I've been battling the same scenario for a few years now, so hoping someone has a good answer. I removed everything that was rooted on my property and all my borders now have established natives. Aside from giving the ivy on the border a good cutting back each spring/fall, I'm not sure what else can be done. Having dense, established plants on my side of the border definitely helps things though.

Regarding the barrier, since English Ivy climbs (and quickly I might add), I cannot think of any type of barrier that wouldn't eventually present you with the same problem. In my experience, the roots are quite shallow. I would not think that would change. If something blocked their path, wouldn't they just climb up and over?

Mary

C2g - I have a similar situation on my side boundary, which is garden beds with dense, well-established plants in partial shade and the ivy still spreads above and below ground, creeping and climbing anything in its path. Last summer I finally freed the mock orange of the stuff.

Mary, yes, it would climb up and over - I've seen plenty of that behavior - so I'd have to get in there periodically and cut back the vines. At least I wouldn't have to pull the runners that spread underground, and, in the process, possibly disturb the root systems of the plants I intend to plant there.

If people are going to plant (or allow to remain) invasive plants, especially the running type, I wish it were required that THEY contain them rather than their neighbors.

We have a 5 inch wide concrete barrier running between fence posts that was poured by the PO. Thickness varies from 2 to 4 inches because it was a quick & dirty DIY project with minimal base prep. It has held up surprisingly well and did a good job of keeping the English ivy on one side of the fence; roots/runners did not seem to be able to tunnel below about 2 inches in our local clay. Over the top was still a problem where it found the occasional gap in the fence.

An asphalt or cement path might work. I've never seen ivy try to cross a driveway. If it were black, it would cook the ivy in the summer. Or you could try a lawn you could mow or a row of trees that provide dense shade. (I have lots of ivy and Eastern Red Cedar and I've never seen the ivy climb the cedar.)

Try bamboo barrier - that should give you at least a fighting chance -:))

FWIW, ivy will grow in full shade and it will easily climb anything (including 100'+ doug firs) that it comes into contact with. Fences are no barricade at all, neither are sidewalks or driveways, although deeper concrete/asphalt structures may work. And you will always risk new plants popping up from seed spread by birds if there is a well-established colony nearby.

If you want to know how to control ivy, take my word and get advice from someone that lives in the PNW where English ivy is a Class A noxious weed - we are "pros" at attempting to keep ivy I check :-) I say "in check" because it is nigh on impossible to eradicate.

pulling out the vines is most likely the only remedy.