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Step 1
Plant English Ivy in planters with stone block edging. This will keep vines from spreading along the ground and make it easier to define a border, when pruning. A protective radius around trees can keep the Ivy from climbing. When Ivy climbs a tree it puts extra weight on the branches, reducing airflow to the bark. English Ivy isn't parasitic, just heavy. The weight of English Ivy can cause trees to grow slowly and cause branches to break under pressure.
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Step 2
Cut English Ivy away from the bases of trees regularly, protecting the trunks. English Ivy roots are shallow, making physical control the most effective method. Use a pair of garden loppers to cut the vines in a circle along the ground and then rip away the vines. Spray each stump with a glyphosphate herbicide, like Roundup, to prevent re-sprouting.
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Step 3
Place bricks or concrete garden blocks around established trees, shrubs and other ornamental plants to protect them from an English Ivy invasion. Cut rogue vines away every 2 to 3 months, to keep them from growing out of bounds. Be especially vigilant in the winter, when other plants are dormant, because English Ivy is evergreen, meaning that it will continue to grow, taking the opportunity to kill the other plants.
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Step 4
Pull vines out, rather than attempt to kill off large areas with herbicides. One strong heave can remove a large portion of vine faster and more effectively than an herbicidal spray. Since their root systems are shallow, English Ivy vines are not difficult to remove. The overlapping vines can fuse together, so you can even "roll" them away by cutting a section of vines along the ground and literally rolling the mat somewhere else, like to your mulcher. Mulched English Ivy doesn't present a re-sprouting danger, like the notorious Japanese Knotweed. Go over the newly exposed ground with a rototiller, or a garden hoe to kill any remaining roots, then cover with landscaping mesh and dump the newly mulched English Ivy vines right on top. As they decompose, they'll provide nutrients for the ground below. Pull out the new sprouts before they grow big enough to damage your mesh, or apply an herbicide.
