​Ivy has a lot of positive connotations with it in popular culture, particularly for the classic look it can give to certain settings. We even think of great universities when we think of Ivy. But the truth of it is – that while it might look good – it’s almost always something that in the case of a tree – can cause a lot of damage in both the short and long term to your plants.

​We know that if there is anything people look forward to – even more than the holidays – it’s raking leaves. Nothing beats sweating your face off in weather that’s too cold to not wear a jacket but hot enough to make you too hot quickly. Everyone loves it when they rake a wondrous pile of leaves that can be systematically disposed of only for their kids to come barreling through and knock all of that hard work back all over the yard. Heck – we all know there isn’t a more romantic time in the world than the sweet nothings you scream into your spouse’s face as you fumble awkwardly trying to put leaves into bags they don’t want to go into.