In many gardens and parks with old trees, you can sometimes see lush ivy tendrils climbing up the trees and hardly anything of the trunk underneath can be seen. Since ivy is a root climber, the question arises about the possible damage: Will the tree suffocate under the vegetation? Do the roots of the two plant species compete with each other? Do you really always have to remove ivy?
Does ivy damage trees?
Ivy on trees is generally harmless for he althy, older trees because it does not penetrate the bark and does not remove any nutrients. However, ivy should be removed from sensitive young trees, trees with thin branches and damaged bark to prevent damage.
The common ivy as greenery for areas and trees
The common ivy (Hedera helix) is the only root climber in the native flora. It can crawl far or use its roots to climb up to 30 meters high. The plant is just as popular as a ground cover as well as a climbing plant for greening walls, facades and tree trunks. Hedera helix is also important as an insect pasture because the yellow-green flowers that appear between September and October are rich in nectar. This is readily accepted by wasps, flies and numerous other insects. The blue-black, poisonous fruits ripen in spring.
Is ivy growth harmful?
Many gardeners believe that ivy's roots penetrate deep into the tree bark and damage it. However, in older trees with thick bark and bark, the plant actually only adheres superficially and only to the surface. The roots of the ivy do not penetrate the wood, do not injure the tree and do not take any nutrients from it. Ivy is also a shade plant that prefers to grow on densely leafy trees with a wide crown. Therefore, the climbing plant does not appear as a light robber, especially since it rarely penetrates into the crowns and overgrows them. In summary, it can be said that ivy growth does not harm the tree - in principle anyway.
When you should remove ivy - and when not
Older, he althy trees are not damaged by ivy cover. However, the situation is different with young trees whose bark is still thin. Here too, the roots of the ivy do not penetrate, but the growth creates an environment favorable for the growth of fungi - these in turn penetrate through the still sensitive bark. For the same reason, trees with damaged bark are also at risk from ivy. Furthermore, ivy should be removed from trees with thin branches, as these often cannot support the additional weight. Fruit trees are also not suitable as hosts, as the insects living in ivy (such as wasps) can have a negative impact on the harvest.
Tip
Removing ivy is a tedious process. It works best if you repeatedly cut the tendrils close to the ground and slowly starve the plant.
