At first glance, seeing English ivy near or around your home might be kind of charming.

Some people find English ivy aesthetically pleasing since it’s reminiscent of fairytale backdrops you notice in Disney movies.

However, the list of issues to be aware of before intentionally growing English ivy is undeniable.

These red flags are crucial to consider, even when English ivy grows all by itself.

Along with discerning why English ivy is detrimental around your home, you can follow a handful of steps to eliminate its presence.

Removing it by hand or with chemicals are two methods that may solve the problem.

Successfully tending to English ivy in a controlled setting (like an indoor flower pot) is possible if you value the visual aesthetics of this plant.

Still, English ivy comes with a set of problems you might be better off avoiding.

If you simply aren’t interested in having English ivy around, here’s what you should know. 

Why English ivy is so problematic

Some people dismiss the risk that comes with English ivy. They feel it isn’t that big of a deal having natural plant growth around their homes.

English ivy should be seen as a threat — and you should prioritize removing it.

In the simplest terms, English ivy is an invasive plant that’s capable of spreading beyond your control based on the natural elements of the great outdoors. We’re talking wind, rain, and beyond.

English ivy has this aggressively problematic way of blocking sunlight from other plants you probably care about more, like trees and flowers.

The leaves and fruit of English ivy are filled to the brim with toxic compounds that cause allergic reactions in both humans and animals.

If your pet chomps down on English ivy, more than likely, they’ll end up with a bad case of diarrhea or vomiting!

Rubbing against English ivy can lead to rashes, blisters, and itchy skin patches for humans.

Worst of all? English ivy is extremely attractive to pests. Pests appreciate the dense cover that English ivy offers.

Spiders and other insects are pretty much obsessed with it.

Snakes, rodents, and other small-sized critters love crawling into English ivy leaves when seeking shelter.

If the fear of facing off against a snarling rat in your own backyard doesn’t appeal to you, eliminating English ivy should be your next move.

How to remove English ivy ASAP

If English ivy is completely taking over your garden, it’s possible to get rid of it.

Spotting it across the side of your home, whether the growth process is barely getting started or not, means it’s time to decide your next steps.

English ivy can be annihilated with the right approach.

They suggest diving into the removal process during winter since English ivy goes dormant in cold weather. 

Next, use a hand rake and gloves to remove visible English ivy growth by hand.

Although going about it this way might sound tiresome and overwhelming, this is one of the most advantageous steps you can take.

By ripping it up from the roots, you’re disrupting its ability to thrive.

Laying pieces of newspaper or slabs of cardboard over the impacted areas is another idea to consider.

This process is called sheet mulching. It smothers English ivy, giving it little chance to prosper. 

If your English ivy dilemma is leaving you exasperated, take things up a notch with full-fledged chemicals.

Certain herbicides lead to the demise of English ivy’s growth abilities. Two ingredients that get the job done are glyphosate and triclopyr.

Both can be found in liquid form at general gardening stores.

Simply spritz them over areas that are most destructively impacted by the growth of English ivy.

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comment section below.