No one has mentioned the implications for the longevity of a tree beyond the
mature phase when the crown is heavily covered in ivy...live crown growth
pushed out to the periphery and complete suppression of lower crown internal
epicormic growth and reiterations imply no prospects for crown retrenchment
to develop - either naturally as part of an individual tree's life strategy,
or managed through a (contentious) phased pruning regime.
We potentially lose hundreds of years of amenity for specific individual
trees as a result of allocating a perceived value to the (not so rare)
habitat offered by ivy.
Paul Muir
Arboricultural Consultant / Contracts Administrator
Treework Environmental Practice, The Old Rectory, Pilgrims Way, Chew Stoke,
BS40 8TT
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-----Original Message-----
From: Jerry Ross [mailto:trees@xxxxxxxxxx.co.uk]
Sent: 16 May 2012 16:53
To: UK Tree Care
Subject: Re: Safety Inspections and Ivy/Undergrowth
On 16/05/2012 12:00, Ian Brewster wrote:
IB: I recall an Ivy smothered Holly, after severance, the tree remains
'sickly looking' after 20 years reprieve.
Bill: Doesn't that suggest it wasn't the Ivy causing the
sickly-looking-ness Ian?
Yes, and perhaps to be regarded more as an indicator of a tree already in
the throws of decline by other forces at work.
IMO the close growing plant relationship is more likely to be a new plants
exploitation of whatever the decay causing fungi may be giving back to the
immediate surround ground as a recycler of its affected tree host. Is there
likely to be an exchange of micro-nutrients from the pathogen to benefit
the growth of Ivy/Elderberry/other self sown-close growing trees to assist
in the mature trees' further rapid decline a) by their smothering antics b)
direct competition for light/water/nutrient?
While ivy isn't generally a problem for the tree it's growing on (my phrase
is that it's just a structural parasite), it's my observation that it can be
more harmful more quickly for evergreens such as holly - on deciduous species
it can generally grow quite happily for many years within the canopy of the
host tree, where it has little effect. But on an evergreen it has to grow on
the outside to find enough light and as a result will soon impair the
photosynthetic and eventually smother & suppress the host's foliage.
So evergreens where the ivy has been killed off or stripped out often look
patchy and sparse.
(Admittedly, one would hope Ian's one would show some signs of recovery after
20 years...)
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