How to Remove Ivy From a Brick Wall

Ivy on the side of a home can be charming at first glance. However, it can be creep into chimneys, inside widow frames and underneath shingles. Removing it from brick walls is one difficult task.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Shears
• Tree pruner, with extension
• Trash bags
• Putty knife
• Laundry detergent
• Wire brush

1. Make sure the ivy is alive. It is harder to remove if it is dry. Spray the area down with water so the vines are softer and may give way more.

2. Pull the ivy away from the wall, starting as high as the vines go and working on down. Use a tree pruner to grab the vine and pull downward if it is growing high. It may be easier to pull down slightly to the right or left.

3. Chop down the ivy as close to the ground root as possible. Dispose of the vines in a trash bag, unless you plan on replanting them elsewhere.

4. Spray the roots with Roundup or Brush-b-Gone. This may need to be done periodically if you want to kill it permanently.

5. Some ivy leaves behind "feet" (anchors) that will be hard to remove. You can pry these with a putty knife. You also can use laundry detergent and a stiff brush right after pulling the ivy off. If the feet are left alone for a year or 2, it may dry up and disappear.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful when pulling your ivy away. On some older homes, brick and mortar can be chipped off or break away. It may be better to cut the ivy away with shears.

• If you use a tool to scrape the "feet" off, be careful not to damage the brick or mortar.

• If the ivy has been a fixture on the home for many years, there may always be evidence that it has been there, even if you perform all the steps above.

Resources

• Go to the Brick Industry Association.