Ivy climbs by latching onto surfaces with tiny rootlets. These are basically the plant’s desperate little fingers. To kill it, you must sever the main stems at the base. Use loppers or a sharp saw—anything that says “I mean business.”
Imagine you’re cutting the IV drip on a monster. Those thick, woody vines are the umbilical cord. Once you slice them, the top part will die, slowly and dramatically, like a villain in a soap opera.
Pro-Tip: Paint the Wounds
Here’s a sneaky trick: after cutting the stems, immediately paint the cut ends with concentrated glyphosate or a systemic herbicide. Use a small brush, not a spray—we’re not trying to kill the yard, just the invader.
Why? Because the ivy will try to suck that poison into its roots like a toddler with a juice box. You’ll watch it wither with grim satisfaction.
