Some gardeners like the old world feel of an ivy covered building but to others English ivy is a quick growing nuisance. This plant is not native to America and some garden organizations consider it an invasive species. English ivy (Hedera helix) is a member of the Ginseng family and a perennial evergreen vine. It is recognized by its dark green leaves that have 3-5 lobes and a heart shaped bottom. Early colonists brought English ivy to the US from Europe and they used it as a landscaping plant. Ivy is very resistant to most diseases and pests, grows well on most parts of the US and can be invasive if left unchecked. It can be effectively used in the home garden, though, if precautions are taken and the ivy is properly controlled.
How English Ivy Grows
Gardeners often use English ivy to hide ugly fences or walls because it is quick growing, and softens the hard lines of man made structures. This vine can take vigorous pruning and adds color in winter. English ivy needs little sunlight, but shade will slow its growth a bit. It grows best in fertile soil and is normally found in the woods where the soil is rich from rotted falling leaves. It does not like wet weather in winter or being in standing water. English ivy is cold hardy in many areas of the US and propagates very easily. It spreads when nodes in the vine come in contact with the soil and take root and will spread this way on its own if unchecked. Because of its growth habits, English ivy needs frequent pruning. The vines can grow between 20-30 feet in a season. The vine clings to structures and trees with “suckers” and does not need a trellis. The easy propagation and rapid growth of the plant led to it being considered an invasive plant species by many American ecological and botanical organizations.
Why is English Ivy Harmful?
Native trees and plants are at risk from uncontrolled English ivy. In many parts of the US this invasive plant creates “ivy deserts” where the plant overwhelms everything around it. English ivy can overtake trees and kill them by covering the trees’ own leaves and cutting off sunlight and air. The trees can also fall over under the weight of the ivy growing on its top. English ivy is not considered a parasite because it does not make a way into the trees that it grows on.
English ivy has other drawbacks. It is bad for soil erosion as it does not have a deep root system. It simply covers the soil and does not hold it in place. Some homeowners also worry about damage to buildings. Experts disagree on whether ivy is harmful to buildings or not but damage is most apparent if the structure was not in good shape to begin with. Opponents say that it keeps moisture in the walls and encourage insects but others say ivy helps with heating and cooling the building. If planting ivy, be sure to cut it back regularly and not let it get on to a neighbor's property. A thick layer of mulch around the plants can help choke off new shoots.
Possible Solutions
It takes a plan of attack to effectively remove English ivy from the landscape. First, find the bottom of the main stem and cut the plant off there. Allow the vines to die back and pull them off of the tree or structure. There is no need to climb trees as the ivy at the tops will fall off on its own within a couple of years. Suckers from the ivy may still stick to walls and should be scrubbed off. A power washer helps with this. Also, dig out the roots of the ivy. Be thorough-it must all be removed all or the plant will send out new shoots. With trees, remove the ivy for an area of at least six feet away from the tree. One session may not remove the ivy so plan to repeat the tasks of cutting and digging. The goal is to keep the ivy weak and eventually kill it.
To dispose of a big mass of ivy cuttings let them dry out so they become smaller and then put them out with landscaping refuse. Make sure to leave the cuttings where they will not root. Keep watching the cleared area and repeat any removal efforts to make sure that the ivy does not come back. Only add English ivy to compost pile if the pile is very hot because otherwise the ivy will just take root and continue growing.
Resources:
Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plant Manual
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