Customers often ask me what tools we use to remove English ivy. The answer is surprisingly simple. We use hedge trimmers, loppers, grub hoes, rakes, and buckets. You can buy these tools yourself. The harder part is knowing how to use them together—and having the patience to keep going until the job is done.
We usually start by trimming the ivy so we can see what’s underneath. Then we cut the thicker vines with loppers. For ground ivy, we use grub hoes to loosen the soil and work through the roots and crowns. I like the hoes sold by Gemplers, and Rogue makes good trail-building hoes too. After that, it’s a lot of pulling, raking, gathering, and loading.
None of those tools is a secret. Give five people the same tools, though, and you’ll get five different results. The difference is technique. An experienced landscaper knows where to start, how to work through a tangled cluster, and when to slow down and check the ground for ivy that’s easy to miss.
That skill takes practice. Think about a pianist with a piano or a cook with a kitchen. The equipment matters, but it doesn’t produce the result on its own. I’m not saying ivy removal is medical school. I’m saying that someone who has done this work for years will approach it differently from someone doing it for the first time.
Look at the ivy cluster in the photo for this article. It’s messy. Vines cross over each other, disappear into the soil, and wrap around plants you may want to keep. You have to decide what to cut, what to pull, and where to dig. You have to watch the grade, rake through the area, and make another pass for roots and crowns you missed. That judgment happens throughout the job, even if all you see at the end is a clean yard.
Our crew often works on a cluster together. One person cuts and opens up the area while others pull, dig, rake, and move the waste. As we expose the ground, we can see what still needs attention. Sharp tools help, but the most useful tool on that job is the person holding them: someone who knows the work and is willing to finish it.
You can remove an ivy patch yourself. Start with a manageable section. Trim enough to see the ground, cut the larger vines, loosen the roots, and gather the waste as you go. Then check the area again for pieces you missed and watch for regrowth later. If the infestation is large, expect it to take more time and effort than the first few cuts suggest.
That’s why people hire us. They may have access to the same hoes and loppers we do, but they want a crew that works through the whole messy project and hauls the ivy away. The tools are easy to find. The technique, teamwork, and perseverance are what make them useful.
Field note: Before buying another tool for ivy removal, make sure you have the basics: a way to cut the vines, a hoe to work the roots, and a plan to collect and haul the waste. Then give yourself enough time to do a thorough second pass.