Once the leaves start coming down across metro Atlanta, something else becomes easy to see: English ivy climbing tree trunks and reaching into the canopy. All summer it blends into the green. By late October, the evergreen vines stand out against bare branches, which makes right now the best time to deal with them.
Ivy on the ground is a nuisance. Ivy in the tree is a problem. As it climbs, it adds weight to limbs, holds moisture against the bark, and hides cracks, cavities, and decay that an arborist would otherwise spot. Once it reaches the crown, it competes with the tree for light and gives winter wind more to push against.
The fix is simpler than most people expect. Cut each vine at about shoulder height, then pull the ivy back from the base to leave a clear ring a few feet wide around the trunk. Leave the upper vines alone, since they will wither on their own and pulling them down can strip bark. If ivy has already climbed high into a mature tree, our ISA Certified Arborists can check whether it is hiding structural trouble underneath.
How many of the trees in your yard have ivy on them right now, and has it reached the branches yet? #AtlantaTrees #InvasivePlants
A real photo from a Boutte Tree job of English ivy climbing a mature tree trunk in a metro Atlanta yard, ideally paired with a shot of the same trunk after the vines were cut and a clear ring was opened at the base. Authentic job photos strongly outperform stock images.
Canva text suggestion: "Leaves Drop, Ivy Shows: Cut It Now" or "Cut Climbing Ivy at Shoulder Height"