Planting the versatile and easy-to-grow ivy in the garden could prove beneficial for many garden owners. This is a hardy plant species that is tolerant of all types of growing conditions. Despite its modest appearance, ivy is also suitable as a ground cover and even provides nectar, pollen and berries when food is scarce in autumn and winter. In addition, you can provide natural shelter for wildlife such as birds, beneficial insects and small mammals by growing ivy in the garden. If you would like to learn more about it, below you will find some useful information and tips on plant care.
Before you decide to have ivy in your garden
Any variant of the climbing plant can be planted in difficult places, such as covering walls, sheds and shady corners. However, when growing up a wall, ivy can damage the mortar of bricks and paint. Therefore, you have to keep him in check. However, many of the plant species are shade tolerant, even in dry shade, which makes them useful for cultivation. This is especially true for the variegated varieties in dark, shady corners. Most hobby gardeners overlook themClimbing plant when creating a garden, but in the right place it can look very stylish, understated and classic.
In addition, Hedera helix, or the so-called common English ivy, grows very intensively and can provide excellent food and shelter for wildlife. It can be combined with cotoneaster where it looks lovely hanging over a wall. This also results in oneanimal-friendly combination for the garden. One problem with ivy is that although the plant is well self-supporting, the aerial roots can damage the masonry, as already written. Here are some of the benefits for the garden area.
Grow ivy indoors or outdoors
This evergreen climbing plant can create a green backdrop on walls, fences, trellises, buildings and pergolas. However, it can also be easily grown in potsor grow as a houseplantand can be an advantageous garden plant as a ground cover. The leaves change shape, become less lobed and the plant also becomes bushier over time.
It bears yellow-green flowers in autumn and black berries from winter onwards. You can also grow young plants in pots together with naturally smaller varieties. They jut attractively over the sides and are particularly useful when you want to achieve evergreen winter planting combinations. You can also train the plant and tie it around a wire topiary frame.
English ivy can also be easily confused with the American variant poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) or poison ivy. However, the sap of ivy is very slightly toxic and can irritate the skin and upset the stomach if ingested. It is therefore best to wear gloves when handling it and not eat it. The plant has a bad reputation for being invasive, although this is not the case in its native Britain and Europe. English ivy can grow invasively on trees, but this does not harm the tree. The plant is generally not parasitic and does not harm its host.
How can you plant English ivy in the garden?
This is an easy-care plant variety that you can grow in almost any soil, in sunny or shady garden areas. You also don't need to prune the ivy regularly, although excess growth is best cut back in the spring. You can use bold varieties with large leaves to quickly hide eyesores, while variegated varieties are useful for brightening up shady areas.
As written above, English ivy can also function as a ground cover in dry shade. If you want to grow it as a houseplant, you should position ivy in a bright, cool location out of direct sun. This would be a good choice for a cool porch, unheated conservatory, or drafty hallway, for example.
Instructions for growing and caring for ivy in the garden or as a houseplant
Ivy varies greatly in size and vigor, and some consider it to be very vigorous, potentially damaging masonry and neighboring plants. Some varieties are more reserved and are often shown in hanging baskets in summer. Many store-bought varieties are hardy, but there are some that are not. These are especially those that are sold in summer to combine with bedding and in baskets. Therefore, it is best to check the label before purchasing. Otherwise, you can follow the steps described below.
- PlantYou ivyfirst in a hole that is the same depth as the root ball and water it well.
- The plant is self-adhering, meaning it clings to its support via tiny roots (known as adventitious roots) that grow along the stems. So you don't necessarily need to train them along wires for support.
- Keep the soil moist while the plant is establishing, after which it will be drought tolerant. You can cut Hedera helix into shape at any time of the year, ideally in mid-spring.
- It is not necessary to prune ivy, but excess growth can be cut back at any time of year, ideally in mid-spring. You can cut back an overgrown English ivy in the spring.
- If growing it as a houseplant, water ivy well when the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry to allow the excess to drain away afterwards. You can fertilize the plant monthly in spring and summer.
Avoid possible mistakes and choose suitable plant varieties
- Leaf Spot – Sometimes dark spots appear on the plant caused by a bacterial or fungal infection. However, they have no effect on the health of the plant. Remove any affected leaves and avoid wetting the leaves when watering.
- Reversal – Sometimes ivy varieties with variegated or unusually shaped leaves revert to plain green. Simply remove these shoots if you spot them. Variegated ivy that grows indoors may also lose its variegation if it is in a location that is too shady.
- Brown leaf tips – If you are growing ivy as a houseplant, brown leaf tips are a sign that the room is too warm or the air is too dry. In such cases, you can move the plant to a cooler location.
- Check your plant's final height and spread - this may vary. Also, don't try to plant ivy on an old building that is already showing signs of damage. If you're planting in a shady spot, consider a variegated variety to brighten it up.
- Hedera helix 'Glacier' has small, three to five-lobed, gray-green leaves with silver-gray and cream markings. Grow this variety in the garden or in pots, where its height x width can reach: 2 mx 2 m.
- Hedera helix 'Green Ripple' has dark green leaves with distinctive, lighter veins. This type of ivy can take on a purple hue in winter.
- Hedera helix 'Goldchild' has small, gray-green leaves with yellow edges.
What you could do with the leaves:Ivy as detergent and dishwashing liquid: effective recipes
