I would recommend taking the Ivy off the tree. If he waits to long, the Ivy will crawl further up the tree. What happens is the Ivy blocks the tree's ability to absorb photosynthesis through its leaves. A tree's leaf absorbs the necessary photosynthesis to convert it into energy for its own survival. Try to take as much Ivy off the tree as you can and cut the vine about 6 feet around the base. Let your neighbor that Ivy has the potential to kill a tree but it takes quite a while to do this. If you need any other questions, give drop me an email. DriskillLandscapeSolutions@gmail.com Here is a link that might be useful: GardenWeb

Ogrose, you have a good memory. Yes, I had my brief moment of fame when the DMN ran a story about my garden. I posted a link below. I get most of my plants from native plant sales. Many of the local chapters of the Native Plant Society of Texas have sales in the spring. The Heard Museum in McKinney also has a spring sale. Rohdes, Redentas, Shades of Green, Weston Gardens and several other independent nurseries also sell natives. I don't have great luck with seeds unless they are self seeded by the plants in my garden. Soxxx, it is all sort of planned randomness. I put thought into the general area for plants, especially the larger ones, but a lot of the plants in my garden grow where they want to grow. I step in and move or remove them when they grow where I don't want them to. I really don't know anything about design. Cactusgarden, I am glad you find the blog interesting. I started it almost four years ago when I decided to get rid of the front lawn. I thought I might need it as proof that my garden was intentional and that I was not just lazy and letting the weeds grow. It is unlikely that someone that was not maintaining their garden would post photos and write about it on the internet. Fortunately, I have not had any problems with Code Enforcement. Glad everything worked out for your sister. Are there any pictures of your yard or your sister's on the web? I always enjoy seeing what others have done and borrowing ideas. Here is a link that might be useful: Dallas Morning News Story

Norbert, that map of your hardiness zones IS CONFUSING TO ME. I am likely wrong, But, I can't help but wonder how HUNGARY is zone 7a and zone 7b, BUT, everyone around them seems to be zone 6b, and possibly zone 6a in some places. Norbert, I am really only able to grow the Quartz mountain Live oak. AND, it is ONLY QMLO trees that have trunk girths of about 3/4 of an inch or more, NOT, those little whips with tiny little trunks that are way smaller than measurement worth measuring. This QMLO I have, It is Extra hardy, and only recently my area has been getting some REALLY hot summers. Is it from global warming? Maybe, or maybe not. BUT, Norbert, IF you really want to grow a Evergreen oak, the Hybrid of Q. Robur ( English oak) and the Q. Ilex ( Evergreen oak) ummmm..... yeah, I can't remember the name of that hybrid oak. I had gotten one to plant about 4 years ago, kinda illegally, BUT, it had died here in my zone 6a winter. Okay, it was called the "Turner's oak". Norbert, if you are really in a a zone 7a area. AND, you can get a "Turners oak" or even a Q. ILEX, Q. ILEX is an evergreen oak that can do great in an area that doesn't have a ton of sunlight in summer and heat. REALLY, the Q. ILex is likely going to be MUCH easier to find in Europe at nurseries to plant. And it IS an Evergreen oak, and it is zone 7a hardy. It is really impressive in old age. NOT, LIve oak tree impressive, BUT, it is a nice tree in old age. I replied to your message Norbert. BTW Norbert, I have my big yard in thanks to my family, I could never afford to buy this OVER 3 ACRES of nice rural property. Since my dad passed away, I am the 1 who cuts the grass and tries to fight back the weeds, and cuts around all of those damned trees I planted. MY dad was super pissed about all of my trees, I had made big mulch circles around them, so it would be easier for him. I miss my dad, he passed away, BUT, ANYWAY, I have been using "GLYPHOSATE" or "GLYPHOSPHATE" which of the 2 means "I"VE BEEN USING "ROUNDUP", and I am hoping that "Glyphosate" or however you say it doesn't prove to be a big cause of cancer, because #1 I use it alot, I don't want cancer #2 It does well to stop weeds from taking over places #3 It is great in Lue of burning weeds to make for garden plots.

Sorry if I confused I meant southeastern US native ( the Live oak) so it IS native here. Most of the oaks planted in the US are native to the US. More than are in Europe and other locales. I have only 2 non US natives well 3 trees 2 English oaks and 1 Lebanon oak all from acorns. I hope I haven't forgot any. The Lebanon oak is a slow grower, but, I haven't given it any water since it has a taproot from growing from acorn, but we've had no drought. I love my English oaks, they can live 1,000 years in Europe, they were grown from acorns, so I don't know if that will help them in any way, but, I like knowing they could live at they least 600-800 years maybe, if nobody chops them down after I croak. I do have another 6-7 Compton oaks that could live that long (maybe) they are a newish hybrid the oldest are 200 years old. They could get pretty old they are a Live oak and overcup oak hybrid. There is a mature example in Williamsburg, Va