Saving Ivy Covered Trees

[zooba72]

My property was neglected for years and Ivy has taken over everything. I've been forced to remove many trees that were killed by Ivy and vines. I'm now trying to preserve what I can ... Question, is simply cutting the Ivy vines at the ground enough? Or do I need to remove some of it from the trunk? Someone told me I should remove it from the first 24" off the ground, but what I find is that the bark comes with it. Especially on the cedars.

The trees that are effected are mostly Cedar, some Maples, Cherry and a large Oak.

Thanks in advance!

 

[fir]

Cut around the tree about a 4ft strip up start 2ft up from ground roughly. Seen it done at job sites and it seems to do the job when it dies you ca climb or get a climber to cut it out .The stuff sucks to climb I fell a tree that was covered and peeled it off it was like a big cucoon.

 

[VA-Sawyer]

If they are pulling the bark as you try to pull the vines, I would cut the vines down low as much as possible. Try to get at least an inch gap where ever you can. Wait a month or two, depending on weather, and then see if the rootlets have weakened. If so, then carefully peel the vines away from the bark as far as you can reach. Don't try to pull the vines down from the upper tree. They will rot and fall out in 2 or 3 years.
I'm sure that there are probably climbing plants that this method won't work on, but it does pretty good on the ones here in the Southeast.
Rick

 

[fir]

I hate ivy:bang:

 

[VA-Sawyer]

You said it man!
Rick