Hi, thought I'd provide an update for everyone who was so kind as to comment. Went up at the weekend and did as suggested, cutting back the straggly bits and brushing off the accumulated debris.
And this is how it looks now (ignore the silt on the ground - from hosing down the yard!). We might remove the trellis as it's not doing anything and I don't think it adds much aesthetically.
We also looked in our neighbour's garden and it seems that our ivy has reached through the fence panels to entirely colonise their side, so it's possible the growth at the top of the fence will survive.
@Tolly The area that has been cut back will all reshoot as explained. Just to add you will have the bit at the top sticking out further for some years to come. I assume you have kept it for privacy. Not all of the top growth will survive you will probably be pulling out dead pieces where you have cut for sometime to come. It is also possible that the top part could topple if we have some high winds.
RETIRED GARDENER, SOUTH NOTTS, SOIL CLAY
A garden is an oasis for creation, available to anyone with a little space and the compunction to get their hands dirty.
As @GardenerSuze says - unless that top growth has rooted somewhere else, it'll just die off. It can't continue to thrive and grow if it's just hanging in mid air. If it has rooted - whether on your side or the neighbour's, it'll grow back and climb the fence. It looks like the bit on the right has rooted in somewhere. That's why it can be tricky to eradicate too- it sends out shoots which root into all sorts of tiny spots
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I agree. I would cut back the whole plant level along the top of the fence. It takes the power of the Almighty to kill an ivy as established as yours. Perhaps the neighbours might be grateful to have it short back and sided on their side as well. t looks as if the fence is deteriorating as well, the stems of the ivy get between the slats, grow thicker with age and force the wooden slats apart. As it is your plant the neighbours are entitled to cut it back on their side and give you back all of the prunings, it would be a good idea to have a chat with them to see how they feel about the invasion of their garden by your ivy. If the ivy is going to be a long-term pain for you to maintain, had you thought of removing it completely as it is so close to the front door.?
I would never suggest Ivy as a perfect plant for a fence. By the time it gets to the top of a six foot fence it often needs the fence panel replacing. Cotoneaser Horizontalis or Euonoymous could be a better option.
RETIRED GARDENER, SOUTH NOTTS, SOIL CLAY
A garden is an oasis for creation, available to anyone with a little space and the compunction to get their hands dirty.
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And this is how it looks now (ignore the silt on the ground - from hosing down the yard!). We might remove the trellis as it's not doing anything and I don't think it adds much aesthetically.
We also looked in our neighbour's garden and it seems that our ivy has reached through the fence panels to entirely colonise their side, so it's possible the growth at the top of the fence will survive.
So much better than it was!
A garden is an oasis for creation, available to anyone with a little space and the compunction to get their hands dirty.
Dan Pearson
If it has rooted - whether on your side or the neighbour's, it'll grow back and climb the fence. It looks like the bit on the right has rooted in somewhere.
That's why it can be tricky to eradicate too- it sends out shoots which root into all sorts of tiny spots
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I would cut back the whole plant level along the top of the fence. It takes the power of the Almighty to kill an ivy as established as yours. Perhaps the neighbours might be grateful to have it short back and sided on their side as well. t looks as if the fence is deteriorating as well, the stems of the ivy get between the slats, grow thicker with age and force the wooden slats apart. As it is your plant the neighbours are entitled to cut it back on their side and give you back all of the prunings, it would be a good idea to have a chat with them to see how they feel about the invasion of their garden by your ivy.
If the ivy is going to be a long-term pain for you to maintain, had you thought of removing it completely as it is so close to the front door.?
A garden is an oasis for creation, available to anyone with a little space and the compunction to get their hands dirty.
Dan Pearson