English ivy, also called Hedera helix or common ivy, is a controversial beast that you either love or hate. Please don’t judge me, but I’m one of those people who loves my English ivy. Now, I’m not saying it’s NOT a problem child, but even problem children need nurturing! If you have English ivy in your garden or home, read on for a few tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way.
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Why do you love English ivy?
If you’re a dreamer and whimsical thinker, then you probably already know the answer to this question! When I moved to my house, one of the things that caught my eye was the healthy English Ivy growing up the front red brick. For probably forever, I’ve been enamored with English homes, centuries-old castles with gorgeous climbing vines, and The Secret Garden. And when I saw the ivy trailing up and around this adorable, cottage abode, I immediately felt like I was walking toward a storybook. (Hopefully one with a good ending!)
Why do some people disdain English ivy?
Well, it can get out of control fast. English ivy is considered an invasive plant, so if you don’t keep it trimmed, it can squeeze up into your soffits and wreak havoc. (This is what my very “helpful” and particularly involved neighbor reminded me of when I first moved in.)
It also gets a bad reputation for harboring unappealing critters like rodents and snakes. Understandable! And it can affect other plants nearby. So, yeah. I get it.
I think it depends on where it’s located and how well you maintain it to know if you should have English ivy in your living space. I trim mine frequently and only have been greeted by fluttering finches and the occasional devilish wasp. And maybe a few spiders. Also mosquitoes. But they plague me everywhere! Even in December!
Since I’m TOTALLY selling you on English ivy, I’ll skip to the next question!
What are your tips for taking care of English ivy when it’s growing up your house?
If you’ve ever tried to trim and prune English ivy, you know how obstinate it is! It grips to a wall and just TAUNTS you. And if you’ve tried all types of tactics, but still are like, “What in the SAM HILL should I do?” Well, read on to see the hack I discovered!
This post is all about the English ivy hack that’s saved the day!
This tool isn’t made for English ivy, but English ivy is made for it!
I’ve tried all kinds of clippers and strategies to control my English ivy. Most people just tell me to take it down, but, darn it, I like it!
So, I bought a weeder tool that works wonders. This garden tool is one that I love so much that I want to tell everyone. Made for pulling up weeds in the ground, the claw-like device is also great for pulling back persnickety ivy.
How do you use this garden tool on your English ivy wall?
I hold the claw flush to the brick and slowly side it under the ivy vines. Once the ivy loosens, I use shrub clippers to cut it and keep it manageable.
Before I found this tool, it took me forever to grip the vines with my clippers and get a significant cut. Now, it goes much faster and I can spend more time on my other 2,000 tasks around the house.
This is so random. Why share this very specific tool?
I looked all over the internet for ideas or articles on how to trim this ivy. But I truly couldn’t find anything! So, I got creative and investigated what I thought might do the job. If you do your own gardening, I admire your pluck and want to share any tips that might ease your frustration! This is one of my discoveries that has eliminated much of the dread of trimming ivy.
You know that feeling when you hope something turns out just like you had imagined? Well, that’s how this tool turned out! Success!
Is this garden tool worth the price?
Definitely! This weeder tool is under 15 bucks and can be used for other garden tasks besides English ivy. Also, it’s so much more budget-friendly than hiring someone to maintain your plant.
Plus, if you have control issues and, say, one day. your dad visits and almost obliterates the ivy to the point it looks like it got a buzz cut, then you might want this tool, too! (This is no problem in the long-run, though, because English ivy grows fast!)
What clippers do you use next?
My English ivy is in kind of an awkward place, NATURALLY. So, I bought these branch trimmers with an extended handle. They’re not for cutting huge branches, but will definitely shape up some ivy!
I also have some loppers (loppers is fun to say!) like these that I use all over my unruly yard.
I probably don’t need to say this, because y’all are all smart cookies, but STILL. Please stay safe when using any of these tools! I don’t want to hear about any ER visits or boo-boos. Even manual tools are sharp and need to be handled with care. Take your time, make sure you stop to rest, and please don’t overdo it. (I’m still trying to follow my own advice!)
What if I’m still unsure about English ivy and how to care for my yard?
Garden centers have so many knowledgeable people who LOVE plants. They will talk plants with you all day! Ask questions, share your concerns, and get recommendations on what’s best for you.
Photo cred: @katstanophotography
Arborists and landscapers are also a wealth of information. They can advise you on the plants in your yard and help you make great maintenance and gardening decisions. I used to text my arborist with random questions, like, “What is this tree in my yard?” I’m sure he loved that.
Pros of English Ivy
- English ivy is known to help purify the air and improve air quality. Some people like them as houseplants for this reason!
- It’s a natural nesting place for birds.
- It can look beautiful climbing up a wall or home, if maintained.
- It works well as groundcover.
- It’s easy to grow.
- It looks cute in planters.
- It’s evergreen, so when everything is grey and bare in the winter, English ivy keeps its green leaves!
- It has some medicinal properties, but I have no idea how to do that, so do your research and follow the advice of actual medical experts!
- It’s super easy to care for when you have this tool! I’m not sure if the makers of this garden tool thought about English ivy or not but, lo and behold, it works and I want everyone who struggles with ivy to know about it!
Cons of English Ivy
- It can be toxic to humans and pets, so don’t eat it! And please keep it away from your kids and fur kids.
- It can overtake native plants if not controlled.
- It might kill trees (which goes for most vines). Always clip any vines crawling up the bark on trees. Trees don’t like all the vines!
- It can get bacterial leaf scorch, which can hurt other pretty plants.
- Mosquitoes, snakes, and rodents are attracted to it. Yikes!
- You need to keep it trimmed and maintained so it doesn’t damage your home or other plants.
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Are there other climbing or cascading plants that I might like better?
There are so many incredible climbing plants! Here are the climbing plants I’ve tried and what I think:
Clematis
I discovered clematis last year and just love it! A very dainty vine, it’s not weighty like wisteria, but produces some brilliant, richly hued flowers. These jewel-tone blooms bring drama and elegance to any garden.
I’m currently training my clematis to wrap around a house column. So far, so good, but wish me luck!
Virginia Creeper
My Virginia creeper started out wild in my yard and slowly danced up the fence in such a fanciful manner. Because of my sweet, sweet neighbor, I’ve learned a lot about it, even that it can be a stunning ground cover, as long as you trim it and keep it from climbing up your trees. (Trees don’t like other plants hugging them too much. Humans? That’s okay every once in a while.)
Be careful with your vines, though, because poison ivy can also look cute on a fence until you get into it and your skin breaks out into a nightmarish, ragingly red rash. Trust me. I’ve been there. Not fun!
Climbing Roses
Okay, technically, my roses haven’t climbed anywhere because they were planted last fall. But I have hope! I bought a vivid variety called Agatha Christie and I will be in a literal dream if they flourish around my trellis that frames my Secret Garden Door.
Euonymus
Okay, beware of this one! Euonymus is an evergreen plant that can be very pretty, but it’s also literally maniacal. Its vines can get very, very strong and take down a fence. How do I know this? Because it took down my fence.
However, euonymus is easy to trim and, if you keep up with it, it can be a nice filler shrub that stays green during the winter months and provides shelter for cute critters trying to stay safe and warm.
Honeysuckle
Another wildling, honeysuckle can be pretty and fragrant. There are different types, like the invasive Amur honeysuckle that parties a little too hard in my yard. Then, there are the traditional varieties that smell lovely and attract pollinators. My honeysuckle grows on a removable fence panel and it’s very hardy.
It also grows on the ground and can trip you, so be careful! This is another plant you need to keep maintained so that it doesn’t get too out of control.
Wisteria
I have lots of thoughts on wisteria. The first one: It is BEAUTIFUL. If I could, I’d have an endless, winding walkway draped in purple wisteria where I’d frolic everyday in a romantic haze, while wearing a big bonnet and being greeted by butterfly kisses and lightning bug glow.
Instead, I get wisteria from my neighbor’s yard that crawls under the fence like a demon and wraps its gnarly vines around my poor little plants that are merely trying to get through the day. But it’s pretty!
I’ve been told that wisteria is so tough that it can take down a barn. And I wouldn’t be surprised if it did! So, if you’d like wisteria in your garden, I don’t blame you at all. It is magical. Just make sure you set it up on sturdy structure, then watch it thrive!
FRost Grape
Okay, y’all. I have wild grape vines growing in my yard! I quadruple-checked that they weren’t some sort of depressing weed and it seems to be that they are GRAPES.
I‘ve set up a bench trellis and am SO EXCITED to see what happens. If things so swimmingly, I’ll be doing a post on this grape vine. So, stay tuned!
Fun Fact: My grandfather had an amazing grapevine that I remember as a kid. I was so enthralled with this plant and now I’m hoping to grow them in his memory.
Pumpkin
If you haven’t heard yet, I grew a pumpkin patch a few years ago...in my front yard! It just showed up one day, so we went with it! It was AWESOME. In total, we had a precious crop of seven white pumpkins. I’m still mesmerized.
I didn’t stake my pumpkins on a trellis, but you can! And just knowing how clingy these pumpkin vines can be, I think they’d do great on a well-built structure.
Conclusion
I hope you feel more confident about your English ivy now that you know a little trick to maintain it! Whether you were thinking of giving up on it altogether or just plain tired of all the work, I hope this really does help.
What climbing plants are your favorites? Please share in the comments!
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I love your garden already, even the ‘problem child’. I can’t wait to see more of your secret garden!
Thank you so much, Katy! LOL. When I moved to this house, I discovered my love for planting flowers and being out in the sunshine. I always have loved nature, but my interest sparked even more! And I’ve always, always loved English homes and beautiful cottage gardens, so the ivy made me feel like I was somewhere enchanting and magical <3