We have large ivy roots down a drain left by previous owner. How do we get rid of them?

Answer 1

Ask them to come and fetch them, but did you mean they left the drains or the roots.

Answer 2

OK, first of all, locate the ivy plant.

Now, cut into the ivy plant, and take a 'limb', and put it into a jar of weed killer, so that you will kill the roots, (it will draw the killer all the way down to the roots, and through out the vine).

Just wait a few days, (more like hours for the stuff to work), but, that only kills it, the roots will remain.

Now, you go to a Rent-all place and rent yourself an electric snake. Get a Root Cutter the size of your sewer, (probably a 3 inch sewer cutter, 4 inches would be "tight" and not let you go through), then run that down the line, and let it spin and cut the roots out. Flush with a lot of water after your done to clear the line.

You should be good for a very long time, unless more vines pop up.

Answer 3

My mom has almost the same problem, there were tree roots growing through her pipes outside and it backed up the drainage a couple of times. The plumber that she called said that you can buy a root killer at the store, probably a hardware store or something like Walmart, and pour it down your drains to help kill the roots.

Answer 4

Empty a can of caustic soda down the drain last thing at nite. The heat generated and the effect of the caustic should kill the roots

Answer 5

The most effective killer of any plant known to man is the urine of an un-neutered dog. Just pour that down the drain and it will kill anything organic that's down there. Alternatively caustic soda tends not to take any prisoners either.

Answer 6

Pour bleach down the drain. It will kill the root therefore killing the Ivy plant. Just had to do the same at my place with an unwanted plant.

Answer 7

Angela,
Go to a good L&G Center and pick up some copper sulfate. It comes under different brand names by different companies. For example Hi Yield calls it Root Killer. Follow the instructions and that should solve your problem.

Answer 8

Round up those suckers, or pour gas down the drain and drop a match. Would be better to try first suggestion.

Answer 9

I am not understanding...at least I think I am not understanding...do mean mean ivy plants are growing in your drains?

Don't water them and they will dry - oh! they are in drains, so that won't work - call a plumber to find out the best way to get rid of it. But if you can see them, can't you just pull them out?

Answer 10

try this - get a box of baking soda and pour it all over the roots. in about 3 - 4 days they should start dying. it works great on crab grass. but be careful - when i put it on crabgrass it got on the good grass and killed it too!