How to Remove English Ivy From Asbestos Siding

English ivy is a handsome vine, especially in autumn when it turns shades of red and orange. However, it is very destructive to asbestos, brick and wood siding. The stem of the ivy has thousands of little roots that dig into the siding to hold the vine in place. These roots allow moisture to penetrate siding, especially asbestos and brick, which can cause crumbling and cracking. Some buildings have been condemned as unsafe because of the damage English ivy has done to the exterior siding.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Long-sleeve shirt
• Gloves
• Goggles
• Herbicide
• Shovel
• Ladder
• Pruning shears

Removing English Ivy from Asbestos Siding

1. Wear a long-sleeve shirt and gloves when handling English ivy. It may cause contact dermatitis in some people.

2. If you can, remove any foundation plantings you want to save. Store them in pots in a shady area and keep them moist until they can be replanted.

3. Apply herbicide, according to package directions, to the ivy. Wait until the leaves start to turn brown before removing. You may have to apply the herbicide several times.

4. Work from the top down. Carefully pull the plant away from the wall. You are trying to get as many of the roots out as possible. If large cracks appear or the siding begins to crumble, stop. You will need to contact a professional to remove the ivy roots and to repair the siding. You can still remove the plant, leaving the roots in place in the siding, by using pruning shears to cut away the ivy as close to the siding as possible.

5. Remove all the English ivy roots. At the base of the plant, dig down 8 to 10 inches, exposing as much of the roots as possible. Pull or dig up the roots. Dispose of them in the garbage or burn them if your town allows.

6. Plant more appropriate plants where the ivy once grew. Remove all topsoil that was exposed to the herbicide. Remove the soil to a depth of 12 inches and a section at least 4 inches wider than the area where the herbicide was used. Replace with new topsoil mixed with compost.

7. English ivy is a persistent plant and can regrow from pieces of stem and roots left behind. Check every year for new ivy. Hand pull the new ivy or use a brush-on herbicide.

Tips & Warnings

• To keep the ivy from becoming unmanageable as you pull it from the asbestos siding, roll the ivy into a ball as you pull. Or cut it into foot-long lengths before removing it from the siding.
• Make sure to pick up every piece of English ivy you pull from your house.

Resources

• Removing English Ivy from Asbestos Siding