Oh a Dainty Plant is the Ivy Green (??????)

18 comments

Now I’m not sure what type of Ivy Charles Dickens grew in his garden, but under no circumstances could the Ivy growing in ours be termed “Dainty” and with today being sunny calm and relatively mild, I decided this was the perfect day to:

Prune the Ivy!!

Both Ian and I had talked of getting on with this before it reached too high…….and it was only late in the Autumn that I noticed not only had it grown up to the gutter on the stone wall, but had passed and was creeping on to the roof and as the building belongs to the pub next door, I thought I’d better make a start and see what I could do.

Here you can see just how high it had crept and how it was beginning to cover the windows.

After realizing halfway up the ladder was far enough, I set to and literally chopped it in half.

A couple of hours later with the company of a pair of Robins, who were after the dislodged insects, the Ivy was back to a decent and manageable level. I’m hoping the top half will not be too long before it dies off, I know it won’t be a pretty sight, but I’m really relieved that I’ve done it…..:o))

10 Feb, 2014
18 likes

Comments

Cottagekaren

Brilliant job Janey! You were brave going up that ladder on your own! Hope the dead stuff doesn't take long to drop off. :))

10 Feb, 2014

Janey

Thanks Karen....it was a task and a dirty one at that, there were even snails overwintering behind the leaves!

10 Feb, 2014

Janey

Thanks Snoopy, I'm sure it'll be much better come spring....:))

10 Feb, 2014

Amy

Janey you scare me when you get going , for goodness sake be careful ! you've done a good job cutting the Ivy down ,the pub won't need to keep their lights on all day now LOL ... , we cut some down from the front wall of our place at least 5 years ago and you can still see the marks where the Ivy clung to it xx

10 Feb, 2014

Steragram

Great job done! It does die slowly so be patient. When it's really dry it makes excellent firelighters.

11 Feb, 2014

Gralew

Janey, Job Well Done....You've got more courage than me, I get vertigo looking up at things!!!!

11 Feb, 2014

Janey

Ha ha Amy, Lottie was holding the ladders at the bottom....:)). Thank goodness this is just their store place, don't want everyone watching me in the garden....not that I'm doing anything they shouldn't see....ooer there is that time I got caught short behind the greenhouse....:)).
Thanks Stera, well that's good to know....shall be climbing up the wall when I need to light the burner....that sounds like every day right now!
Well it was either me or Lottie Gralew, and she didn't look like she was going anywhere! Not too high really and the grass is more moss, so could've been a soft landing...:((

11 Feb, 2014

Hollyeves

Well done janey, its a job getting the ivy off isnt it... I did some years ago and after my eyes hurt and I was sneezing, so guess I was allergic to it.... you've made a good job of yours...

11 Feb, 2014

Shirley_tulip

Well done Janey ... I do admire you for getting up on that long ladder as I would have trouble on the small steps ... cannot balance with my hands free which I why I have a mis-shapen Pittosporum until OH tidies it up at the weekend!

Love your bird boxes too .. :o)

11 Feb, 2014

Pansypotter

Good for you Janey, very brave of you climbing that high. I agree with you although I do love Ivy it can be a real brute if its not taken in check ;0)

11 Feb, 2014

Sheilabub

Well done Janey - good job to get done and dusted. Must have been a bit scary though, being up a ladder and having to let go to do the cutting, and I bet those stems were pretty tough?!

11 Feb, 2014

Floribunda

Ivy looks so pretty but can be so terribly invasive at times can't it Janey? Great job my friend! \0/xxx

12 Feb, 2014

Lincslass

Well done Janey, Ivy is a tough beggar and can get out of hand, you've done a good job there and I also applaud you, its not easy balancing on a ladder and using the cutters at the same time, I was wondering if you were being overlooked as I was reading down the blog but you've already given the answer..........

12 Feb, 2014

Janey

Thanks girls.......:)). I'm so pleased that I got it done before all this latest terrible weather. I hope all your homes and gardens are safe from the wet.......

12 Feb, 2014