IIRC, they do this intentionally. If left alone, they’ll erode and work their way into the mortar around the bricks (and occasionally into the bricks themselves), grow heavier, and take bricks in the facade with them when they’re removed, requiring expensive replacement work. Worst case, I’ve seen pictures of these sort of creepers taking the whole brick wall down off the foundation when removed.
English ivy will absolutely burrow into the cracks in the mortar and bricks. Boston ivy though is relatively harmless to brick and concrete buildings, it uses little sucker pads that don’t burrow into the cracks. The school i work at has a pretty healthy covering of Boston ivy, it gets some amazing colors in the fall and the crows enjoy being able to wall-walk while eating the berries.
Again, memory is a bit fuzzy on this, but in the video I watched, you can spray it with some sort of chemical that helps to loosen/kill the roots clinging to the side, then they use a powerwasher and just kinda peel it like an orange.
IIRC, they do this intentionally. If left alone, they’ll erode and work their way into the mortar around the bricks (and occasionally into the bricks themselves), grow heavier, and take bricks in the facade with them when they’re removed, requiring expensive replacement work. Worst case, I’ve seen pictures of these sort of creepers taking the whole brick wall down off the foundation when removed.
English ivy will absolutely burrow into the cracks in the mortar and bricks. Boston ivy though is relatively harmless to brick and concrete buildings, it uses little sucker pads that don’t burrow into the cracks. The school i work at has a pretty healthy covering of Boston ivy, it gets some amazing colors in the fall and the crows enjoy being able to wall-walk while eating the berries.
Interesting to know, thanks!
Intentionally, but how do they do it? I assume it’s more involved than just cutting the top and the sides. But maybe it’s just that simple?
Again, memory is a bit fuzzy on this, but in the video I watched, you can spray it with some sort of chemical that helps to loosen/kill the roots clinging to the side, then they use a powerwasher and just kinda peel it like an orange.