NFRC: Any ideas on how to deal with neighbor's invasive ivy?

mariadnoca

Moderator
This stuff has been covering a low chain link fence between the front yards for decades. I'd already very reluctantly resigned myself that I can't plant anything in the bed next to my driveway because of it (the neighbors long before the current ones cemented that side driveway bed so the only growing direction is my yard). As you can see it's cracked the walkway to the backyard. I've been trying to control sprouts with boiling water, this stuff laughs at Round-up, but it's clearly creating damage. It's also coming under the fence in the back where I was trying to plant a garden, but just composting the soil is making it all come to me.

Any ideas? (city is no help)

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/4ebay_bucket/personal/IMG_1563.jpg

 
If you know a 'registered' farmer, he may have access to soil sterilizer. It works for years.

We used it between the irregular flagstones all around our pool as it was so labourious to keep those little hotbeds in check. One application completely thwarted the weeds for 6 years, not one even peeked out. More effective than Roundup (which is now banned in Canada). But it seems to me that what is growing in your yard is rooted in your neighbour's so dealing with the soil just in your yard will have no effect other than to inhibit a lot of new growth in your yard.

We had this on our house when we bought it. It was several days of hard work, pulling out all the roots and scraping the house to the roof with wire brushes.

Looks like your neighbour needs to cough up some damage compensation.

 
If you and the neighbor agree, then take a sample to a trusted nursery in your area...

...and ask them how to eradicate it. They should give you some solutions that are workable in your area.

Michael

 
I should add I can't rip it out: not my fence, not my ivy... (to answer a PM)

This stuff has grown to be part of the chain link fence that's my neighbor's, but sits on the property line.

 
So your neighbor wants to keep it? Tell them to rip out some concrete...

...on their side so the ivy won't grow on your side only. They have to realize this is becoming a major nuisance and agree to work with you on mitigation of the plant, if not complete removal of the plant and the fence.

You may have to involve an arbitrator.

Michael

 
one word

Round up. I don't like it and use it as little as possible (maybe once every two years). But ivy (which I also get from the neighbor's garden) is one bugger that deserves and only responds to major weapens. Hence, Round Up. (Note: I am almost entirely an organic gardener....won't even use chemicals against snails.)
cheerio, Bonnie

 
Hire someone to dig out a ditch on your side of the fence. . .

Hire someone to dig out a ditch a couple of feet deep on your side of the fence, as close as possible to the fence, then place some underground barrier, like the heavy stuff they use to contain running bamboos, along the fence line to keep the stuff out. You can look on the web for the barrier stuff; I have seen it sold at sites that sell bamboos, for enclosing running bamboos as I said before. This should hold up for years and the ivy should not be able to break through, especially if the barrier sheet is all one continuous length.

Have you talked to the neighbors? If you are willing and able, did you offer to foot the tear-out cost yourself? Often neighbors are unwilling to spend money on something they don't see as a problem to themselves, but if they don't have to pay, they say, "Well sure, go ahead!"

Of course if you do get to tear it out continued vigilance will be necessary to kill any surviving sprouts by pulling any greens shoots once or twice weekly.

If you do get permission to tear it out (most likely at your cost), you will need to prune off all of the green off of the fence,and then get a small axe or hatchet and chop all of the wood away that you can.

As an added incentive to get to take the ivy out, you might consider offering to put in a privet or some such hedge next to the fence and then keep it hedged very close to the fence so that you have room to grow stuff. Just a suggestion. . .

Have fun--these things are a real PITA. smileys/smile.gif

 
Maria, as far as I know, the law in CA says that whatever is growing in/over your yard from the

neighbors yard, you can remove. Here is what we would do. Call your neighbor and ask him to come over...you would like to show him something. Explain what is happening, show him the concrete. Ask if he would be willing to pay for half the removal of all the ivy, on his and your side. If he is not, ask if he is willing to let you remove all of it. Tell him you are concerned for the welfare of your property and the safety regarding the cracked concrete.

Now, if your neighbor is not willing to pay for anything and will not allow you to tear out the ivy on his side, you have the right to remove all the ivy on your side of the fence. Cut it back as much as you can, rip out roots, etc. Take lots of pictures before and after. Document, dates included, everything you do and any conversations you had with your neighbor, and the City regarding the issue. But first, contact the City and ask to speak to the man/lady who can look up the nuisance code regarding this issue and explain your rights to you in full. Tell him what you plan to do, and what are your liabilities, if any, such as; if his ivy dies as a result of your removal methods. Tell him/her that you want a copy of the nuisance code and will be in to pick it up. Give a copy to your neighbor. Keep conversations friendly and professional. Tell your neighbor when and how you will be removing the ivy.

The trick to getting the City to talk to you is to call the right department and speak to the department head, if possible. Stick to the facts; tell them (with this issue) you are concerned about the welfare of your property, and safety issues. Remember, stick to the facts. They don't care about anything else.

 
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