Why can ivy live on walls? Indoor ivy: can you keep it at home, signs. Growing ivy at home, photo. Types of ivy for green fencing

Andra

Is ivy bad for your walls?

Our front wall is covered with ivy. We love it, but we keep getting comments about how the ivy ends up destroying your wall. My usual answer is that you often see ivy on centuries-old buildings and they appear to be well preserved.

So my question is: is there a potential danger of ivy growing on your (brick) walls and should we remove them, or is it just an urban legend and should we enjoy its beauty?

(source: Ikar.us (Karlsruhe: Alter Friedhof), via Wikimedia Commons)

Edwin

I'm against letting it grow simply because you can't inspect the wall for problems and it makes repairs more difficult. At some point every brick wall will need to be repainted.

Answers

DMoore

If my house weren't all brick and dilapidated, I wouldn't let it grow. Ivy unfolds and finds its way into any crack. As ivy matures, it becomes denser to continue growing. As it gets thicker, it pushes things out as soon as it gets into the crack. I have ivy on a chain link fence in my backyard and the fence is ruined.

Think about how ivy gets between your gutters and your house. At some times of the year it grows so quickly that you may have to check every couple of days.

Non-structural note: bad ivy (poison) can grow alongside good ivy. Removing ivy from my back fence resulted in two attacks poison ivy for me.

Obvious note: ivy holds water. So anything that can decompose, rot, warp or anything else due to water won't last as long. Fiasco Labs also has some differences with their "suction cups" that they use for attachment. Within a year of a freshly painted house, they may cause you to need a new paint job.

DA01

There is some debate about the damage this could cause. Some types of ivy are self-clinging and will likely not have any structural impact on anything. Some types of ivy will try to invade cracks and crevices, so if you start with a bad brickwork, this may cause dissatisfaction.

But there are also arguments FOR THIS. Here's based on a study from Oxford University. Conclusion: Pristine walls likely benefit from ivy, but slightly damaged walls are aggravated by ivy.

Brian Knoblauch

Even if it clings itself, it still causes moisture to be retained on the wall, which is not desirable.

DA01

@BrianKnoblauch the linked article mentions that "a study funded by English Heritage also found bushes from water-related damage"

wallyk

I regularly spend time voluntarily removing ivy, holly, bramble and other invasive species from the Portland Forest Park:
(Note that there is no ivy visible here!)

English ivy is definitely ours worst problem. Armenian blackberry (formerly known as Himalayan blackberry) is another serious pest, but it only breeds in sunny areas.

Even if there is nothing wrong with the ivy in the house, such things! & $ @ # * Crawling through the yard into wild areas, smothering and eventually knocking over trees, competing with and interfering with natural vegetation and disturbing habitat. Ivy may be fine in dry climates where it can be controlled, but in rainy zones it is terrible.

My prejudice against the material continues even at home. I pull out the roots every time I find any evidence of this.

Where I find it sticking to the cedar siding, it made an expensive mess. The bricks are difficult to peel cleanly and where it has been for several years it looks like it is making hairline cracks in mortar or otherwise sucks it out of solution.

So even if I liked the idea of ivy on a building, I wouldn't do it due to concerns about damaging the ecosystem.

Fiasco Labs

Wooden structures? Absolutely not! Suction pads that ivy uses to stick to wood paneling, cause mold, and the moisture remaining underneath causes rot. If you live in Washington and Oregon, you'll find yourself living in an expensive compost pile when mold begins to attack the woods. Suction cups tend to pull paint off. You have to strip the ivy and repaint it with mildew-enhanced paint quite often if you want it to grow. It also penetrates where it might find a crack. We found it inside a wall in our T-111 side wall house when we remodeled.

Joe Shaw

I had quite a bit of ivy growing up in a 1920s garage and its rubber roof. It hasn't been cut back for several years. Removing the ivy was great job and brought out pieces of mortar and part of the stone facade. It was not structural damage, but still required some maintenance later.

The roof was a little more serious. Rezi new roof was quite old, but when we approached the ivy, large parts of the roof came up with it. Once the ivy was gone and the new roof took care of all the problems we had with damp and mold in the garage went away.

Joe does things

You can basically assume that anything living that is attached to a structure is the equivalent weight of water, and that it will swell and shrink depending on the temperature. On a long enough schedule this can compromise the mortar even if the bricks are fine.

In the area with big amount freeze-thaw cycles, this time scale becomes much shorter.

They say that the house is garden plot reflects the character of its owner. Solid and solid or romantic and elegant, decorated with intricate decor, or strict and ascetic... Take a closer look at the facades country houses, they will tell you a lot about your neighbors. It often happens that the house is unprepossessing, built a long time ago, but it is so warm, cozy and nice that you immediately understand: a good person lives here.

Plays an important role in creating this lovely coziness vertical gardening facade. In the heat of summer, such a green wall gives coolness, in the fall it protects from rain and wind, and creates a pleasant microclimate. The house, entwined with ivy or vines, is welcoming and somehow kindly reliable.

Do you want to create a corner of Provence in your garden? Are you hoping to get rid of the noise coming from your neighbors? Or maybe you need to disguise the unsuccessful façade of your country house? A living green wall is what you need!

There is no need to grow vines all over the walls of the house - choose the one that most often catches your eye. And depending on which side of the world it faces, choose plants for landscaping. If the side is north, main function(in addition to decorative) - maximum heat retention.

Choose ivy, mock orange, garia, cotoneaster, and Japanese quince. Over time, these plants form a narrow air gap between the green curtain and the stone wall, which prevents heat loss. In addition, these plants are very beautiful even in winter.

If the windows face south, you need to create cozy shading. So, we choose rhododendrons, honeysuckle, Chinese lemongrass, climbing roses or clematis.
Do you see the sunrise in the morning? For the eastern side, hops, tree hydrangea, and Japanese kerria with golden flowers are good. Clematis and Japanese quince are great too!
The wall chosen for landscaping faces west - we will take care of protection from bad weather. Wisteria, grapevine - great choice! Camellia, large-flowered magnolia, and fremontodendron will also decorate your façade.

Professionalism of a designer or the soul of a gardener?

There is an opinion that vertical gardening should be entrusted to landscape designers. I don't agree. This is a completely feasible task, if only there was a desire. Especially if you have already gotten your hands on creating hedges.

The principles are almost the same:

- Selection of plants;
- Soil preparation;
- Installation of supports;
- Planting seeds, seedlings or seedlings;
- Care: fertilizing, watering, pruning;
- Preparing perennials for winter.

What’s new here is the installation of supports, something on which your green façade decoration will rest.

We rely on what resists. Trellis for climbing trees.

The simplest support for climbing annuals is stretched thin twine or fishing line. Echinocystis, sweet peas, fire beans or morning glory quickly weave along the wall of the house. They don't need serious support. Your task is only to direct growth in the right direction.

Perennial plants require more solid support. In order to hold the considerable weight of hops or wisteria, climbing roses or honeysuckle make a strong frame, which is fixed to the wall of the house. It can be made of any material. The shape of the frame is determined only by your imagination.

There is an opinion that vertical gardening is terribly harmful to a building, because it destroys the house from high humidity, created by plants, damages the plaster and swells the roof. This is true. Therefore, it is better to grow especially “tenacious” plants on auxiliary supports without direct contact with the wall, especially if the house is wooden. If a living green curtain has rushed onto the roof, its growth should be stopped by strong plant stems and the shingles may be lifted and the gutters clogged.

Children and pets can be poisoned by the fruits of these ornamental vines. And this can also be: the fruits and leaves of some plants used in landscaping are poisonous. Therefore, if you have small children, be especially careful when choosing plants for a green façade.

There is also another point - the costs of seeds, seedlings and professionals. All this is quite expensive. But this is not true. Of course, there are costs, but you can often get by on your own, with available materials and the most unpretentious plants.

If your green facade is created by annuals, there are no problems with wintering. The main thing is to remove faded and withered plants in late autumn, dig up the soil and fertilize it - after all, you will repeat the experiment next year. If you chose perennials, remember that many of them come from warm tropical countries, and although they winter in open ground, but in late autumn they are shortened, covered with vines and the soil mulched to prevent the roots from freezing.

A hedge around a house made of bushes. Part one.

- ...and part two

Village style. Simplicity and beauty.

Since ancient times, the house has been revered as a symbol of the Universe and family. That is why a lot of attention is still paid to it proper construction and aesthetic design. Often the facade is the appearance of the family that lives in it and can tell a lot about its owners.

Often, home owners put too much effort and spend a huge amount of time and money on making the appearance of their home as presentable as possible.

A house covered with ivy, like an illustration for a fairy tale

The easiest way to have a beautiful front lawn
Of course you saw perfect lawn in the cinema, on the alley, and perhaps on the neighbor’s lawn. Those who have ever tried to grow a green area on their site will no doubt say that this is a huge amount of work. The lawn requires careful planting, care, fertilization, and watering. However, they just don’t think so experienced gardeners, professionals have long known about the innovative tool - liquid lawn AquaGrazz.

The most interesting thing is that you can achieve a solid appearance for your home very simply with the help of the most common plants, found almost everywhere, but when correct design and placement, they will become a luxurious decoration of the facade.

Such plants, of course, include ivy. A house covered with ivy looks very aesthetically pleasing, because it retains all the richness and elegance of the Provence style.

In addition, such wall decoration has a number of positive functional features.

Such a living fence performs, for example, the task of an air conditioner (pictured). In hot weather, houses overgrown with ivy maintain a cool microclimate, and during the winter-autumn season, ivy protects the home from excess moisture, drafts, strong gusts of wind and serves as a natural insulation.
This wall plant can also very easily hide mistakes made during finishing works, and at the same time add charm.
In addition, if the ivy grows densely and does not dry out, it is used as a noise-insulating element, thanks to the leaves planted close to each other.
Also, houses overgrown with ivy have more clean air inside, because vertical gardening also helps to cleanse from excess dust.

It is not at all necessary to completely landscape the entire home. Such decor will look very beautiful on one wall, on the one that best suits you.

If this is the north side, then such a green carpet will serve as heat accumulation in the house. After all, ivy, during its growth, is capable of forming between its stems, leaves and the wall a certain air cushion, which saves optimal temperature in your home, regardless of the time of year.

In addition, even in winter such vertical gardening looks quite good.

Ivy care

When you decide to vertically plant walls, it is worth remembering that for ivy better conditions growth than in shaded areas cannot be found (in the photo).

If you plant such a plant on the south side, it will soon threaten the loss of foliage, because with a significant increase in air temperature, the ivy simply dries out.
It also dries when greening the roof, because the plant is exposed to direct sun rays. Therefore, if you cannot pay enough attention to timely watering in advance, it is better to refrain from such an undertaking.
Don’t forget about spraying plant stems, because air humidity for optimal ivy growth should be considerably higher than average.

If the soil dries out winter season, it is necessary to moisten it very little so as not to harm the plant, because during wintering the moisture is absorbed worse by it and evaporates very poorly, which will lead either to rotting of the root system, or sub-zero temperatures will ensure even more intense freezing of the soil.

It is quite easy to do vertical landscaping on the façade of your home yourself.

First of all, it is worth remembering the basic rule of planting ivy - you should not place it in such a way that it interferes with the opening and closing of doors and windows, because this can damage both them and the plant itself.

It is best to place the overgrown ivy so that it does not entangle the windows, because, on the one hand, this will prevent normal sunlight from entering the room, and on the other, it will also add frequent, timely pruning of young stems to the list of household chores.

It is worth remembering that for optimal growth of ivy, a 25-centimeter fertile layer of soil is required, as well as timely application of a complex of fertilizers.

Since ivy can grow, clinging to walls, up to 30 meters in height, you need to take into account special fences or supports so that the plant can comfortably climb up.

A chain-link mesh, all kinds of pegs and twigs are ideal for this; you can also safely use a tightly stretched fishing line for this purpose.
It is necessary to secure the means of support very reliably, since if the ivy grows profusely, it will have a decent weight; moreover, with weak support, the risk increases that when the desired result in the design of the facade is achieved, this entire “vegetative structure” may collapse at the slightest breath of wind, and landscaping will need to be done anew.
This can also lead to destruction of the building’s finishing, which will entail considerable financial and time costs.

Therefore, the main tool of this work, of course, is reliability.

Why ivy? The secret is simple. forms quite quickly. Of course, you will have to work hard at first. In the first year after planting green fence ivy requires regular care. But soon it will surprise neighbors and friends with its splendor.

Vertical gardening with ivy

Benefits of a green ivy fence

Garden ivy, as an option for hedges, has a number of advantages:

This plant has pleasant relaxing properties. Unraveling, it creates a thick green wall, which is a pleasure to admire.
Aesthetic, decorative properties hedges cannot be compared with a metal, wooden or brick fence.
The versatility of this plant lies in the fact that the shape can always be adjusted by pruning.
Ivy perfectly decorates unsightly buildings on the site, gazebos, and also hides cozy places in the garden, house, and windows from prying eyes.
Garden ivy is an evergreen plant. Therefore, fencing made from it perfectly retains its decorative properties in winter and summer.
To form a green ivy fence, you do not need large financial investments.

Types of ivy for green fencing

Ivy is a woody evergreen vine. Among many varieties, it grows and develops well in temperate climates garden view this plant. IN landscape design Only two subspecies are used: ordinary and Colchis.

Ivy

Common ivy is characterized by moderate growth. But its foliage has special decorative properties. Shiny leaves can be the most different shapes. Therefore, it will not be difficult for any gardener, even the most demanding one, to choose a beautiful plant for his plot.

Colchis ivy grows very quickly. Its long shoots with large foliage will quickly weave the place prepared for this.

Both common ivy and Colchis ivy are blooming. However, their flowers are of no decorative value. But the inedible berries that appear after flowering add a special charm to the hedge.

Almost all varieties of ivy are poisonous, although their poison does not affect everyone. To protect yourself from allergic irritations and itching, you should use gloves when planting hedges and caring for plants, and choose closed clothing for work.

Although all types of this plant prefer shaded places, still varieties with variegated leaves They must receive enough sunlight, otherwise they will become their normal green color over time.

How to plant a green ivy fence

An evergreen ivy hedge can be an excellent backdrop for garden flowers, alpine slides, and even a playground. Therefore, the choice of landing site must be taken very seriously. But first you need to purchase seedlings.

Garden ivy is propagated by cuttings, layering, and shoots (ready seedlings). If there is nowhere to take cuttings, much less make layering, then you need to choose seedlings in the nursery very carefully. Healthy leaves and roots are a sure sign of a strong plant. If you have any doubts about appearance young seedling, then it is better to refuse to buy it. A weak, unhealthy plant is unlikely to take root.

Ivy is an unassuming plant. It tolerates both heat and snowy cold winters well. However, when choosing a place to plant it, it is better to avoid the sun. The soil composition is also not required special requirements. But, if you consider that this plant was brought to us from wet places With fertile soils, then the applied fertilizers will contribute to the lushness of the vine, as well as the exceptional shine of the foliage.

Ivy and maiden grapes represent perfect combination for hedges, since they need the same conditions for good growth, development. This union has long been considered a symbol of prosperity.

The best time to plant a hedge is from late April to late May. Before planting, make the necessary markings and install supports. Small holes are dug along the supports, the distance between which must be maintained within half a meter. The diameter and depth should be such that the roots fit freely. The soil inside each hole needs to be thoroughly loosened and fertilized with compost or humus. After planting, abundant watering is required.

The initial work is complete. Then the plant grows and develops. As they grow, the shoots are tied to supports. On the first summer season the plant will braid all the supports and you will get a dense, dense fence that will protect the area from dust, wind, and prying eyes.

You can install any supports for hedges: wooden, plastic, metal. climbing vine You can also run it on a chain-link mesh. Ordinary poles with wire stretched between them will be sufficient for it.

Caring for ivy

The difference between a well-groomed plant and one growing freely is, of course, striking. It is enough to follow a few care rules to get a lush, dense green ivy fence:

The first time after planting, the plant requires regular watering.
Young shoots need to be tied to supports in the right direction, and those that stand out from the general mass should be cut off.
It is not necessary to fertilize the vine. But most beautiful plants However, they are obtained when the soil in the root zone receives additional nutrition. Experienced gardeners recommend applying fertilizer three times during the warm season: at the beginning and end of May, as well as at the end of August or early September.
Ivy should be pruned in the fall, at the end of the season. Large shoots are trimmed to the required length. Dry shoots are completely removed. To make the plant more lush, the ends of all shoots are also cut off. To obtain new seedlings, the vine is cut into cuttings.
Not all types of garden ivy tolerate frost well. Therefore, it is better to protect young plants and cover them with dry leaves for the winter. Good insulation requires the basal neck.

How best to propagate garden ivy

This evergreen vine propagates better and faster by cuttings. They need to be cut in spring or early summer. The length of each cutting must be at least 10 cm. If a variety that has aerial roots is propagated, then they must be present on each cutting. Without adventitious roots, cuttings take much longer to take root.

You can root cuttings different ways: in water, in a pot or container, in open ground. On permanent place young plants are planted in spring at a distance of 40–60 cm from each other. The soil must be drained and fertilized. After planting, the seedlings are watered abundantly, and the soil in the root zone is mulched.

Diseases and pests

Like any other plants, ivy is sometimes attacked by pests and gets sick. Damage can be caused by scale insects, thrips, spider mite. If silvery dots are detected on outside leaves and cobwebs on inside The entire green fence needs to be sprayed with water and treated with pest repellents.

Burns may appear on the leaves of the plant if it grows in an open place.

Garden ivy likes the soil to be constantly moist. But excess moisture can cause yellowing and falling leaves.

Even the most inexperienced gardener can create a beautiful living decoration if you follow simple care rules. A well-maintained green fence will delight long years, creating a special atmosphere of comfort and freshness on the site.

Andra

Is ivy bad for your walls?

So my question is: is there a potential danger of ivy growing on your (brick) walls and should we remove them, or is it just an urban legend and should we enjoy its beauty?

(source: Ikar.us (Karlsruhe: Alter Friedhof), via Wikimedia Commons)

Edwin

I'm against letting it grow simply because you can't inspect the wall for problems and it makes repairs more difficult. At some point, every brick wall will need to be repainted.

Answers

DMoore

Think about how ivy gets between your gutters and your house. At some times of the year it grows so quickly that you may have to check every couple of days.

Non-structural note: bad ivy (poison) can grow alongside good ivy. Removing the ivy from my back fence resulted in two poison ivy attacks for me.

DA01

There is some debate about the damage this could cause. Some types of ivy are self-clinging and will likely not have any structural impact on anything. Some types of ivy will try to invade cracks and crevices, so starting with poor brickwork can cause dissatisfaction.

But there are also arguments FOR THIS. Here's based on a study from Oxford University. Conclusion: Pristine walls likely benefit from ivy, but slightly damaged walls are aggravated by ivy.

Brian Knoblauch

Even if it clings itself, it still causes moisture to be retained on the wall, which is not desirable.

DA01

@BrianKnoblauch the linked article mentions that "a study funded by English Heritage also found bushes from water-related damage"

wallyk

I regularly spend time voluntarily removing ivy, holly, bramble and other invasive species from the Portland Forest Park:
(Note that there is no ivy visible here!)

English ivy is by far our worst problem. Armenian blackberry (formerly known as Himalayan blackberry) is another serious pest, but it only breeds in sunny areas.

My prejudice against the material continues even at home. I pull out the roots every time I find any evidence of this.

Where I find it sticking to the cedar siding, it made an expensive mess. It's hard to separate cleanly on bricks, and where it's been for years, it looks like it's making hairline cracks in the mortar or otherwise sucking it out of the mortar.

So even if I liked the idea of ivy on a building, I wouldn't do it due to concerns about damaging the ecosystem.

Fiasco Labs

Wooden structures? Absolutely not! The sucker pads that ivy uses to stick to wood sheathing cause mold, and moisture trapped underneath causes rot. If you live in Washington and Oregon, you'll find yourself living in an expensive compost pile when mold begins to attack the woods. Suction cups tend to pull paint off. You have to strip the ivy and repaint it with mildew-enhanced paint quite often if you want it to grow. It also penetrates where it might find a crack. We found it inside a wall in our T-111 side wall house when we remodeled.

Joe Shaw

I had quite a bit of ivy growing up in a 1920s garage and its rubber roof. It hasn't been cut back for several years. Removing the ivy was a big job and brought out chunks of mortar and part of the stone façade. It was not structural damage, but still required some maintenance later.

The roof was a little more serious. The rubber roof was quite old, but when we drove up to the ivy, large parts of the roof came up with it. Once the ivy was gone and the new roof took care of all the problems we had with damp and mold in the garage went away.

Joe does things

In an area with many freeze-thaw cycles, this time scale becomes much shorter.