I go to any lengths necessary to avoid removing ivy from trees, usually instructing clients to clip the ivy at the base of the tree to expose a foot-wide band of clear trunk and let it brown out and fall away on its own. But I recently found a quick, effective ivy removal method when I let a favorite client talk me into going up to engage a large, green mass of what a friend calls "English kudzu." Thinking that there has to be an easy way to do this, I studied the vine patterns, ascended to the tree top and started working my way down, removing only the ivy draped over the branch forks and a ring of ivy encircling the adjacent trunk. By the time I neared the bottom of the tree, large clumps of ivy were already dropping. It worked so well that the client called me a couple of days later to thank me for coming back by to cut away more ivy, and was surprised to learn I hadn't. All but a small bit remained in the tree a week later.

Tom
Keep looking up!

Reply to post by Tom Watson, on May 12, 2000 at 00:21:24:

I find like yourself, that ascending to the top of the tree is a very effective method, although I`ve found for me personally, removing the young fleshy growth at the top, and cutting a long thin strip from bottom to top helps the bulk of the ivy peel away in large pieces quite effectively.

Reply to post by James Block, on May 12, 2000 at 00:21:24:

that all all sounds good but i am a climber that gets poison ivy !! any suggestions on how to do this task without or limited exposer to
breaking out with this annoying itch and oozing
other than long sleeves and imeadiate washing??
I climb and i get ivy usually once every 2 two weeks.
sugestions?