How to Kill Boston Ivy

Non-Chemical Method

1). Use pruning shears to cut every vine at a point about 2 to 3 inches from the ground. Let the portions you detached from the vine remain attached to any surfaces for a few days, so that they die and dry up.
2). Put on a pair of gardening gloves and crush the leaves on the remaining portion of the vines, but do not pull the leaves off. By damaging the leaves without removing them, you prevent the plant from drawing in sunlight to produce nutrients, without encouraging the plant to grow new leaves to replace the old ones.
3). Pluck the dead vine cuttings off any surfaces and discard them. They should come off quite easily if you allowed them to dry for a few days. If they are still clinging to walls or trees, use something flat and non-abrasive, like a plastic or rubber spatula, to scrape the vines away. Avoid using metal tools or brushes as these can damage tree bark, mortar and brick.
4). Inspect the remaining vines every week or two for new growth or foliage and cut them back with your pruning shears. Be diligent in your pruning throughout the warmer months, when ivy is most prone to growth spurts. This method is lengthy and time consuming, but you will avoid damaging surrounding plant life by not using herbicides.

1). Make a solution using one part glyphosate herbicide to three parts water and pour it into a spray bottle.
2). Use pruning shears to cut every vine at a point about 2 to 3 inches from the ground. Allow the vine cuttings to cling to surrounding surfaces for now.
3). Spray the cut portions of the vines in the ground with the herbicide solution you created earlier. Do this immediately after cutting for optimum results. Covering the vines with mulch to block out any sunlight speeds up the process. Be careful of surrounding plant life, as the glyphosate will damage or kill it.
4). Remove the clinging vines from any surrounding surfaces. You should be able to do this by hand if you left the vines alone for a few days, but you can use a plastic or rubber spatula to scrape away any persistent vines.