Ivy has two different types of roots. While the roots in the ground absorb food and moisture, ivy climbs up fences, walls and trees using its adhesive roots. It also holds on to the ground with its roots.
How deep do ivy roots go and how do you remove them?
In addition to normal roots for absorbing nutrients and water, ivy also has adhesive roots that attach themselves to surfaces such as walls, trees or fences. Care should be taken when removing adhesive roots from masonry and digging out normal roots.
Ivy has two different types of roots
Ivy doesn't just form roots to anchor itself around the ground. Adhesive roots also form on the woody shoots, which attach themselves to a suitable substrate.
The adhesive roots consist of several small root strands that are arranged in a ball. This means that the climbing plant can find support even on very smooth surfaces such as concrete walls.
It becomes dangerous when ivy is grown on walls in which the joints are no longer completely tight. The roots hold on particularly well here. After a while, roots grow from the shoots and penetrate deep into the masonry. If the ivy is removed from the wall, visible traces will remain in the best case scenario. If the ivy has penetrated several centimeters deep, the entire wall or facade can be at risk.
The roots of the ivy grow so deep
In the soil, the root depth can be up to 60 centimeters, depending on age and location. The roots penetrate the masonry as deeply as they can.
Removing roots from house walls
To remove roots from house walls, you must carefully pull off the ivy from top to bottom. Nevertheless, remains of adhesive roots remain on the facade. Most of them can be removed with a wire brush or a high-pressure cleaner (€119.00 on Amazon). However, if the masonry is damaged, you should avoid using high-pressure cleaners.
Dig up ivy roots
To permanently remove ivy from the garden, you need to dig up the roots. Depending on how old the plant is, the soil is loosened to a depth of 60 centimeters. The roots are then carefully lifted out and disposed of through the garbage disposal.
Tip
If you want to dig up ivy roots, water the soil well beforehand. The water penetrates particularly deeply if you poke additional holes in the ground with a digging fork. This makes the soil looser and the roots are easier to remove.