It’s no secret that Ivy is an extremely fast-growing climber. But for many, it’s an unwelcome invader! If you’re one of these people, you’re probably wondering just how to go about getting rid of it. It’s likely that your mind has drifted to Jeyes Fluid. After all, it’s versatile and renowned for its considerable strength. But can it kill Ivy?
So will Jeyes Fluid kill ivy? Jeyes Fluid will kill Ivy, provided it is applied properly. Just consider that Jeyes Fluid is powerful and may kill other surrounding plants in the area if it is not effectively applied.
Jeyes Fluid is a tremendously popular outdoor antibacterial fluid. Whilst it’s most often used for cleaning purposes, from clearing our drains to sprucing up patios, it has also proven to be effective in the killing of unwanted weeds.
Given that Ivy is a weed, it’s only fitting that Jeyes Fluid is capable of eliminating it.
Even so, I’ve outlined alternatives to Jeyes Fluid too. You may just find yourself more drawn to an eco-friendly method.
So with this in mind, I’ve explored all below. Keep reading to learn more!
How To Safely Use Jeyes Fluid To Kill Ivy
When handling a high-chemical product such as Jeyes Fluid, it’s fundamental that you’re well-educated in how to apply it.
For ease, I’ve outlined the gist of it below.
Protect Yourself
It’s important that the Jeyes Fluid doesn’t come into contact with your skin.
Its chemical nature means that if it does, it will cause substantial irritation.
To ensure utmost protection when handling it, do wear gloves, long trousers, and long sleeves. Caution prevails!
Dilute It
Jeyes Fluid is designed to be mixed with water.
The general recommendation is to use around 150 ml of Jeyes Fluid for every 5000 ml of water.
Not only will you find that a little goes a very long way, but dilution is also imperative for your own safety.
By mixing the Jeyes Fluid with water, you’ll significantly reduce the concentration of the chemicals you’ll be handling, thereby making the process less risky overall.
Spray Don’t Pour
Finally, rather than pouring the Jeyes Fluid onto the Ivy, spray it.
Spraying will allow you to target the Ivy as accurately as possible.
This will, in turn, reduce the likelihood of the accidental contamination of other plants, plants that you wish to keep healthy and thriving.
Similarly, it’s worth undertaking a weather check. If winds are on the table, leave the spraying for another day.
Such weather threatens to overthrow any chance of precision, and as well as putting other plants in danger, it could even cause the Jeyes Fluid to come back onto you.
Stay safe and spray when conditions are still.
Refrain From Cross Contamination
Finally, it’s best not to cross-contaminate the spray bottle that you’re using for the Jeyes Fluid.
The bottle shouldn’t have contained another chemical prior, nor should it house another chemical after the use of Jeyes Fluid.
The exception here is if you’re certain that the bottle has undergone a thorough cleaning.
Mixing strong chemicals is never a good idea.
How Long Does Jeyes Fluid Take To Kill Ivy?
Admittedly, Ivy is tougher than your average weed. For the Jeyes Fluid to begin to take effect and kill it, it can take anywhere from three days to around three weeks. Although, this is under the assumption that it was applied thoroughly in the first place. If not, the Ivy may continue to thrive and climb away.
Fortunately, you’ll know when it’s dying because its leaves will turn yellow before eventually turning brown.
They’ll droop, and some may even fall off altogether. If you don’t notice any results within a week, I recommend respraying.
Is Jeyes Fluid The Best Way To Remove Ivy?
It’s unequivocally clear that Jeyes Fluid must be used with caution. It’s harmful to the environment, pets, children, or any human, for that matter, who comes into contact with it. Thus, for many, the level of caution its application requires deems it a suboptimal method to remove Ivy.
Thankfully there are alternatives, which we will be soon exploring below.
Things To Know When Using Jeyes Fluid To Kill Ivy
Practice Thoroughness
As previously mentioned, Ivy is a tough old weed. If even the tiniest bit of it is left behind, you can pretty much guarantee it will continue its invasion, leaving you in a problematic cycle of resprays and removal.
Be Mindful of Your Surroundings
It’s no secret that Jeyes Fluid isn’t great for the environment.
If it so much as touches surrounding plants, it threatens to harm them beyond repair.
Hence, just as a thorough approach is recommended, so is an accurate one.
The last thing you want to do is to contaminate the plants that you’ve worked so hard to maintain.
Keep Your Gloves On
Be sure to keep your gloves on throughout the entire removal process.
Not only will doing so offer much-needed protection from the Jeyes Fluid, but it will also protect you from the uncomfortable side effects of skin contact with Ivy.
Keep those gloves on and save yourself the irritation and rashes!
Be Patient
Finally, patience is a must!
The Ivy won’t die immediately. It’s durable, and it will most likely take a few weeks before it’s fully brown and ready for removal.
Hang in there – the day will come!
Plus, it’s worth being mindful that the smaller the Ivy, the quicker it will die.
When you’re sure the Ivy is dead, use a pruner to remove it rather than tearing it away.
This will ensure that you don’t damage whatever it’s attached to during the removal process and is especially important when it’s attached to a tree.
Tearing it off would only damage the trunk, whereas the use of pruners gives you much more control.
Other Ways To Kill Ivy
If you’re reconsidering the use of Jeyes Fluid, you’re in luck!
There are several alternative ways that you can go about removing Ivy from your garden.
Vinegar
Vinegar is a brilliant tool, whether it’s used indoors or in the garden.
It has myriad uses, and the terminating of unwanted plants and weeds is just one of them. Ivy is no exception.
As with Jeyes Fluid, the solution is one that’s best to spray.
To formulate the perfect mix, dilute the vinegar in water, and add in a little dish soap and a tablespoon of soap.
Once the mixture is combined, spray away! Spray every part of the Ivy and repeat the process every couple of days until it begins to brown.
When the time comes, remove the Ivy carefully using your pruners, and don’t forget to don your gloves, long sleeves, and long trousers to protect you.
Bleach
Bleach has long been used in the gardening world, and many swear by it as an effective herbicide.
To remove Ivy, it is thought that spraying its leaves with a diluted bleach mix whilst also pouring bleach at the bottom of the plant is the best approach.
This process should be repeated every few days or so until the demise of the Ivy begins.
Again, you’ll know it’s working by its change in color.
Herbicides
Finally, if you’re after a ready-made solution, you could head on over to your local garden store and pick up a bottle of herbicide and follow the instructions on the bottle.
Simple stuff!
Do try to opt for an organic herbicide in a bid to ensure the utmost sustainability.
Other uses for Jeyes Fluid you may want to consider:
