Back in 1973, Roberta Flack's Grammy award winning song, "Killing Me Softly With His Song" was the song of the year. When I see English Ivy climbing up a large tree I can't help but think those same words, "Killing Me Softly..." The ivy growing up the tree seems so harmless. It even looks pretty. However, each day, little by little, this small vine creeps up and over the strong, upright, and majestic oak tree. How can something so pretty as English Ivy be harmful? The ivy doesn't kill the tree instantly. If it did, we would probably kill it as soon as we saw it creeping up the tree. Killing the tree isn't the intention of the ivy; it is merely doing what ivy does best which is growing, reaching, and finding light. It takes time, even years, for the ivy to kill the tree. Slowly the tree will start to show signs of decline. It might begin with a limb that dies, or you might notice that your tree has fewer leaves. By the time the ivy has completely covered the tree, the tree is dead. Now what?
Getting Control
If you have ivy growing in your tree and you want to save the tree, you need to remove the ivy. If removing the ivy is problematic, then carefully use hand clippers and cut the vines at the base of the tree. A good long-term plan is to continue to remove ivy from around the base of the tree. You can spray the ivy with an herbicide such as Round Up, but be careful to only spray the leaves of the ivy.
Conquering Ivy Habits in Life
Good habits take time to grow just like the mighty oak tree. I want my good habits rooted deeply in my values and beliefs. I have to guard against the busyness of life, like the ivy creeping in. It will crawl in and throughout my life and slowly take away what is really important. Daily I decide to get caught up in busyness. Busyness, like ivy can be fun, it means no harm, but like the ivy that suffocates the trees' life, busyness can suffocate our bigger plans and purposes in life. Busyness, like English Ivy, can quickly get out of control if not kept in check. Ivy has its place. Like busyness, ivy must have a defined place where it is kept in order so as not to rule over my life.
Business leader Laddie F. Hutar, said it well, "Success consists of a series of little daily victories." Give the important and most meaningful task priority today. Don't let the ivy of life creep in and steal your purpose.
Back in 1973, Roberta Flack's Grammy award winning song, "Killing Me Softly With His Song" was the song of the year. When I see English Ivy climbing up a large tree I can't help but think those same words, "Killing Me Softly..." The ivy growing up the tree seems so harmless. It even looks pretty. However, each day, little by little, this small vine creeps up and over the strong, upright, and majestic oak tree. How can something so pretty as English Ivy be harmful? The ivy doesn't kill the tree instantly. If it did, we would probably kill it as soon as we saw it creeping up the tree. Killing the tree isn't the intention of the ivy; it is merely doing what ivy does best which is growing, reaching, and finding light. It takes time, even years, for the ivy to kill the tree. Slowly the tree will start to show signs of decline. It might begin with a limb that dies, or you might notice that your tree has fewer leaves. By the time the ivy has completely covered the tree, the tree is dead. Now what?
Getting Control
If you have ivy growing in your tree and you want to save the tree, you need to remove the ivy. If removing the ivy is problematic, then carefully use hand clippers and cut the vines at the base of the tree. A good long-term plan is to continue to remove ivy from around the base of the tree. You can spray the ivy with an herbicide such as Round Up, but be careful to only spray the leaves of the ivy.
Conquering Ivy Habits in Life
Good habits take time to grow just like the mighty oak tree. I want my good habits rooted deeply in my values and beliefs. I have to guard against the busyness of life, like the ivy creeping in. It will crawl in and throughout my life and slowly take away what is really important. Daily I decide to get caught up in busyness. Busyness, like ivy can be fun, it means no harm, but like the ivy that suffocates the trees' life, busyness can suffocate our bigger plans and purposes in life. Busyness, like English Ivy, can quickly get out of control if not kept in check. Ivy has its place. Like busyness, ivy must have a defined place where it is kept in order so as not to rule over my life.
Business leader Laddie F. Hutar, said it well, "Success consists of a series of little daily victories." Give the important and most meaningful task priority today. Don't let the ivy of life creep in and steal your purpose.