ENGLISH IVY can look really chic in your garden, or even on the outside of your house.
But the truth is if it's not kept in a pot the green plant can become unmanageable and cause more harm than good.
This is especially true if you have ivy growing on the outside walls of your home, since it can cause real damage to the bricks, even weakening them.
Not only that, but ivy can also destroy trees by wrapping itself around the roots and weighing down the bark.
Luckily, there's a quick and easy way to get rid of the pesky plant in no time at all – all you need is some white vinegar.
Brittany Bailey, gardening expert at Pretty Handy Girl told Express.co.uk that cutting the plant is the best place to start.
Read more on gardening
Gardening pros shares time you should stop mowing your lawn for winter
I’m a gardening expert – how to transform fall leaves into a garden essential
She explained: “Ivy has a waxy leaf that is highly resistant to herbicides, therefore it’s best to score or cut the ivy before applying your choice of an herbicide or vinegar."
It's important to always wear gloves when dealing with ivy, as it can cause irritation.
Brittany continued: "You can use a string trimmer to cut the leaves off the ivy.
"This will create an open wound and allow the plant to absorb the herbicide more easily."
Most read in Fabulous
I'm a midwife and there’s one baby name I can’t stand – it's just awful
Royal fans complain about 'disrespectful' gestures at Queen's procession
People are just realizing what the bump in their washing machine door is for
Woman sparks fierce debate after sharing how often she washes her bra
Once the bulk of the plant has been removed you can go in with your white vinegar, as a more natural alternative to other herbicides.
And since white vinegar is available for as little as 40p it works at much cheaper too.
The gardening whizz explained: "If you want to go natural, you can use one gallon of white vinegar mixed with a teaspoon of dish soap to effectively get rid of ivy forever.
"Just be very careful not to get this mixture on any plants or trees you want to keep.”
Source: Read Full Article
