45p homemade solution gardeners swear by for killing ivy – it works in a couple of days & stops it growing back

The Sun

05-06-2025

IVY may look pretty but it can be impossible to remove from the exterior of your home.
The invasive plant climbs up your walls and may eventually cause damage to your brickwork.
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If your house is covered in this stubborn growth, a simple trick can help to banish it from your property.
In one swoop, you can kill off any ivy and prevent it from growing back.
And all you need is two kitchen ingredients that won't break the bank.
The DIY solution is recommended by Chris Bonnett from Gardening Express.
'A few strands of ivy can look great in a garden but if English ivy starts to grow over leaves and plants, it can cause significant damage," he explained.
As well as damaging your brickwork, ivy can also prevent other plants from receiving essential nutrients from sunlight.
To tackle this issue, the gardening expert advises homeowners to tackle the root of the problem, literally.
Killing the roots is a crucial step, and while some people suggest using natural methods such as boiling water, this expert has a different method.
He revealed that he swears by a homemade solution of apple cider vinegar and salt.
"The salt dehydrates the ivy and disrupts its water balance, while the acidic content of the mixture helps kill it," he explained.
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This means when the foliage has died, you can remove the roots to stop it coming back
However, he warned against spraying the mixture onto the plant.
Instead, the pro recommended manually apply it in a careful manner.
'Put on some gardening gloves and rub the solvent onto the ivy as using a spray bottle could damage nearby plants," he said.
For the best results, apply the solution on a dry day and check the forecast to make sure no rain is expected for the following days.
This concoction should start working immediately, eliminating the remaining ivy within five days, according to the expert.
And while the mixture should put an end to your ivy problem, it won't have any long-term effects on your soil.
You can execute this method without breaking the bank.
A 350ml bottle of Apple Cider Vinegar is available from Tesco for just £1.50.
But since you will only need around 100ml to carry out this process, the cost breaks down to just 43p.
And tack on an additional 2p for the five teaspoons of table salt you can take from the 750g bottle from Sainsbury's, available for just 69p.