Properly prune ivy as a climbing plant and ground cover

Cut ivy - cut options and dates

Gardening becomes a fun endeavor with ivy. Apart from regular pruning, the climbing artist does not expect any significant maintenance. Even newcomers to hobby gardening can't go wrong with the cut. There are no special cutting techniques to consider in order to put the vigorous green plant in its place. The following table summarizes all editing options with tips for the best choice of date:

also read

• Grow ivy as a ground cover in the garden
• Remove ivy from the garden as a ground cover
• Caring for ivy in the flower box properly

Cut option	Goal / occasion	best date
Topiary	Shorten long tendrils, thin out thick wood	February
Care cut	Maintain a well-groomed appearance	End of June to mid-July
Taper cut	revitalize old climbing plants	January to early March
Elimination	Partly or completely remove ivy from the facade	October 1st to February 28th

Complete topiary in February

In the first few years after planting, ivy lulls its gardener into security, because initially nothing is noticeable of rapid growth. Once the evergreen plant has settled in on the site, it provides convincing evidence of why it is one of the growth rockets. A targeted shape cut shows the climbing plant its limits. This is how easy it is to direct growth in the desired direction:

• The best time is from the end of January to the end of February when the weather is frost-free and cloudy
• Thoroughly examine the climbing bush for hibernating animals and cut later if necessary
• Cut back tendrils that are too long on climbing and ground cover plants
• Thinning out dead wood and unfavorably growing shoots

Go to work in good spirits, because you can't go wrong . Boldly cut gutters, windows and doors free if you are bothered by ivy. On older plants, long, faded shoots with poisonous berries protrude horizontally from the green area. You redirect these with a radical cut to side shoots close to the wall or close to the ground.

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Cutting ivy falls under the Federal Nature Conservation Act

The good-natured cut tolerance of ivy does not imply that you leave the scissors in every season of the year. As a woody climbing plant, ivy is subject to the strict requirements that the Federal Nature Conservation Act stipulates for pruning. Extensive cutting measures are prohibited from March 1st to September 30th. The reason for the grace period is the breeding season of our birds. In exceptional cases, light cuts may be made, provided that no more than this year's increase falls victim to scissors or a saw. The exemption is no longer valid if animals living in the wild in the plant devote themselves to their offspring. From October 1st to February 28th, pruning of all kinds is permitted, provided that it can be ruled out in advance that wild animals could be disturbed or driven away.

Care cut for a representative appearance

A summery maintenance cut is the ideal complement to the winter shaped cut. Around Midsummer Day (June 24th) is traditionally a good time for light pruning . At this time, native plants take a short pause in growth and then sprout again with reduced power. If you cut ivy between the end of June and mid-July, the climbing plant will retain its well-groomed appearance for many weeks. It is important to note that the cutback is limited to this year's increase . How to do it right:

• Choose a date for the summer cut on an overcast, not too hot day
• Carefully inspect the climbing bush for nesting birds
• Postpone the date to the end of August if there are nests in the branches
• Cut back tendrils that protrude or hang over the mold

When cutting in summer, please remember that you are exposing leaves that have been shaded so far. It is therefore advisable not to prune ivy in direct sunlight. Alternatively, hang a shading net over the plant for a few days so that the lush green or variegated decorative leaves do not suffer from sunburn.

Digression

Well equipped for the ivy cut

In the first few years you will manage the pruning of an ivy corner with a standard two-hand hedge trimmer. (€ 135.56 at Amazon *) If the climbing artist is planting a small area, you can easily trim the tendrils that are too long with one-handed secateurs, either as bypass or anvil shears. Over time, the climbing plant conquers larger areas or facades and forms quite strong, woody shoots. A Japanese saw is helpful to create order here.

Revitalize old ivy plant

If ivy remains uncut for many years, a conventional topiary will not bring order to the dense network of tendrils. The good-natured cut tolerance allows a radical rejuvenation cut . In this context, it is quite possible to put the climbing plant on the stick. Cut back all the tendrils except for the thick rhizome. In the following period the plant reliably sprouts from its sleeping eyes. This approach is suitable for the option that renewed greening with ivy is desired at the site. Complete elimination of roots and tendrils requires a draconian procedure, which you can read about in the section below.

Tips

When pruning, ivy can release small parts of the plant that you could breathe. Therefore, wear a respirator when dedicating yourself to a contour or taper cut.

Remove ivy from facades

The legendary growth and climbing power of ivy is both a blessing and a curse. If you let the evergreen climbing artist do it, you will simply not get rid of her. The following methods of removal are aimed at gardeners struggling with wall damage caused by ivy with its adhesive roots. To weaken the climbing plant, carry out various preparatory work about a month in advance. The respective procedure takes into account the specific nature of the facade:

Preliminary work

• 3 to 4 weeks before starting the removal: saw through all connections to the roots in the ground
• Remove as many tendrils as possible from the facade

Plastered masonry

• Attach the weed scraper to the telescopic handle and scrape off all plant remains
• Spray off the remaining adhesive roots with a high-pressure cleaner (€ 89.00 at Amazon *)
• Alternatively: rent a dry ice blasting system and work platform
• Spray dry ice over a narrow pipe directly onto the adherent roots
• Remove any remaining ivy with a wire brush
• Repair holes in the plaster or completely re-plaster the facade

Slate wall

• Use a scraper and triangular sander to scrape off remains of tendrils and roots
• Remove the last remnants with 180 or 120 grit sandpaper
• Give the slate surface a new shine with a special cleaning agent

Ivy with strong tendrils does a great job on clinker facades. If you find yourself forced to clear the brickwork of green growth, you are dealing with a die-hard opponent. Patience and perseverance are now required to completely eliminate the plant. After the preparatory work, ivy is already visibly weakened. There is a good chance of removing the remaining root residue with a high-pressure cleaner and dirt blaster. You can get rid of the vegetation more effectively with a sandblaster. A compressor generates a strong stream of air that sprays sand from a container onto the wall at high speed. The roots have nothing to oppose this force and let go. A negative side effect is the risk that loose grout residues come off under the pressure of the sandblaster.

frequently asked Questions

Is ivy poisonous?

Ivy is poisonous to humans and animals in all parts. Skin contact with the sap can cause allergic reactions in sensitive people. The berries on older plants are bulging with toxic ingredients. When consumed it leads to nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and even shock with circulatory failure. Small children in particular are at risk. Ivy is not recommended for cultivation in the family garden. Cutting jobs require gloves and long-sleeved clothing to be worn if you don't want to risk itching too much.

We would like to green a 1.80 meter high and 17 meter long fence facing south with ivy in order to achieve a quick privacy screen. Which type of ivy is suitable for this purpose?

In this case, only small-leaved varieties come into consideration and even these only with reservation. Like all evergreens, ivy continues to evaporate water from its leaves in winter. The sunnier and windier the location, the greater the probability of failure due to drought stress. It should also be borne in mind that young ivy plants thrive as refugees from light. It takes at least 2 to 3 years before they decide to climb a fence in the sunny location.

I have heard that Hedera helix only blooms and bears fruit after many years and does not climb from then on. How long do I have to wait until the first flowering period?

It mainly depends on the local conditions when Hedera helix blooms for the first time and bears black berry fruits. As a rule, a waiting period of between 8 and 10 years can be expected. The beginning of an annual flowering for ivy plants is only partially related to their climbing ability. If you pull cuttings from the flowering shoots, you will get non-climbing ivy bushes. You can purchase these ready-made from specialist retailers under the name Hedera helxi Arborescens.

My ivy bloomed last summer. Now winter is over and the climbing plant is covered in brown leaves. Has the plant frozen to death? Can pruning solve the problem?

The bloom is not related to the brown leaves, but rather signals that your ivy has reached a certain age. After 10 to 15 years, ivy changes its propagation strategy to flowers with berries and seeds. The brown foliage is a result of drought stress in winter. If no snow cover provides valuable moisture during severe frost and the winter sun is shining at the same time, a lot of water is lost through the warmed leaves. The roots cannot supply any supplies from the frozen ground, whereupon the foliage dries up. After a while the plant regenerates by itself. If you are bothered by the brown leaves, you can cut off the tendrils in question.

When does ivy stop growing?

Ivy is rightly the floral synonym for eternal life. The evergreen climber never stops growing. The plant tirelessly reproduces and rejuvenates through its aerial and adhesive roots. Older plants supplement their spreading strategy with flowers in September and October, which transform into berries with seeds.

I want to green the 2 meter high concrete wall at my garage entrance from above. The wall is mostly in the shade and only gets a little sun in the afternoon, so I have my eye on Hedera helix. Does ivy also grow downwards?

Hedera helix prefers to grow upwards and is difficult to convince to let its tendrils hang down. The loquat (Cotoneaster dammeri radicans), which is just as hardy and shade-tolerant as ivy, has no objection to a hanging growth, is better suited for the project.

Does ivy in the balcony box need winter protection?

Hedera helix planted outdoors is usually very hardy and does not require any protection. In the balcony box, on the other hand, the roots are vulnerable to severe frost. If the thermometer falls permanently below -10 degrees Celsius, we recommend a warming protective jacket. Wrap the box with foil, fleece or simply old sacks. If the winter sun shines directly on the evergreen tendrils in frosty temperatures, a shading net is helpful. Heavily heated ivy leaves evaporate abundant water, while the roots in the frozen substrate cannot absorb moisture and the plant dries up.

The 3 most common mistakes

Even experienced home gardeners rub their eyes in amazement when ivy suffers from sunburn or frost damage after a cut. The climbing plant is not completely indestructible, because the following 3 cutting errors cause unexpected damage that is easy to avoid.

Cutting errors	Damage	prevention
cut in frost	frozen back tendrils with dead leaves	never cut at temperatures below - 3 degrees Celsius
cut in blazing sun	exposed leaves with sunburn	always cut in overcast weather
never cut and planted without a climbing aid	Damage to the facade and walls	Plant with a climbing aid at a distance of at least 5 cm from the wall and prune regularly

Violent coughing and itchy skin are also common problems after an improper ivy pruning. Without respiratory protection, tiny parts of plants can get into the lungs and trigger the annoying urge to cough. If the plant sap comes into direct contact with your skin, excruciating itching is inevitable. Please do not pick up the scissors until you have put on a respirator, gloves and long-sleeved clothing.

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Tips

Ivy likes to grow under dark wooden cladding. Even the eaves are not safe from the green tendrils. Install a sheet of metal at least 15 centimeters wide that points outwards and downwards at an angle below the endangered eaves. This barrier cannot be overcome for ivy drives. Attach the sheet metal so that it fits snugly against the house wall and is at least 30 centimeters away from the roof.