Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Can I put ivy branches at the bottom of my raised bed without risk of them propagating?

aidanking00aidanking00 Posts: 12
in Plants
Hello, 

I'm building 60cm high raised beds on concrete. I cut down loads of ivy branches about 10 days ago and they have filled our compost bins since. The leaves are still green but have started to look a bit wrinkly. I would love to put them at the bottom of the beds before filling with topsoil to get rid of them and I'm not sure I've got enough topsoil.

I was wondering if anyone could advise as whether there is any risk that they will root and grow up through 60cm of topsoil? It would be a real shame to go to all the effort of making raised beds for everything to then be strangled by ivy. 

Thanks, 

Aidan

Posts

  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Hello Aidan, Personally I wouldn't risk it. Ivy is notorious for rooting from tiny pieces and it's not worth the risk.  
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906
    Hello aidanking. Don't do it - its odds on it will grow.
    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • aidanking00aidanking00 Posts: 12
    Thank you very much for your answers! I am sure you're right. I won't risk it
  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906
    You're very welcome.
    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    I would put it in there, sandwiched between layers of cardboard so it doesn't touch soil.  Put down cardboard, throw a ton in there, put down more cardboard, then your bedding soil.  It will compost down by the end of summer.  
    Utah, USA.
Sign In or Register to comment.