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Ivy removal from trees and walls

Ivy on a tree adds weight, catches the wind and hides problems like cracks and decay. We cut it at the base, strip it from the trunk safely and look at the tree underneath.

Next free quote visits, live from our diary

Free visits Monday to Thursday and Saturdays.
  • 5.0 on Google, 50+ reviews
  • NPTC, City & Guilds & Lantra
  • £5M insured
Ivy removal: cut at the base, stripped from the trunk, the tree checked underneath.

Ivy removal in short

Ivy isn't a parasite, but a heavy covering on a tree adds weight to the crown, increases wind resistance and hides defects in the trunk such as cracks, cavities and fungus. We cut every ivy stem at the base, remove a band of ivy from the lower trunk so the upper growth dies back, and strip it from trunks, walls and fences where you want it gone. Then the tree can be properly inspected.

Why
Less weight and wind load, and the trunk can be checked
How
Stems severed at the base, lower trunk cleared, upper growth left to die and drop or stripped
Walls and fences
Removed carefully to limit damage to pointing and panels
Wildlife
Ivy is good for wildlife. We check for nesting birds and bats first
Waste
All ivy cleared and taken away

How we remove ivy safely

Pulling heavy ivy straight off a tree can tear bark and bring down dead wood, so it is done in stages.

First we cut through every stem at the base of the tree. On a heavily covered tree, we then strip a band of ivy from the lower trunk so the stems can't reconnect. The ivy higher up dries out and dies over the following months, and comes away far more easily. Where you want it gone straight away, a climber strips it from the crown.

On walls and fences we remove ivy by hand and with hand tools, working carefully around brickwork and fixings. The suckers can leave marks, and on old walls the ivy may be holding loose mortar, so we tell you what we find.

Ivy flowers late and gives food to insects and birds through winter. Away from buildings and on healthy trees, some ivy can be left. We'll help you decide.

An overgrown corner of a garden by a fence before clearing
Before: an overgrown garden corner
The same garden corner cleared back to the fence
After: cleared back to the fence

Ivy removal questions

Anything not covered here? Ask us and we'll give you a straight answer.

Ask us a question

Does ivy kill trees?
Not directly. Ivy roots in the ground, not in the tree. But heavy ivy adds weight and wind load, competes for light on weaker trees, and hides problems like cracks and decay. See does ivy damage trees?
Should I pull ivy off my tree?
Not in one go on a big tree. Cut the stems at the base first and let the upper growth die back. Pulling live ivy from height can tear bark and bring down dead branches.
Can ivy be removed in nesting season?
Ivy is popular with nesting birds, so between March and August we check carefully and leave any section with an active nest until later.
Will the ivy grow back?
Ivy regrows from roots left in the ground. Cutting it back every year or two keeps it off the trunk.

Do we cover you?

Based in Ferndown, covering all of Dorset, all of Hampshire and parts of Wiltshire.

Five stars, every time

What customers across Dorset and Hampshire say after the job is done.

5.0
50+ Google reviews

Read every review on GoogleBook a free quote

Tree down? Call now.

Storm damage, fallen trees and dangerous limbs. Fast response across Dorset and Hampshire, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Call 01202 022560

Book your free quote visit

Choose the job, pick a time from our live diary and tell us where. No payment and no obligation.

  1. You pick a timeOnline, in about a minute. Visits run Monday to Thursday and Saturdays.
  2. We visit and look properlyA qualified arborist checks the trees, the access and whether any consent is needed.
  3. You get a written quoteA clear, fixed price with no hidden costs. The price quoted is the price you pay.
  • NPTC
  • City & Guilds
  • Lantra
  • £5M insured
  • BS3998

Want to ask something first? Send us a message and we reply within 24 hours.

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