seed-bombing English ivy?

11 years ago

Hi all, I'm an avid home gardener but brand new to gardenweb. I want to seed-bomb an empty yard which is adjacent to mine. In summer it is full of English ivy, poison ivy, and misc. weed trees. I want to plant something beneficial, to beautify the area as well as to try to prevent some of the weed jungle from getting too crazy. The only problem is, there is no soil visible because of the intense mat of ivy. Do you have any suggestions? It is a partially sunny hill with clay soil. Thanks!

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Comments (5)

Dee67
11 years ago
If I understand you correctly, you do not own this property, but have to live beside/look at it. You could try to scatter miscellaneous seeds, but the weeds that have been there have dropped years of seeds of their own, & will continue.I doubt you'll have much luck, but hey, you never know.If this area bothers you, you may want to screen it of with your own plantings, tall enough to block that view.Short of bombing it with weed killer & starting fresh, I doubt there is much else you can do.What you have mentioned that is there is horrible crap.Be diligent about keeping it "overthere".as it will eventually try to come visit.Hope this helps.
ianbrazil
11 years ago
I guess this place is pretty abandoned. Do you know what I'd do? I'd go in there one evening when there's no-one around and dig it all up and then glyphosate it for good luck. When it's all dead you can plant what you like......;-) Anyone who sees you will think you just bought the place. If you think that's too radical just go in there and plant some nice flowering shrubs that will quickly shade out the crap. Sods law the guy will then come back heheh. Good luck. Ian.
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Thanks to all for the replies. kato_b: I don't think grass would work. It's kind of an awkward area, which is probably why someone planted ivy there. There's a rock retaining wall at the back of it, cement stairs and sidewalk boardering it on one side, a cement sidewalk with raised cement border at the front and a cement slab boardering on the neighbor's side. It's also sloped. I'm reluctant to plant anything there because we've been battling poison ivy in that area all spring and I think it will continue because the neighbor isn't controlling it on her side. I don't have the patience to keep killing it off while dealing with desirable plants in the area. Is the main problem with landscape rocks dealing with the debris that gathers in there and trying to keep it looking tidy? Does plastic make it worse? Does using larger landscape rocks - like medium sized river rocks - make the problem better or worse? Wood mulch could work but I'm afraid it might tend to wash away because of the slope. Maybe I'll just let whatever the neighbor has on her side take over (except the evil poison ivy) and move on to the multitude of other projects we have to complete this summer. Gotta pick your battles. You know, gardenweb should start a forum with tips on how to live in peace with difficult neighbors who share a property line. This neighbor just cut down 3/4 of an old evergreen shrub that was on the line and left the mutilated remains on my side for me to deal with. Is that passive-aggressive or what! It's going to be a long summer.
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The pine needles are not a problem in the soil. To get that soil into the good, healthy condition that grasses need to grow strong and healthy contact your county office of the Washington State University USDA Cooperative Extension Service about having a good, reliable soil test done so you know what that soils pH and base nutrient levels are and what to do to correct any problem areas adn also dig in with these simple soil tests, 1) Structure. From that soil sample put enough of the rest to make a 4 inch level in a clear 1 quart jar, with a tight fitting lid. Fill that jar with water and replace the lid, tightly. Shake the jar vigorously and then let it stand for 24 hours. Your soil will settle out according to soil particle size and weight. A good loam will have about 1-3/4 inch (about 45%) of sand on the bottom. about 1 inch (about 25%) of silt next, about 1 inch (25%) of clay above that, and about 1/4 inch (about 5%) of organic matter on the top. 2) Drainage. Dig a hole 1 foot square and 1 foot deep and fill that with water. After that water drains away refill the hole with more water and time how long it takes that to drain away. Anything less than 2 hours and your soil drainsÂ too quickly and needs more organic matter to slow that drainage down. Anything over 6 hours and the soil drains too slowly and needs lots of organic matter to speed it up. 3) Tilth. Take a handful of your slightly damp soil and squeeze it tightly. When the pressure is released the soil should hold together in that clump, but when poked with a finger that clump should fall apart. 4) Smell. What does your soil smell like? A pleasant, rich earthy odor? Putrid, offensive, repugnant odor? The more organic matter in your soil the more active the soil bacteria will be and the nicer you soil will smell. 5) Life. How many earthworms per shovel full were there? 5 or more indicates a pretty healthy soil. Fewer than 5, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, indicates a soil that is not healthy. to se what else might need be done to make that soil into a good, healthy soil. Here is a link that might be useful: WSU CES
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linda0913
11 years ago
Unfortunately, English ivy, poison ivy and weed trees will eat anything you try to plant. Will cover any shrubs or trees you plant. And glyphosate and digging up will take lots of repeated times, and lots of work, and you still may lose....
How badly do you want that open view? Since you have limited control over the property there, the best answer may be a fence, with a deep-dug barrier behind it. Like a foot down with sheet metal or treated wood, to block roots. And then a solid-ish fence. Once a year you may have to head to the far side and rip the ivies off that side of the fence. But any other minor incursions, you should be able to beat back from your side.
Depending on where you are, you may be able to complain to the city/town/county, and have them help with the nuisance next door, either clearing it or helping to pressure the land owner. It's worth exploring....
starpony
8 years ago
Spray the weeds with vinegar. Cover them with cardboard. Put something over them so they die and new seeds won't come up. Plant over that.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago
Vinegar and cardboard will have absolutely no impact on English ivy. As noted previously, it will overwhelm anything planted in its vicinity and takes time consuming and dedicated eradication methods to remove. Seed bomb all you like but I seriously doubt you will notice any difference from the plot's current appearance unless you take serious steps to remove what is planted there now.

seed-bombing English ivy?

Comments (5)

Dee67

ianbrazil

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linda0913

starpony

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

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