Ivy on ponderosa

[montana grown]

We have a huge ivy growth on a 130 ft Ponderosa which tilts towards our 3 story house. The tree diameter is about 31 inches and the ivy' s thickest diameter is 3.5.in. the ivy has grown all around about 55 feet. Both the tree and ivy are healthy.
Question is I am concerned the ivy will kill or strangle the tree but dont want to shock the tree by cutting the main ivy roots on the tree bottom.
Any advice?
Thanks!!

 

[montana grown]

Here is a pic of the ivy

 

[Reach]

I would just cut off the ivy, but not physically remove it from the tree. We typically make two cuts in each ivy vine, 2-3” apart, and pull out the piece in between so it’s easy to see that it’s been cut. As long as you do not cut into the tree itself in the process, I do not see any adverse effects to the tree.

 

[montana grown]

This I will do. Greatly appreciated.

 

[GregManning]

I would just cut off the ivy, but not physically remove it from the tree. We typically make two cuts in each ivy vine, 2-3” apart, and pull out the piece in between so it’s easy to see that it’s been cut. As long as you do not cut into the tree itself in the process, I do not see any adverse effects to the tree.

Don't try to pull the dead vines out; you'll do a lot of damage to the tree branches.
Unfortunately, dead vines, that big, will take many years to deteriorate / decay and fall out.
i.e. You'll be picking up dead / dropped pieces of vine for several years.

 

[Jonny]

I’ve cut poison poison oak before, then come back later and they pull off easy. I guess around 6 months later in the summer. My thinking was the warmer months dry the vines out faster and the tendrils crumble easier. The vines would break sometimes, didn’t all come off in big pieces, but it didn’t damage the tree like it would of the vines were still green.

Or if not in a rush, yeah let nature take it’s course.

 

[GregManning]

Don't try to pull the dead vines out; you'll do a lot of damage to the tree branches.
Unfortunately, dead vines, that big, will take many years to deteriorate / decay and fall out.
i.e. You'll be picking up dead / dropped pieces of vine for several years.

These comments were based on LOTS of wild grape vines on my property.

 

[evo]

Ivy does no good for trees, however it doesn't constrict them to death. Good thing about ivy is that it only sexually reproduces when allowed to grow vertical. Cut as much of it off from the ground as you can. I suggest a handsaw as its not the easiest chainsaw cut to make, and certainly risky to even pro's. I doubt pulling it out by hand will damage a ponderosa, but do know it can dislodge dead limbs onto your head ( as well as they ivy itself).

 

[27RMT0N]

In serious cases (mostly greenbelts around Puget Sound in my experience) I have seen ivy grow large and bushy enough to smother and kill trees, but only smaller ones and in serious cases. Years ago I did a job where the customer wanted the ivy removed from a large doug fir, and because the ivy was large (multiple 2-3" thick vines in parallel), and fir bark is so rough, the ivy had to be cut in 3-foot sections and literally removed with crowbars. Not the most fun job I ever had... As someone else mentioned above, if you kill it and wait a year, it does become brittle, loses it's 'grip' and becomes MUCH easier to remove.