English Ivy on a soft (silver) maple

[Ned Netterville]

Just moved into a house in Dayton area of Ohio with a large soft maple in the back yard, about 5-feet in diameter 2 feet up from the ground, and maybe 50-70 feet high with a magnificent canopy. It is surrounded by and centered within a mature, dense, 30-feet in diameter bed of English Ivy that is climbing the tree densely to a height of about 8-10 feet with sparser tendrils to about 15 feet. The tree is health and I like the bed of Ivy, but should worry about the ivy doing any harm to this lovely specimen? I could cut the Ivy back from the tree's trunk, but I'd rather not if it isn't a hazard to the tree. Any advice on this question would be appreciated.

 

[ATH]

It is not likely to harm the tree. The concern I have with it on big maple trees like that is that it can hide existing issues (hollow spots) on the tree. It wouldn't be a bad idea to pull much of it off the trunk so you can see what is going on - have it inspected by a professional if need be then let the ivy grow back. You won't easily hurt the ivy.

 

[Ned Netterville]

Thank you ATH. Your suggestion makes good sense. I suppose I could lay the tendrils I pull down on the bed rather than cut them.

 

[ATH]

That will look messy...I'd just cut them. they will be back in very short order. Even if you pull 50-75% of it off instead of all of it, that should be enough to see if there are areas that need a closer look and it will fill back in even faster.

 

[Ned Netterville]

That will look messy...I'd just cut them. they will be back in very short order. Even if you pull 50-75% of it off instead of all of it, that should be enough to see if there are areas that need a closer look and it will fill back in even faster.

Gottcha. That occurred to me. Makes good sense. Thanks again.