As promised here are some pictures of the hedge showing the extent of the ivy infestation. Please note it is winter at the moment, or as near to winter as we usually get. There are no leaves on the trees or hedges but this poor hedge looks to be in full leaf. Don't be fooled it isn't hawthorn leaf it's all ivy.
Just look at the thickness of the ivy stems that I have cut away. I suspect that over half of the hawthorn is either dead or dying and my attempt at help has come far too late. The only consolation I have is that my efforts will result in the ivy slowly dying. I'm sure it's good for bugs and birds to nest in but it is proving fatal for this poor hedge. I intend to cut away a section on each hawthorn that is infected, let the ivy die and see how many of the old hedging plants are still alive. I will spray off the vegetation in the bottom of the hedge several times this spring and summer to keep the hedge bottom clear of further infestation and weeds to give the old hedging plants a chance. Once I have established how much is alive I will trim the hedge further and if practical lay the hedge to start to fill the gaps. If laying isn't possible to regenerate the hedge this way I will lop the remaining plants to around six feet and plant the gaps with new hedging plants or small trees. My aim is to create a healthy hedge of about seven feet tall creating a screen and a wind break in one. I expect it to take at least five years to establish and a further five years before I have a reasonable result. At this stage a fence sounds much easier but I like the idea of a new strong hedge. Here's to the fun of it!
If there is anyone out there who thinks ivy doesn't do harm to hedges take a good look at the pictures below and please explain how this isn't harmful to the hedge.
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