English Ivy

English Ivy Grow & Covers

Ivy is not a parasite to a tree because it only attaches to the surface and does not take nourishment from the tree; it only takes nutrients from the ground where it is planted. One way that ivy can harm a tree is it makes the tree more vulnerable to being blown over by heavy winds because it creates more mass between the branches.

For areas in your yard that are root bound by trees and you need some ground cover, ivy is an excellent solution because it is fairly drought tolerant and just grows along the surface. Ivy does not like to be wet and will die quickly if it sits in water too long, especially the variegated variety.

English Ivy – Blessing & Curse

The Native Range for English Ivy is Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa. It has been slowly introduced over the years around the world due to its ability to act as a superior ground cover.

English Ivy can be described as an evergreen climbing vine that attaches itself to the bark of trees, buildings, and many other surfaces. This vine does this with a root-like system that attaches itself by exuding a glue-like substance.

English Ivy can be used for multiple purposes such as a great low maintenance alternative to lawns. It is a fast growing groundcover that requires little effort to completely cover the desired areas. It can also be a great vine for covering arbors, trellises, archways, topiaries, and decorative looks on the side of buildings.

Special Note: When growing ivies on a trellis some people wonder why it does not cover the entire trellis by growing up one side and down the other. Vines by their nature don’t grow downward; they are forever reaching up or across. To solve this plant your ivy vines on all sides of the trellis or structure to achieve full coverage.

English Ivy can be used both indoor and outdoor with great success. It is often used in pots or trained to follow unique paths both inside and out.



The Bad:

English Ivy can be a very aggressive invader wherever it is. It can threaten vegetation of all types in both wooded as well as open areas because it grows well along the ground or in forest canopies. With a very dense growth the ivy can prevent sunlight from reaching other plants both high and low.

Eventually, the English Ivy can spread out so much that it can prevent the host tree from getting sunlight to its leaves. Eventually this leads to the host tree losing its vigor and a few years later to its death.

Additionally, the added weight makes the host trees susceptible to blowing over during storms. English Ivy can also serve as a reservoir for bacterial leaf scorch. This is a plant pathogen that is harmful to trees such as oaks, maples and elms.

It is good to know that no matter where you plant English Ivy, it can be expected to move beyond its intended borders into neighboring yards, parks, fields, and woods. If you venture into growing it know you’ll need to keep it in check.

Caring for English Ivy:

English Ivy is fairly hardy and does best in the Plant Hardiness Zones of 4 to 8 where it can take average annual temperatures of -20 to -10 F. Note: The potted versions you get are not as hardy as the landscape variety and can withstand lows of 10-15 F.

Heat stress in the Deep South can be a more important factor to consider. Both light intensity and heat can kill or substantially stunt English Ivy. It always does best in partially to fully shaded areas.

Soil – Water – Fertilizer:

English Ivy grows best in soil that is well aerated and drains freely. It is important that English Ivy does not remain wet for extended periods because of root rot. On the other hand, English Ivy does not do well in extreme drought.

English Ivy only requires a modest amount of fertilizer to stay healthy. Use an application of a complete balanced formula with a ratio of: 3:1:2 or 15-5-15 for example. Use a controlled release version if the soils are sandy because it will otherwise just wash away. If the ground is clay or more solid use soluble versions of fertilizer.

Indoors:

If you are growing your English Ivy indoors root it in well draining pots. One way to help accomplish this is to use a peat based medium that has water holding capacity but will not hold excessive amounts of moisture unless over watered.

Place your English Ivy where it will receive indirect sunlight. It can be fertilized with formula ratios of 20-10-20 or 20-20-20 for best results. Ivy topiaries are popular and make nice accents in your home. Do not place your Ivy next to a fireplace because most plants can’t take the heat.

Enemies of English Ivy:

A partial list of pest to English Ivy include: Mites, scales, thrips, mealybugs, aphids, caterpillars, slugs, and snails. To best fight these consult your local County Extension Agent for advice.

Disease:

Some disease that has been reported include: Leaf spot, root rot, aerial blight, and others. This is highly dependent on the area you live in and your local County Extension Agent is a valuable resource to solve these issues.