Resident warns English ivy is killing trees; staff propose spot treatments and volunteer efforts

Clint Holland told the Keizer Parks and Recreation Advisory Board July 14 that English ivy is killing park trees across multiple locations and urged a larger removal effort.

"English ivy is considered by the state of Oregon an invasive species," Clint Holland said, arguing the plant kills trees by drawing moisture and weight from tree canopies. He estimated the problem affects hundreds of trees in parks such as Keizer Rapids Park and Palmasia.

Parks staff acknowledged the scope of the problem and described constraints on herbicide use in certain natural areas. "There was a product that he was aware of that he would like to spray on them, late summer and basically kill the leaves and stop the photosynthesis from happening," a staff member said when discussing contractor-suggested options, and staff reported previous success removing ivy at Wallace House Park when teams cut and treated vines in hot late-summer conditions.

Board members and staff emphasized prioritizing areas that pose public-safety risks (trees with heavy canopy load over trails or structures) and called for volunteer mobilization with partners such as Rotary and watershed groups. Staff cautioned that ground applications can kill other plants and that the label on products defines what staff can legally apply; they recommended spot treatments and follow-up monitoring.

The board discussed logistics: combining volunteer efforts, targeted contractor work where access or poison oak prevents volunteer entry, and triage of the most hazardous sites for initial treatment.