• Overview



  • In this video, This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook explains how to remove ivy from a house.


    Steps:

    1 Gently pull ivy from house.
    2 When necessary, cut stubborn ivy from house with hand pruner.
    3 Scrape siding to remove dead branches and dried leaves.
    4 Sand the siding with orbital sander to remove stubborn ivy stains and residue.
    5 Cut the ivy stems close to ground with loppers.
    6 Collect ivy and stuff into plastic trash bags.
    7 In spring, brush herbicide onto leaves of ivy stem to kill plant.
    See products and services from this episode
    • 2 to 3 hours, depending upon the amount of ivy and size of house
    • Shopping List
    • Difficulty: Easy
      although you must be careful not to lose your balance on ladder when tugging on the vines
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      Shopping List

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      1. Extension ladder with stabilizer

      2. 120-grit sandpaper

      for removing ivy stains from siding



      3. Herbicide

      applied to ivy stems to kill plant



      4. Small paintbrush

      to apply herbicide



      5. Plastic trash bags

      for collecting ivy pulled from house