Outside of our local area, observed during a morning commute. Here's an upcoming row of trees along the roadside which look beautiful in June as you drive into them. They cool the road with shade and provide a sound buffer and privacy screen between the houses and the street. (photo sourced from within google street view)
But what happened in that gap on the left where the stump is? Let's show you what this looks like right now in the winter.
Without the leaves on the trees, even with the low light of morning dawn... you can see the ivy strangling these trees! That gap in the treeline was due to trees already removed due to an ivy attack! Also, look at the height of the trees compared to the utility lines on the other side of the road. If the extra weight of the vines causes a storm to topple a tree, it will likely impact the utility lines during the fall.
Lost privacy screen, lost wind and noise barrier, lost natural habitat, and growth that likely took 40+ years to create... this is why we should hunt ivy in the winter months when it is easier to spot!
