February Gardening: Taming the Ivy on the Stone Walls
With the recent heavy rainfall in Ireland keeping us off the softer ground, Michael and the groundskeeping team at Killeen Castle have turned their attention to structural maintenance. This month’s focus is a vital but often overlooked task: clearing invasive ivy from historic stone walls.
The Challenge
Over time, ivy can find its way into the cracks and crevices of the stone walls, eventually working its way through pier caps and even tangling with ornamental plants like climbing hydrangeas. If left unchecked, the roots can weaken the masonry.
Michael’s Step-by-Step Method
While this is a slow and meticulous process, it is essential for the long-term health of your garden structures. Here is how the team at the Estate handles it:
Gather the Right Tools: Use high-quality bypass secateurs, a sharp hand saw, and a sturdy arborist ladder for height and stability.
Release the Tension: Start at the top. Carefully cut away the ivy from underneath the pier cap and remove any deep-rooting sections embedded in the stone.
Clear the Base: Relieve the tension at the bottom of the plant. Once the top and bottom are disconnected, the main body of the ivy often strips away more easily.
Protect Your Favourites: Work slowly to ensure you don't accidentally damage any desired climbers, such as hydrangea, that may be intertwined with the ivy.
It is a tedious job, but the results are well worth the effort to preserve the integrity and beauty of your stonework.
February’s gardening tips video is part of Killeen Castle Estate’s monthly series, created to give practical advice and guidance on all aspects of gardening, including mowing, growing, pruning and composting. This month’s tips are shared by Michael, who works as part of the groundskeeping team at Killeen Castle Estate. Michael loves working outdoors and takes great pride in caring for the grounds alongside the rest of the team. His hands-on experience and enthusiasm help make the advice practical, approachable and useful for gardeners of all levels.
View the February Video here