It is cruel to take a wildlife heaven area of Ivy currently buzzing with bees, butterflies, and birds, and make it a sterile area with a useless rose rambler. Butterflies and bees come to the Jasmines even more than to the Ivy. And the heavenly scent is so beautiful.
I love roses, but I grow them as proper bushes of limited size here and there. A whole, currently beloved wildlife area like a fence needs to be protected and enhanced for beautiful bees, butterflies, and birds.
What a beautiful space, @Fire. We were both sorting out our gardens at the same time I started this one in 2011/12, The roses will look lovely there, ramblers grow so quickly, I love all the pots you’ve got there, it’s a very interesting space. I’m sure the OP will get some lovely ideas from your achievements.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Thanks @Lyn. It's always surprising to me how fast I forget how I used to grow and all the things I have tried to grow; the phases and seasons. It's almost like it's someone else's garden, when I look back at photos. It's a tip I have certainly gained from this forum to take loads of photos in every phase. It's frustrating that I have few pics from the first years. Come and visit if you are in London, though I doubt there is much to tempt you east.
I've just ripped out a load of ivy too. I had to replace fence posts, so it was the ideal opportunity. If it isn't arboreal, it has little use for pollinators, and they have loads of other sources in my plot, so it's not benefiting many species and compromises better plants. Plenty of other places for the wildlife here too.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Ivy is very good for wildlife, but it is invasive and the root system is detrimental for the other plants. I have 2 areas of ivy. Birds love it and, like somebody said here, the later autumn flower heads have smaller bees buzzing all around at a time when flowers are scarce, allowing the bees to stock up for the winter. So, it is lifesaving for them. I have put up a nest for my robin in there.
I am worried about invasion from the ivy that is on the closer wall, and I am doing this now -- replacing parts of it with Jasmine Officinales as I cut down parts of it. It is not fast, but slowly and steadily the bits I am worried about are being replaced.
And I am always pulling up and clearing small ivy shoots from all areas of the garden.
I prefer not to have ivy in a boarder hedge that I plant beneath, due to its tendency to run. I think its like most things, right plant, right place, I let it ramble over the shed as the bees love it when it flowers and its a wonderful environment for bugs and birds, so I'd never get rid of all of it. But the aim for me is to keep it away from less robust plants that could get swamped by it.
I know what you mean @WonkyWomble. We have so much in nearby hedges etc, that it isn't needed in the garden. There's a lovely bit just at the entrance to the NT garden along the road. Just about flowering now, which is quite early. I had lots of different things which made life easier when I was working full time, but I don't need that now that I'm retired. I was twiddling my thumbs a lot The mice found it a bit odd that their 'cover' was suddenly not there for accessing the feeders, but they adapt very quickly. Plenty of other stuff for them to climb up though. Root barriers are certainly the easiest method of keeping it in check, but once it's established, it can be easier said than done.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
I love roses, but I grow them as proper bushes of limited size here and there. A whole, currently beloved wildlife area like a fence needs to be protected and enhanced for beautiful bees, butterflies, and birds.
The roses will look lovely there, ramblers grow so quickly, I love all the pots you’ve got there, it’s a very interesting space.
I’m sure the OP will get some lovely ideas from your achievements.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-joy-of-jasmine-in-summer-wlg0wtr8t
I keep meaning to give you a couple of small links about the rewilding projects up here, so this is a good opportunity. I know you're very interested in it all
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/news/rewilding-in-photos-more-scottish-landowners-join-northwoods-network/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-58663615
I've just ripped out a load of ivy too. I had to replace fence posts, so it was the ideal opportunity.
If it isn't arboreal, it has little use for pollinators, and they have loads of other sources in my plot, so it's not benefiting many species and compromises better plants. Plenty of other places for the wildlife here too.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I am worried about invasion from the ivy that is on the closer wall, and I am doing this now -- replacing parts of it with Jasmine Officinales as I cut down parts of it. It is not fast, but slowly and steadily the bits I am worried about are being replaced.
And I am always pulling up and clearing small ivy shoots from all areas of the garden.
The root barrier is a great idea.
I had lots of different things which made life easier when I was working full time, but I don't need that now that I'm retired. I was twiddling my thumbs a lot
The mice found it a bit odd that their 'cover' was suddenly not there for accessing the feeders, but they adapt very quickly. Plenty of other stuff for them to climb up though.
Root barriers are certainly the easiest method of keeping it in check, but once it's established, it can be easier said than done.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I love ivy, but practically speaking it's in a category with things like oak trees- wonderful when wild, but doesn't always work in the garden 😆