives there it changes form and starts to produce differently shaped leaves as well as flowers and seeds. In the process it does not generally harm a healthy tree but may contribute towards removing light from the leaves of an old or dying tree. In addition some trees with lighter canopies, such as Ash, which let more light through may support larger Ivy plants but these are not expected to shorten the life of the tree. They may however make it more top heavy and likely to fall in a storm or they may disguise damage to the trunk or branches of a tree making it more dangerous. In woodland situations this may not matter but in private gardens, in parks or on roadsides consideration may need to be given to this. In addition you may feel that a tree covered in ivy does not look as good as one without.

Before taking the decision to remove Ivy from your tree however please consider that it creates an excellent wildlife habitat. As well as providing cover and food for a huge range of invertebrates (insects, spiders etc) it can give excellent roosting places to birds and bats, overwintering niches for butterflies and moths and, of course, nesting places for a range of birds.

if you decide to remove your Ivy it is generally done by cutting the plants low down. They rely entirely on their roots in the ground for nutrition, they do not take any from the tree, and so cutting the stems will kill the plant above. It will go dry and brown with time and can more easily be removed from the support of the tree.

To sum up, the decision on whether to remove the ivy will depend on what you want from your tree. If you want it for its form rather than its value as a habitat you may decide to remove the Ivy. In a woodland setting the choice is usually easier as the form of a tree grown in the relative open space of a park or garden is rarely achieved and you can appreciate the tree for its role in the woodland ecosystem.