Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
What Is an Easy Way to Kill Outdoor Ivy?
What Is an Easy Way to Kill Outdoor Ivy?. There are many different types of ivy, and some of them can quickly become invasive. Many varieties grow along vertical surfaces as well as on the ground. It is a great ground cover plant in soils where other plants won't grow. Once ivy begins to grow, however, it can quickly take over the yard or lawn....
There are many different types of ivy, and some of them can quickly become invasive. Many varieties grow along vertical surfaces as well as on the ground. It is a great ground cover plant in soils where other plants won't grow. Once ivy begins to grow, however, it can quickly take over the yard or lawn. Although ivy can be cut back to control it, the cutting is an almost constant task. A better solution is to kill the ivy completely.
Things You'll Need
Bucket, 5-gallon
Borax
Water
Long-handled spoon
Garden sprayer
Pour 10 oz. of powdered Borax into a 5-gallon bucket. Borax is available in the laundry or cleaning aisle of supermarkets.
Pour approximately 4 oz. of water into the bucket, or just enough to cover the powdered Borax.
Mix the solution with a long-handled spoon until the Borax is dissolved in the water.
Pour 2 1/2 gallons of additional water into the bucket and stir again with the spoon to mix thoroughly.
Pour the solution into a garden sprayer.
Spray the ivy with the Borax solution until it drips off of the leaves. Make sure to spray the ground under the ivy as well as the tops of the leaves.
Wait two weeks and reapply the treatment if any parts of the ivy are still green.
Tips & Warnings
The above mixture will cover up to 1,000 square feet of ivy. If applying to a smaller area, reduce the proportions accordingly. Do not over-apply Borax, as it will build up in the soil and make it impossible to grow any other type of plant or grass.
The treatment can be applied any time, although the fall months are the best time to kill ivy.
