English Ivy Care

Caring for English Ivy is about making sure the plants are thriving. Our plant care articles provide the necessary details to give you the greatest chance of success. Afterall, there is nothing worse than investing in the plants, putting the effort into planting them, and then having them fail. Therefore, follow our advice and give yourself the best chance of success with your English Ivy.

How To Care For Ivy

The most important part starts with planting, and our article, How To Plant Ivy, provides sound advice on how to do this properly. So, let’s now assume your plant is growing well and you want to keep it that way!

Winter is the perfect time for mulching your plants. Organic matter such as compost or sheep pellets should be spread liberally around the plants and then overlaid with mulch. The Plant Company has three very good options for mulch. The first is coco fibre matting which is made from the husks of coconuts. The second is Earth Mat which is made from recycled paper. Both of these break down to become part of the soil within two years. The third is black plastic matting which will last 20 years or more. Whichever mulch is used, The Plant Company recommend stones, bark chip, or other similar products be spread over top for aesthetic purposes. The Plant Company does not recommend adding fertiliser during winter as this is better applied in spring so less is wasted. However, adding organic matter such as compost is quite okay.

Spring is the perfect time for fertilising the plants as they start to bounce into life. The Plant Company has fertilisers which have been specially blended for different plants and in this instance, our Shrub Fertiliser will give them the correct boost and keep them fed for 12-months. A suitable alternative is our organic fertiliser which will also keep them well fed but they will require a secondary application in autumn.

Summer is when the plants need regular watering and this should be undertaken every second day on the hottest days. Plants that are establishing need particular attention as their root system will not have penetrated deep enough to secure consistent moisture yet.

Caring for Ivy in autumn is about keeping the plants healthy. Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken during spring, summer, and autumn if you have time but this is not essential if solid fertiliser and/or good amounts of organic matter have already been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser won’t hurt.

Plants should be checked for pest or disease issues during spring, summer, and autumn. If anything is looking unusual, refer to our articles under Ivy Issues And Troubleshooting.

English Ivy Fertiliser

Providing the best fertiliser for English Ivy plants is important to ensure they thrive. The correct fertiliser depends on whether the plant is grown in a pot or in soil, and getting this wrong can be disastrous for your plants. Our articles provide the best advice about feeding Ivy so you can achieve the amazing results you are after.

it. What Is The Optimum Soil pH For Ivy?

The soil pH refers to how acid of alkaline the soil is. Ivy prefer a soil pH within the range of 6.5 to 7.5 which means they can tolerate both slightly acidic and slightly alkaline soils. As the pH of the soil moves away from this optimum range, the nutrients the plant is taking up (or not taking up) through the roots changes. If the shift in pH is too far, this can result in deficiencies of some nutrients and toxic levels of others. In either case this can cause the plant to become sick or even die a slow death.

The best way to know whether the pH is correct for your plant is to do a test. The Plant Company has pH test kits available that are easy to use and only take a few minutes to get a result. Preferably this test should be completed before planting so any pH issues can be corrected without risking the plant. A pH less 6 should have sparing amounts of dolomite lime applied along with Shrub Fertiliser. A pH above 7.5 should have small amounts of soil acidifying fertiliser applied. In both instances the fertiliser should be thoroughly mixed into the soil before planting. A retest of the soil pH should be undertaken after four weeks and small adjustments made again. If the pH is in the optimum range, just use Shrub Fertiliser thereafter.

What Is The Best Fertiliser For Ivy Grown In A Pot?

Ivy grown in containers require different fertiliser to those grown outdoors in soil. In this instance the correct fertiliser to use is either container plant fertiliser or fertiliser tablets. Each of these will provide safe, sustained, and complete nutrition to the plant for the next 12-months. Using other types of fertilisers can be detrimental to the plant and may result in plant injury or death.

Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if container plant fertiliser or fertiliser tablets have been used. If you think the plant needs an extra boost or has some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong and lush as the nutrition is right where the plant needs it.

What Is The Best Fertiliser For Ivy?

Ivy require feeding to keep them growing optimally. The Plant Company Shrub Fertiliser has been blended to give plants the boost they need and then sustained nutrition for the next 12 months. We recommend the fertiliser is applied to the soil surface in spring just as the plants start to grow actively. More importantly, we advise that no fertiliser is placed in the hole at planting, but rather spread around the soil surface so it can wash through the roots as it releases. Shrub Fertiliser ensures that nutrients remain in the soil around the plant rather than being lost through the soil profile to where the plant cannot reach it. This also applies to plants grown on sandy soils. The Plant Company’s Shrub Fertiliser is therefore very environmentally friendly and longer lasting than most other products in the market.

Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if Shrub Fertiliser has been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong and lush.

What Is The Best Organic Fertiliser For Ivy?

Ivy are showy plants that do require feeding to keep them looking amazing. A lot of articles have all sorts of advice on this subject which often requires multiple applications so you use more of their products. The Plant Company prefers to take a simpler and more environmentally responsible approach. We believe the best organic option is The Plant Company’s organic fertiliser which is applied in spring and again in autumn and will keep them well fed. You can safely apply generous amounts of this fertiliser without risk of injuring the plants. More details about this organic fertiliser are provided with the product.

English Ivy General Information

There is a wealth of information about English Ivy and often The Plant Company is asked specific questions that don’t fit into ordinary categories. These are assembled here.

Are Ivy Hardy To Frost?

Ivy can take frost once they are established, and The Plant Company recommends protecting them until they are at least 20 cm tall. Frost Cloth is a good option for protecting vulnerable plants if you are worried. Be careful to harden off recently purchased plants if you intend to plant these during winter and frosts are likely. Do this by gradually exposing them to the cooler conditions over a two week period or until such time as you think that a frost won’t damage them. The Plant Company recommends holding off planting until spring if you are at all worried that new plants might get frosted. Generally speaking, a good sized Ivy planted in spring will cope with frosts the following winter.

Can Ivy Grow In Wet Areas?

Ivy do not grow well on heavy soils, including heavy clay and are likely to die a slow death. In such environments the plants are likely to succumb to the root rot diseases such as Phytophthora. You might find articles, How To Test If My Soil Is Poorly Drained and Fixing Poor Drainage On A Clay Soil useful. If you have a clay bank and you are considering using Ivy to cover it, The Plant Company will often dig a good-sized hole and fill that with good soil for each plant. This way, the plant will grow well and spread across the bank. It will also take root as it grows.

Do Ivy Have Invasive Roots?

Generally speaking, Ivy does not have invasive roots when compared to some other species. However, if you plant it on top of drainage lines, the roots are probably going to grow into those lines. If, on the other hand, you’re worried about it lifting concrete, we have not observed this occurring, but that is not to say that after 20-30 years it won’t have this effect. Please note that if roots are left behind when a plant is removed, they can regrow.

Hedera Helix Basic Information

Hedera helix, commonly known as English Ivy is native to most of Europe and western Asia. It is an evergreen, climbing plant that can grow up to 20–30 metres tall when it has a suitable surface to climb, such as trees, cliffs, or walls. It can also grow as groundcover if there is nothing to climb. A summary of characteristics include:

Foliage - The leaves of Hedera helix are alternate, hairless, and dark green or variegated ivory-white. They can be lobed or unlobed, and typically have whitish veins. Juvenile leaves tend to be more lobed, while mature leaves are usually unlobed.

Flowers and Berries: - The flowers in summer are tiny, yellow-green, and inconspicuous. - The fruit are small, round berries that turn from green to black as they mature. They are a food source for birds.

Climbing: - It climbs by means of aerial rootlets with matted pads that cling strongly to the substrate. The ability to climb on surfaces varies between the different varieties. - It prefers non-reflective, darker, and rough surfaces to climb.

English Ivy is a popular ornamental plant due to its attractive foliage and ease of care. It can be grown indoors or outdoors and is tolerant of a wide range of conditions. However, it is important to note that Hedera helix is considered invasive in some areas, as it can smother other plants and damage trees and buildings.

How Big Will My Ivy Grow?

Ivy will easily cover an area of six-square metres inside of five years. It may do this earlier with favourable growing conditions. The Plant Company has put a lot of effort into determining how big each plant will grow in an unrestricted growing environment. Far too often we see people planting a garden too densely and then having to spend a lot of time trimming or removing plants later. This is something we want our customers to avoid and we therefore provide size information so the planning can be right from the start. Be sure to check out our Ivy varieties and the detailed information that accompanies both this, and our other plants.

How Fast Do Ivy Grow?

Ivy are generally regarded as fast growing and will more than double in size each year. Be sure to start with strong and healthy plants at the outset. Our article, What To Consider When Buying Ivy, covers this subject. Be sure to check out our Ivy varieties and the detailed information that accompanies each.

How To Kill Ivy

Killing Ivy is done via one of two ways usually. The first is to cut the ivy back to near stumps at ground level. The stumps are then painted with Vigilant Gel herbicide. This herbicide kills the roots and stops it returning. Another method is to spray the plants with glyphosate that also has Wetcit included. This is done weekly for a period of three weeks and is highly effective provided the entire plant is covered and strong rates of glyphosate are used. You can dig the plants out, but that tends to be a long and arduous process. Moreover, any roots left behind can sprout again.

Is English Ivy Good For Anything?

English Ivy can be a surprisingly useful plant, although it does have some drawbacks to consider. Here's a look at its positive and negative aspects:

Positive aspects: - Indoor air purification: Studies suggest English ivy can help remove some common air pollutants like formaldehyde and benzene, though the exact effectiveness is debated. - Respiratory benefits: Traditional medicine and some research suggest English ivy leaf extracts may help loosen mucus and ease coughing, although more research is needed for definitive conclusions. - Ground cover and erosion control: English ivy is a vigorous climber and can be used to cover bare ground and prevent soil erosion, especially on slopes. - Aesthetic appeal: English ivy's cascading foliage and attractive green leaves can add visual interest to indoor or outdoor spaces. - Low maintenance: English ivy is generally tolerant of neglect and can survive in a variety of conditions.

Negative aspects: - Invasiveness: English ivy can become invasive in some regions, overwhelming native vegetation and disrupting ecosystems. Check your local regulations before planting. - Damage to structures: Its aggressive climbing nature can damage walls, gutters, and other structures if not properly managed. - Allergens: Some people may be allergic to English ivy, experiencing skin irritation or respiratory problems. - Toxicity: All parts of the plant are toxic to humans and pets if ingested, so keep it away from children and animals.

Is English Ivy Hard To Keep Alive Indoors?

English Ivy is a fairly low-maintenance plant, but it does have some specific needs to thrive. Some of its care requirements include:

Medium to bright indirect sunlight. Too much direct sun can scorch its leaves, while deep shade can lead to leggy growth and fewer leaves.
Keep the soil moist but not soggy. Allow the top inch of soil to dry slightly before watering again. Overwatering can lead to root rot, while underwatering can cause wilting and leaf drop.
English ivy enjoys average room temperatures (around 25°C) and moderate humidity. It can tolerate lower temperatures but might struggle in dry environments.
Use a well-draining potting mix .
Feed plants during spring and summer with indoor plant fertiliser.

Is Ivy A Good Indoor Plant?

Is Ivy Good For Controlling Erosion?

Ivy is surprisingly good for erosion control. The stems spread across a bank and take root in the process. This helps to bind the soil. At the same time, the foliage serves to soften the falling rain drops and creates an umbrella effect to help shed the water. These are great characteristics of plants to aid erosion control. Of equal note, Ivy can be planted across a wide range of soil types and will tolerate some degree of foot traffic. That also makes them ideal for public spaces.

Is Ivy Invasive?

Yes, Ivy is considered an invasive plant. This is because it grows vigorously up walls and the like, and can smother native vegetation. Spreading plants can end up growing across roof areas, into guttering, and will also climb trees. When plants are removed from walls, they will leave plant residues that are difficult to remove. Please check local government rules ahead of planting if you are concerned as some regions ban the outdoor planting of particular Ivy species.

What Are The Different Types Of Ivy?

There are many different types of ivy, but the two main categories are Hedera and Parthenocissus. Hedera is the true ivy genus and includes the most common types of ivy grown as houseplants or landscaping plants. The Parthenocissus genus includes deciduous Ivy plants which are prized for their beautiful autumn colours.

Some of the most common types of ivy within these categories include:

English Ivy (Hedera Helix): This is the most common type of ivy, with dark green, lobed leaves that can also be variegated.
Irish Ivy (Hedera hibernica): Similar to English ivy but with larger, glossier leaves and less lobing.
Algerian Ivy (Hedera algeriensis): Features large and glossy leaves that have three lobes.
Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata): Has deciduous, trilobed leaves that turn brilliant shades of red, orange, and purple in autumn.
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia): Another deciduous ivy with five leaflets per leaf, also known for vibrant autumn colors.

What Is The Lifespan Of Hedera?

Hedera are long-lived plants and can live for hundreds of years. The oldest recorded specimen of Hedera is over 400 years old.

When Should I Water Ivy?

Ivy require good levels of soil moisture to stay fresh and keep growing actively even though they can tolerate dry periods. They require regular watering both during establishment and during those dry periods. The Plant Company recommends a generous watering every third day during summer, or every fifth day if the soil is a bit heavier. If plants start to wilt, you need to water immediately. The Plant Company advises watering in the morning or in the evening for water conservation purposes.

If your Ivy is being grown in a pot, watering every second day during summer and once every week during winter is the general rule. This will depend on how hot the growing environment is and the size of the plant. A word of caution, however. Over-watering is the most common cause of plant death with Ivy.

English Ivy Problems

English Ivy plants do have problems from time to time. Therefore, it is important to understand the underlying issue(s) and have the remedies to fix the problem. The Plant Company have produced this series of articles to help you in the quest for answers to address Ivy problems and diseases.

What Are Common Ivy Pests?

The main pests of Ivy are scale insect. This pest will often cause weakening of the plant, and may result in black mould on some of the leaves and stems. This is a mould that feeds on the sugars released from the plant by these insects feeding. While the mould is unsightly, it does not hurt the plant and will dissipate with time. Scale insects are easily controlled with a general insecticide. Please always read the label before using any agrichemical.

What Is Causing The Leaves On My Ivy To Yellow?

Leaf yellowing in Ivy can result from over-watering, being grown in poor draining soil, or both. This can promote diseases such as Phytophthora, and is discussed in the article, Why Is My Ivy Dying? Other common causes are too much shade, or the plants have not been fed for a number of years. A liquid fertiliser can be used to correct issues quickly and should be supported with Shrub Fertiliser during spring if you think this is the cause.

On dense bushes the internal leaves will often yellow before being shed. This is due to a lack of light and is normal. On the other hand, when plants that have been grown in the shade or very low light conditions, then suddenly exposed to full sun, they can become bleached. In this instance, the sun has damaged some of the leaf pigments. The good news is the plant will survive, but it will look terrible for a time.

Pests sucking on the leaves can cause a yellowing but this is often mottled and varied across the plant. The article, Ivy Pests, discusses these and their control.

What Is Wrong With My Ivy?

There can be many reasons why a Ivy looks sick or is dying and it is often an iterative process to determine why. The most common reasons are presented below and organised from most likely to least likely based on The Plant Company's experience.

Root rot disease is the most common with young plants. The leaves will wilt even when there is plenty of moisture in the soil. The article, Why Is My Ivy Dying? gives further detail on this subject.
Fertiliser placed in the bottom of the hole at planting. Doing this can draw moisture away from the roots and cause root burning. The best solution here is to generously water the plant every day. See the article, Best Fertiliser For Ivy, for more information.
Wrong fertiliser or too much fertiliser has been applied. Killing plants with kindness is very common. The best solution here is to generously water the plant every day and flush the soil with water repeatedly. See the article, Best Fertiliser For Ivy, for more information.
Herbicide misadventure. Spraying too close with glyphosate is quite common and plant death is often imminent.
Plants have not been watered or watered too infrequently. See the articles on Watering Ivy, for more information.
Pest infestation. You will see this as small insects on the plant and often has the tell-tale signs of sooty mould. A general insecticide can be used for their control. Please always read the label before using any agrichemical.
Planting on clay soils with extremely poor drainage. If water cannot escape from the holes the plants are in, the plants can drown and succumb to root rot. Drainage must be addressed to resolve this issue.
Excessive shade – Ivy require some light of good amounts of dappled light to grow well. If you think this is an issue, simply move the plant to a spot with better light. Do not move it into direct sunlight from heavy shade as this can also damage the plant. Rather, transition the plant to the brighter light by placing it is semi-shade for a week first.

Why Is My Ivy Covered In Black Soot?

Black mould on Ivy is caused by Sooty Mould Fungus. This fungus feeds on the sugars released by feeding insects such as aphids and thrips. While the mould is unsightly, it does not hurt the plant and will dissipate with time as long as the pests causing it are controlled. Most pests that feed on Ivy are easily controlled with a general insecticide. Please always read the label before using any agrichemical.

Why Is My Ivy Dying?

When Ivy are grown in wet soils or exposed to prolonged wet through over-watering, the disease, Phytophthora, can take hold. Phytophthora attacks the roots and causes the plant to eventually die, and is most likely to be seen on young or weak plants. The tell-tale symptoms are yellowing of the leaves, drooping foliage even when the soil is wet, discolouring of the stems, and plant collapse. This can happen over several months during any season and progressively gets worse. This is all resulting from the root system being progressively weakened by the pathogen. Gardeners will often mistakenly think the plant needs more water. Unfortunately, adding water only accelerates the problem prolonged wetness was generally the cause in the first place.

Often the disease will start to show several weeks after a prolonged rain event. It can also occur when plants are regularly over-watered, or planted in soils that are poorly drained or that hold too much moisture (e.g., clay soils). Therefore, good drainage is essential and sites where drainage is poor should be avoided. The article, Fixing Poor Drainage On A Clay Soil gives good advice on how to correct drainage.

Treatment for Phytophthora can be a hit and miss exercise as there are no silver bullets. However, if picked up early, The Plant Company has experienced some success using Transformer. Transformer has fungicidal properties and when used as a soil drench 2-3 times, plants can sometimes recover. However, if the plant is too far gone, The Plant Company recommends removing the plant entirely, and using Transformer as a soil drench before putting in a new plant. Of course, the drainage or watering issues will need to be addressed so the problem does not manifest again.

Why Is My Ivy Wilting?

A wilting Ivy will be caused by one of two reasons. The most obvious is that it needs water! However, if you know the soil has plenty of moisture, but is still wilting, there is a high probability it has root rot disease. When Ivy are grown in wet soils or exposed to prolonged wet through over-watering, the disease, Phytophthora, can take hold. Phytophthora attacks the roots and causes the plant to eventually die. The tell-tale symptoms are yellowing of the leaves, drooping foliage even when the soil is wet, discolouring of the stems, and plant collapse. This can happen over several months during any season and progressively gets worse. This is all resulting from the root system being progressively weakened by the pathogen. Gardeners will often mistakenly think the plant needs more water. Unfortunately, adding water only accelerates the problem prolonged wetness was generally the cause in the first place.

English Ivy Propagation

English Ivy are easily propagated when you have the right advice. They are easily rooted, and our articles give you the best chance of doing this successfully and efficiently.

How To Propagate Ivy

Ivy is propagated by cuttings. Semi-hardwood cuttings are usually taken from autumn until mid-spring. A stem about 10 cm long is trimmed into a cutting using secateurs with 2-3 leaves at the top, and is clipped just below a node at the base. The leaves are often cut in half to reduce transpiration losses which could cause the cutting to dry out. The cutting is dipped in rooting hormone, then inserted into propagation growing media. The tray of cuttings is placed under mist with bottom heat also applied. The cuttings will have taken root inside of three weeks as a general rule.

Landscaping With English Ivy

These short articles provide some insight into how you might use English Ivy in different situations and what you might pair them with.

Design Ideas For English Ivy

Ivy is popular because of its colourful foliage, wall climbing ability, and general hardiness. The Plant Company often uses Ivy to cover concrete and brick fences, as well as retaining walls. They can transform these bland structures into something that is fresh, whilst adding both depth and texture to a planting. They are also often used as a groundcover on large banks or around larger trees. Be aware that Ivy plants will need to be clipped regularly to stop them growing up trees and the like. Explore The Plant Company’s Ivy varieties to find the one that suits your design needs!

What Plants Can I Grow With Ivy?

A wide range of plants can be grown with Ivy when it is used as a backdrop. The Plant Company often recommends using other plant colours and textures to add variety and interest. Such plants include Lomandra, Astelia, flaxes, Rosemary, and Gardenias.

Planting And Growing English Ivy

Planting English Ivy and getting them to grow well is generally easy when you get a few of the basics right. This involves planting them in the right soil type, choosing the most ideal planting position, and ensuring the plants have the essentials to thrive. The Plant Company has the right advice to ensure success when you are growing English Ivy.

Are Ivy Easy To Grow?

Ivy are very easy to grow, but you need to have the basics right. Choose a sunny spot and prepare the soil by adding compost or sheep pellets. Feeding your plants in spring with Shrub Fertiliser will replenish nutrients and keep them fed for 12 months. They should also be watered regularly during dry periods to keep them flourishing.

Can Ivy Be Grown In Coastal Environments?

Ivy can cope with coastal areas provided they are not covered in salt spray. Being constantly coated with sea spray can result in leaf burning and ultimate death of the plant. Planting on the opposite side of the house to the beach is generally fine.

If the soil is too saline, this can also prove detrimental to the plants and result in them becoming stunted and not performing. If you elect to plant in this environment, The Plant Company recommends ensuring the soil is well prepared with organic matter such as compost and water regularly during dry periods.

Can Ivy Grow In Shade?

The answer to this question depends on how much shade. In shaded conditions Ivy tend to become “stretched” as the branches extend to chase light. The leaves also become larger with darker green colouring. In full sun they tend to be more compact with a better colouring. That said, Ivy will grow well with just 4-5 hours of direct sun during the day, or with large amounts of dappled sunlight.

Can You Grow Ivy In Pots?

Ivy look amazing when grown in pots and managed appropriately. They are commonly grown to trail from the pot, or trained to grow on a pole. The most popular varieties for this are Hedera Needlepoint and Hedera Silver Variegated.

To grow Ivy in a pot, choose a pot that is no less than twice the size of what it is currently growing in and that has plenty of drainage holes in the bottom. Fill the bottom of the pot to about 1/3 of the way up with potting mix. Do not use soil or compost when growing plants in a container and do not add fertiliser. The Plant Company potting mix has all the nutrients required to sustain the plant for the next 12 months.

Remove the plant from the container it is growing in by either pulling it free or by cutting the bag. We recommend cutting the bag, especially for larger grade plants, to minimise any chance of damaging the roots. Place the plant in the hole without removing any of the growing media or cutting the roots. You can tease them apart if you want but this is not essential. If the roots have been circling the inside of the pot or they look totally root bound, you don’t need to cut them. Add more potting mix and firm this around the plant using gentle pressure, then water well. They should be watered twice a week during hot weather and weekly or fortnightly during cooler periods.

The key to having an amazing Ivy in a pot is to both keep it fed correctly. Over-watering is the most common reason Ivy fail.

Growing An Ivy Hedge

Ivy make fantastic, narrow hedges, but they need a trellis or fence to grow on. To create an outstanding hedge The Plant Company recommends spacing them 75 cm apart. You may need to train the stems either by tying or twisting them, depending on what the trellis is constructed with. The key to an amazing Ivy hedge is to trim it little and often. This helps keep them dense and encourages the brighter, new growth. The best hedges are trimmed 2-3 times per year.

How Do You Grow Ivy?

Choose a full sun position for your Ivy. The hole should be dug to at least 50-75% deeper and wider than the container the plant is currently growing in. The Plant Company recommends incorporating compost or sheep pellets into the soil to provide additional organic material, but this is not essential. Do not put fertiliser in the bottom of the hole, rather spread Shrub Fertiliser on the soil surface after planting, and preferably do this when the plant is actively growing in spring.

How Far Apart Should Ivy Be Planted?

The decision about how far apart to plant Ivy depends on how quickly you want the surface to be covered. If you are wanting quick coverage, a spacing of 75 cm is recommended by The Plant Company. If you are on a budget and not in a hurry, a spacing of 1.5-2 m is fine.

How To Mulch Around Ivy

Placing mulch around Ivy helps keep the soil moist and significantly reduces weeds. The Plant Company recommends an organic mulch is used as this breaks down over time to provide nutrients and improves the soil. It is also better for the environment than the plastic-based alternatives. Whatever type of mulch is used, it needs to be free draining so the soil can “breathe” and allow water to penetrate quickly and easily. Heavy rates of lawn clippings are therefore not a good option as they hold too much moisture. The Plant Company has three very good options for mulch. The first is coco fibre matting which is made from the husks of coconuts. The second is Earth Mat which is made from recycled paper. Both of these break down to become part of the soil within two years. The third is black plastic matting which will last 20 years or more. Whichever mulch is used, The Plant Company recommends stones, bark chip, or other similar products be spread over top for aesthetic purposes.

Compost is not considered an effective mulch as weeds germinate easily and it is only short lasting. It is, however, a very good method of adding organic matter to the soil and should be applied before the mulch is put down.

How To Plant English Ivy

Choose a full sun or partial shade position with good drainage for your Ivy plant. The hole should be dug to at least 50-75% deeper and wider than the container the plant is currently growing in. A planting spade makes the hole digging a lot easier. The Plant Company recommends incorporating compost or sheep pellets into the soil to provide additional organic material, but this is not essential. Do not put fertiliser in the bottom of the hole, rather spread that on the soil surface after planting, and preferably do this when the plant is actively growing in spring.

Remove the plant from the container it is growing in by either pulling it free or by cutting the bag. We recommend cutting the bag, especially for larger grade plants, to minimise any chance of damaging the roots. Once out, you need to assess the roots before progressing. If they are not all bound up, and haven’t been growing in a circle within the container, place the plant in the hole without removing any of the growing media or cutting the roots. You can tease them apart if you want but this is not essential. If, however, the roots have been circling the inside of the pot or they look totally root bound, simply cut through those very outer roots on either side. You don’t need to be any more aggressive than this or remove any of the growing media. You can try and tease the roots apart, but this generally breaks them which is why we cut them. NB: cutting roots is not essential, even if the plant is root-bound as explained in our article, Managing Rootbound Plants.

Now place the Ivy in the hole and make sure it is level with the soil surface before filling in around it. If it is above the soil surface, dig more out. If it is below, put in more soil and retest the level. Once the plant is set level with the soil surface, add more soil gradually and firm it around the plant using gentle pressure as you go. Scatter Shrub Fertiliser across the soil surface after planting and the give the plant a good watering.

What Is The Best Soil For Ivy In A Pot?

Only potting mix should be used when plants are grown in a container. Often people will try and cut corners and use soil or mixes that contain both soil and potting mix with poor results. The same applies to when plants are potted up with compost as it holds too much moisture. Soil also contains weeds and tends to become compacted in a container, hence why it is not used in this manner. The Plant Company has nursery grade potting media which is pre-loaded with the correct amounts of fertiliser and micro-nutrients to keep the plant sustained with nutrition and actively growing for the next 12-months. After 12-months, simply add a couple fertiliser tablets to keep the plant fed for the next 12-months.

What Is The Best Soil For Ivy?

Soils rich in fertility and organic matter that are well-drained will produce amazing plants. The soil should be well prepared with either compost or sheep pellets mixed in at planting or spread on the soil surface after planting. It is important that the soil being planted into won’t restrict root growth and for this reason, clay soils are not well suited to Ivy. Clay soils also tend to be very wet which will negatively impact the performance of the plant, and can ultimately result in plant death.

Feeding your Ivy plants in spring with Shrub Fertiliser will replenish nutrients and keep them fed for 12 months. Liberal amounts of organic fertiliser can also be used. Do ensure that plants are watered regularly during dry periods to keep them flourishing.

When Is The Best Time To Plant Ivy?

Ivy are best planted any time from mid-autumn until late spring. During this time, they can cope with the stresses associated with planting (root damage mainly) more easily than if they have to also cope with heat and moisture stress as well. They can be planted in summer provided they are well-watered and the roots have plenty of growing media attached when planted. If watering is a challenge, The Plant Company advises planting any time from late-autumn through until early-spring. Make sure you have a good planting spade to make this job a lot easier.

Where Does An Ivy Plant Grow Best?

A full sun or partial shade position with good drainage and shelter is essential for getting the best results with Ivy. In shaded conditions they tend to become “stretched” as the branches extend to chase light, and leaf colouring tends towards darker green. In full sun they tend to be more compact with a better colouring. The plants will benefit from some shelter during establishment. However, once they are growing, they can cope with wind.

Trimming English Ivy

The Plant Company have produced this series of articles to provide advice for trimming English Ivy so you can manicure your plants with confidence and success.

How Hard Can I Prune Ivy?

Ivy will generally sprout when cut right back, even up to 5-10 cm above ground level. However, this relies on the plant having heathy shoots at the outset. This activity is best undertaken during spring or summer using secateurs or a pruning saw. Please note: Ivy grown in shade environments may struggle to re-establish when cut back severely. Similarly, growing sub-optimally due to disease or nutritional issues may also struggle to regrow. The Plant Company does not recommend cutting plants any lower than 10 cm above ground level to ensure a better chance of success with this procedure.

How To Trim Ivy

Ivy are trimmed to remove excess foliage and to shape the plant(s). This is best done during early spring, late summer, or both. You can be as gentle or aggressive as you like when trimming. A mistake often made is to trim the plants hard enough. This error generally results in a woodier plant and a much larger plant that can be difficult to contain. Ivy are very forgiving plants and even if you get the trimming wrong, they will recover!

When Is The Best Time To Trim Ivy?

Ivy can be trimmed at any time of the year, though early spring and late summer to early autumn are the times recommended by The Plant Company. At these times the plants will produce good amounts of colourful, new growth. Moreover, the growth in autumn will not be at risk from frost injury. Light trimming to remove unsightly foliage can occur at any time of year.

English Ivy

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