United Kingdom 
I have just started the task of clearing out ivy from the middle of my escalonia hedge bushes (which I recently cut back). So far I have cut the ivy back to ground level and removed it from the bark of the bushes. Is this major exercise a waste of time? How can I kill or discourage future ivy growth, please? Pauline
2 Feb, 2012
Answers
Very many thanks. Pauline
2 Feb, 2012
Remember to paint the brush killer on fresh cuts--it won't absorb into a cut more than 20 minutes old.
2 Feb, 2012
good point Tugb :o)
3 Feb, 2012
It's the sort of job that you may have to repeat to keep on top of the ivy. I'm thinking of sowing Ivy Broomrape to reduce the vigour of some ivy. You can get it from Chiltern Seeds and it only shows above ground when it flowers!
7 Feb, 2012
Hmm....Sounds interesting, Volunteer, but does it ever attach to Fatsia japonica?
7 Feb, 2012
paint the cut stems with scrub and brush stump killer . then its a case of keeping an eye out for new growth and pulling it out.
not a waste of time just a pain in the proverbial :o)
2 Feb, 2012