We are so thankful for all of the great volunteers that made it out to the EPIC Spring Equinox Ivy Pull this last Friday on March 18! Your hard work made an important impact on our coastal forests this week.
If you missed this event, please keep your eyes open for an invitation in the next few weeks by signing up for our newsletters or following us on Instagram or Facebook.
Background on why we do the Ivy Pull:
English ivy is a popular ornamental that can be seen throughout our community. This invasive plant has taken over many of our forests and can be detrimental to trees and other native plants. EPIC tried to get its sale banned by petitioning for it to be considered a noxious weed but CDFA denied our petition, so you can still find it for sale in some nurseries, unfortunately! Why is ivy so damaging to trees? The ivy grows up the trunks of trees and out onto the branches. This creates competition for light between the ivy and the tree’s leaves. The mat of ivy around a tree’s trunk deprives it of contact with air and microorganisms.
The weight of the ivy on a tree’s trunk and limbs can increase the possibility of damage, as well. This added weight in addition to the tree being weakened can cause the tree to be more susceptible to being blown down. One of the most damaging effects of English ivy is the girdling of trees. The ivy wraps around the trunk of trees so tightly that the tree’s xylem and phloem get cut off, and it is unable to deliver nutrients and water to the upper portions of the tree.By removing ivy from our forests, it protects the trees and allows room for other native species to thrive.
Photos from the Ivy Pull:
