English ivy is everywhere in the Willamette Valley, and it’s listed as a noxious weed in Oregon. It looks green and tidy on a tree trunk, but once it climbs into the canopy it causes real problems.
How ivy harms trees
Adds weight. Mature ivy can add a lot of weight to a tree, and it holds water and snow. That extra load increases the risk of limb and trunk failure in winter storms.
Increases wind load. Dense ivy in the canopy acts like a sail.
Blocks light. Ivy climbing into the crown competes with the tree’s own leaves.
Hides defects. Cracks, cavities, and decay on the trunk are invisible under a thick mat of ivy, which makes the tree hard to assess.
Traps moisture at the bark. That can encourage rot at the base.
How to remove it
The proven method is a “survival ring”:
Cut every ivy vine around the trunk at about shoulder height.
Pull the ivy off the trunk below the cut, down to the ground.
Clear ivy from the ground in a ring a few feet out from the trunk.
Leave the upper ivy in place. It will die and dry out over the following months.
Don’t pull the upper vines down from the canopy. It can tear bark and bring down dead branches.
When to call a pro
If ivy has reached the canopy of a large tree, it’s worth having an arborist inspect the tree once the trunk is cleared. We often find decay or cracks that were hidden.
Call Wolfpack Tree Care at 541-556-9256 for ivy-covered tree assessments and cleanup.
