Damage From English Ivy
English ivy is an invasive species in many areas and can grow to completely cover trees, flowers and buildings alike. When left alone, it can cause damage to almost anything it grows over. Does this Spark an idea?
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Effects
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Climbing English ivy can not only smother trees and plants by robbing them of sunlight and nutrients but also cause walls and structures to begin crumbling. Heavy vines attached by sticky, rootlike structures can cause chips and cracks in the walls. This can make the structure more vulnerable to weather-related wear, such as water damage and further cracking from the collected moisture that freezes inside the walls during cold weather.
Biology
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The vines and thick leaves of English ivy cover other plants so completely that those beneath are slowly suffocated in several ways. Sunlight can no longer reach the leaves of other plants, and the ivy absorbs water and nutrients to fuel its long vines and many leaves.
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Size
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Even the tallest trees can fall victim to English ivy. When left unchecked, a single vine can be up to 100 feet long and a foot in diameter, bearing thousands of individual leaves and countless offshoots.
Warning
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In addition to the physical damage, a type of bacteria can safely live in English ivy with no ill effects but will cause leaf scorch in other plants. Even if the ivy is removed, the bacteria, called Xylella fastidiosa, may still remain in other plants.
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References
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