On Monday, 15 April 2019 16:07:23 UTC+1, DerbyBorn wrote:
I have Ivy growing along the side wall of my garage - I planted it when the
house was new and was desperate for anything green.

I now want to reduce its density but find on cutting it back I am left with
just a backfill of old dead leaves and tangled branches.

Should I really go for it and cut it down and let it regrow, resolving not
to let it get as bad? Or should I thin it right back to the wall and thin
out some of the tangle of branches?

Our ivy struggles - largely because it grows up a near-vertical rocky bank and has to fight against bramble, foxglove, nettle, grass, thistle, and goodness knows what else. We have to take sides and help cut back the bramble, but much of the rest seems to achieve some sort of equilibrium.