English Ivy is destroying our native plants at all levels from the forest floor right through to the canopy.
English or common Ivy (Araliaceae – Hedera helix) grows on almost any surface smothering its host plants in dense mats which often lead to their collapse. Ivy covers the forest floor and stops our native seedlings from emerging. Birds spread its seed and cuttings (usually as a result of dumping green waste) take and grow quickly in almost any conditions.
English Ivy is in our Dirty Dozen because it spreads and grows quickly, destroying our native plants at all levels in our forests.
How you can help…
You can remove it by hand pulling small seedlings or you can apply herbicide to remove them. You can find out how best to control English or Common Ivy and what to use on NRC’s Pest Control Hub (click here)
Need help?
If you are in the Tutukaka area and need help or access to herbicide and tools please contact us on text 022 526 1972 or email s.w.a.tutukaka@gmail.com – our team of weed surveyors and slayers are only too happy to assist!
For more information check out Northland Regional Council’s Pest Control Hub (click here) or Weedbusters (click here)