Why is English Ivy Harmful?

While English Ivy provides shelter for wildlife and berries for birds, in many parts of North America it is considered highly invasive, forming dense mats that outcompete native vegetation and climbing trees where it can weaken and smother them. Its adaptability to shade, drought, pollution, and poor soils makes it especially persistent, and controlling it often requires repeated manual removal or careful herbicide use. English ivy poses significant ecological risks when it escapes cultivation, so reducing its spread is key to protecting Calvert County’s green spaces.