By Ellen Russell
Evergreen groundcovers can help hide a fence, fill in shady, bare spots on lawns and underneath trees, and provide interesting color and foliage to flowers and plants. Groundcovers climb over rocks and yard debris, and carpet an area in color where no other plant can grow. As an added benefit, evergreen groundcovers keep their foliage and color throughout the year, continuing to provide beauty and color without ever loosing the clean look of the planted area of yard.Among evergreen groundcovers, ivies, most notably English ivy, are well known and highly popular. Not only do ivies easily blanket a growing area, but they are looked upon as being distinguished, the sign of a well-loved and cared for property.
There are more than 25 varieties of ivy. There are many names for the different varieties of ivy, and they can be difficult to distinguish, so consulting plant labels, garden centers, or landscape professionals for the most desirable variety for your application is best.
English ivy is the most commonly grown and easy to care for ivy for garden and landscape needs, and under the right conditions, can be quite vigorous. English ivy can prove difficult to contain when planted near bedding plants and in gardens, but ivy is also a great fix for unsightly areas of a yard or as a pretty cover to hide debris and unattractive fences.
How to Grow and Care for Ivy
English ivy is a leafy plant characterized by woody vines with alternate leaf arrangement. Ivy is an evergreen with several cultivar varieties, with colors of plant foliage ranging from true dark greens to light, variegated leaves with a white or reddish tinge. The size and shape of the leaf varies from plant to plant as well.
Most English ivy is cold-hardy to 10 or 20 degrees below zero (Fahrenheit). Potted plants with roots more exposed to cold are generally hardy only to 10 or 15 degrees above zero.
Ivy likes well aerated, free draining soil. Root rot and fungus tend to set in when roots sit in wet soil for long periods. Long hot, wet, and rainy periods result in bacterial and fungal diseases which attack the plant's foliage.
Plant ivy in the spring to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Plants should be set 2 inches deeper than the top of the soil the ivy was grown in to encourage new root growth and proper absorption of water. Ivy can be planted in full sun or deep shade, making it another good transitional plant as long as soil conditions favor it.
English ivy is less heat and drought tolerant than other evergreen groundcover species, so in an area where fast drying of the soil is a problem, ivy is best planted as a shade plant. Ivy tolerates less sun exposure in Southern climates, as it is more heat sensitive than it is cold sensitive. In the South, and during hot spells in the North, ivy requires frequent watering. English ivy will not tolerate extreme drought, and will not rebound if watered infrequently during periods of inadequate rainfall. While English Ivy may come back from a state of light or moderate wilt, it is unlikely to come back at all once the leaves have begun to dry.
English ivy requires moderate fertilizing. Plan on fertilizing your ivy patches two times per year (spring and fall), with another application during the planting's first summer if necessary.
Diseases and Pests of Ivy
Insects and parasites can be something of a problem to ivy growers. Many kinds of mites and caterpillars like ivy, so check periodically for pests and inspect container plants before moving them indoors. There are many ways to treat the pests, both chemically and organically.
Sometimes the problems associated with a planting of ivy relate more to leaf color and appearance. Many of these issues have to do with the age of the plants, such as when older plants lose their character color tints and variegation. Much of the time there is little that can be done but accept the new color of your ivy. Other problems encountered with a change in the appearance of ivies are the results of a fungus covering leaves, or fertilizers that have not washed away. An adequate watering and fertilizing regiment without overdoing it is the best prevention for these types of problems. For other ivy plagues and conditions, consult an ivy grower or landscaper.
Continue to Part 2: Spreading and Propogating English Ivy >
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