Several years back I had a great idea, “Let’s plant some ivy where those nasty old shrubs used to be.” I should have known better. I knew, even before I put the first of the 48 [...]]]> “Good. Use your aggressive feelings, boy. Let the hate flow through you.” - The Emperor, Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi

Several years back I had a great idea, “Let’s plant some ivy where those nasty old shrubs used to be.” I should have known better. I knew, even before I put the first of the 48 plugs into the ground, how invasive English Ivy is. Yet I planted it right next to the house in an area about 6 feet by 12 feet anyway. What can I say; I’m an idiot. I figured I had several years, before they became a problem. Nope. It took about 5 months to fill in and that living, green mass has been a pain ever since.

With the exterior of the house redone last fall, it had become a serious concern. So thanks to the squishing and crushing of the guys walking all over it for four weeks straight, a large chunk of the ivy had died back (temporarily). We decided this morning that it was time to start yanking it out. It took all three of us several hours, but by-golly that area is cleared out, dug out – to ferret out the (quite impressive) root system – and raked over.

Now I just have to figure out what to put in there instead.