Does English ivy growing on trees hurt them?
In this particular case the trees are at least 60+ years old. The ivy is quite thick on the trunk and the branches on these tall white pines. A. English ivy (Hedera helix) — or any type of vine — that completely engulfs a tree is detrimental to it. If the growth is heavy enough to cover the tree’s foliage, the ivy limits photosynthesis by shading the tree. This reduces the amount and quality of carbohydrates and sugars produced via photosynthesis, which makes the tree weaker. When ivy and other vines cover a tree, the sheer weight of them can break branches, especially under loads of heavy snow or ice. Mechanical damage such as this creates wounds that give insect or disease problems entry into the tree. They also can strangle the tree by growing around the trunk in such a way as to interfere with the transport of water and nutrients within the tree. When used as a groundcover under mature trees, ivy should be trimmed back so that it does not climb the trees and become such a problem
