Transplant English Ivy

• If you are in a region where English Ivy is neither a problem, nor listed as a noxious weed and banned, you may be interested in transplanting a bit of it from one part of your yard to another. In this case, covering your English Ivy clipping with dirt is a good way to begin its process of rooting. Place your clippings where you intend to have them grow and cover with 2 inches of top soil, keeping the area well watered for a few days.
  
  

Accidental Covering

• If you have accidentally covered your English Ivy with soil, while digging or installing a fence, carefully remove as much of the soil as possible. While it is unlikely you will completely kill the vine by covering it with dirt, depriving it of sunlight will inhibit its ability to perform photosynthesis and may result in vine death. Use a broom to carefully remove the last layer of dirt from the area.
  
  

Control Method

• Covering English Ivy with dirt is not a particularly effective method of controlling its growth. English Ivy can root from any portion of the vine, and it contains stored energy in the vine itself. As such, even covering the ivy may not be effective if the plant has sufficient stored energy to send up shoots to break the surface of the soil and reach sunlight.
  
  

Natural Removal

• If you intend to remove your English Ivy and you are looking for a natural means, the most effective method is to cover the ivy with mulch and then a layer of cardboard. Adding an additional layer of plastic to prevent water from reaching the plant can further inhibit its growth. If you are not concerned with using natural means, there are numerous brand name weed chemicals that contain triclopyr, a potent ivy killer.