Q. We have a fir tree that has vines growing up it. Is this damaging to the tree? Mick Davis (Member) – Tacoma Washington (Spanway area)
A. It is very likely that you have English Ivy (Hedera helix) growing up your Fir trees. It is very invasive in the Pacific Northwest. The potential damage is two fold. First the evergreen vines of the English Ivy will increase the wind resistance of the tree making it more vulnerable to blow overs as can often happen during our winter windstorms. Second if the tree is small enough the ivy can get up to the crown and smother the tree. This is not as common in Douglas Fir (due to their growth rate) but it can happen in many other trees. The Ivy does not attack the tree directly and the attaching structures do not penetrate the bark of the tree. I always recommend the removal of Ivy from trees.