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IF ivy is overtaking your garden, fear not, you’ve come to the right place.

English ivy is a fast-growing plant which can cling to the side of homes, fences and walls and whilst it may look pretty, over time it may cause damage to gardens and properties.

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A gardening expert has shared her top tips and tricks to banish English ivy from your garden for goodCredit: Getty
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You'll need a 99p buy from Morrisons - and even better, you may already have it in your kitchen cupboardCredit: Getty

And if you want to get rid of it for good, with barely any faff involved, we’ve got you covered.

And fear not, you won’t have to splash the cash on pricey garden tools or cleaning products - as according to a garden pro, you’ll need a 99p buy from Morrisons to solve the issue (and you may have it in your cupboard already).

Gena Lorainne, a gardening expert at , explained how simply pulling the plant away from the wall isn’t enough, as it has extremely sticky roots.

As a result, she shared her three tips that will ensure that you get rid of ivy, and for good. 

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Get digging 

The pro explained that to say goodbye to ivy, you need to dig it out from the root.

She advised: “The best way to remove ivy from a wall is to cut through the stem with a sharp saw and then dig out the root.

“Once the foliage has died, you can carefully remove the stuck-on stems with a wire brush. If it covers the ground, dig it up with a mattock or fork and dispose of it elsewhere.

“Alternatively, if the ground does not need to be planted, remove all the top growth, cover it with weed-control fabric, and add some mulch 10cm to 15cm deep.”

Spray it 

In addition to this, Gena advised that English ivy can also be sprayed with weed killer which contains glyphosate.

However, gardeners should be extremely careful when using this as it can kill any nearby plants.

Top Plants to Avoid in Your Garden and How to Keep Slugs at Bay!

The gardening pro shared: “It will kill anything it touches.

"Spray lightly so the weed killer does not drop off the leaves, or, even better, crush and damage the leaves before spraying so they can absorb more weedkiller.”

June gardening jobs

The Sun's Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, has shared the tasks you should take this month.

Stake out leggy perennials

With all the dramatic weather we've been having, it's definitely time to stake out your leggy perennials (the ones that come back every year). Heavy rain and growth spurts, can make them collapse and flop.

Picking out the slugs and snails

Hopefully as we move into summer they  will do less damage as the plants get bigger.  The best way is still to go out at night with a head torch to find them. 

Pick elderflower heads

You can use them to make your own cordial, or add to cakes, champagne or even fry them in batter. 

Get on top of weeds

It's around now that weeds really ramp up in the garden, so keep on top of them with hoe-ing - or just the traditional 'on your knees with a hand fork'. Try and avoid chemicals - remember weeds are just plants in the wrong place. 

Up the mowing

You'll need to mow your lawn weekly now - if you've got time, weed it beforehand as once you mow you chop off the leaves and its harder to see them. 

Check on your tomatoes

Your tomato plants will need attention - water, feed and regularly and pinch out the sideshoots. 

Chelsea Chop

There's still time for the Chelsea Chop - plants like Rudbeckia's, Asters, Penstemons, Sedums and other perennials can be cut back by a third to help them get a bit more bushy, and prolong the flowering period.

Sort out your tulips

If you can be bothered and have space - lift and story your tulip  bulbs to ensure colour next Spring. 

Deadheading your roses

Take them down to the first set of healthy leaves - which will ensure more flowers for longer. 

Enjoy your space

Take some time to sit and enjoy your garden or outside space - it's great for your mental health. Even just a few minutes a day can make a big difference. 

Mix it up 

Finally, Gena shared another way to get rid of ivy - a simple homemade solution.

Gena continued: “Pour 80 percent water and 20 percent vinegar into a container. Ensure that you don’t harm any other plants while spraying the ivy plants.

“Observe the results after a few days. Remove any dead ivy and reapply the same solution as needed.”

The acetic acid can help target and dry out the roots, making white vinegar an effective plant and weed killer.

Similar to weed killers, white vinegar and water should never be sprayed close to other plants as it will kill them.

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