while we're on the topic of eliminating invasives....

Any one got any tips of getting rid of ivy?  It's springing up everywhere in our yard (not to mention eating all the forests around here).

I wonder if there are any farm animals that eat it.

The only thing I've heard of is removing it by hand.  But, I have very limited experience with it.

Use it if you've got it...ivy has medicinal qualities (check it out at http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Hedera+helix). Herb shops often sell ivy pills.

My strategy would be to do an initial removal blast. Then continue hitting it back every time it send up shoots. This will take years, but doesn't involve herbicides and tends to work eventually (even the burliest plants will eventually die if you keep depriving them of the ability to access the sun. This is how I'm managing a patch of morning glory that came in on a bamboo planted by my cabin. It is getting weaker every year.

Dave

paul wheaton wrote:
I wonder if there are any farm animals that eat it.

The only thing I've heard of is removing it by hand.  But, I have very limited experience with it.

Hi, I'm new here but I just had to chime in about this. Goats LOVE ivy (english or poison). Of course depending on the location they may not be allowed. Sometimes city ordinances will allow for pygmy goats since they are primarily used as pets. Or as long as your neigbors don't mind?? it is relatively easy to construct a portable pen to move them to areas that need the vegetation to be removed. With a little effort it could even be made attractive. I put all my goats to work eating the poison ivy on my property. They think its yummy.

There are a few bright people out there who do a Rental- Goat or Rental-Sheep Services, sometimes even for the county.

All they need is a trailer for the animals, some of that electric mesh fencing and posts (some kinds come fastened together), and a chair and book.  They put out their fencing, put the animals inside, and let them eat, eat, eat.  Some don't bother with the fence and just take a good sheepdog with them.

And it cuts down on their feed bill, too.

Sue