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Quick ivy question

B3B3 Posts: 27,505
in Plants
I'm pruning back badly overgrown ivy to the fence. It is not my intention to kill it!
I am assuming that regrowth will only occur from the branchy bits rather than the rooty bits. Am I right?
In London. Keen but lazy.
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Posts

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @B3 It will regrow from everywhere that you have cut it back to the fence. It will also regrow at the base sending up some new shoots won't be a big problem. Hope this helps.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    If you don't want the roots to regrow in certain areas @B3 it would be best to remove them.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • WAMSWAMS Posts: 1,960
    It will always be with you
    You will never be without it
  • WoodgreenWoodgreen Posts: 1,273
    If you mean shoots that run along the ground, rooting as they go @B3, then you need to make sure you're not just pulling the trailing shoots up and leaving little growing points on any roots that get left in.
    Loosen the soil around them and grasp the growing point firmly to pull it up.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Thanks all. It's hiding an ugly fence so I want it to grow back.  I know it'll take a while to green up but I've regained a lot of flower bed . I put it off too long but the garden is looking so bad with the drought, a rooty fence isn't going to make it  look much worse.
    Good to know it sprouts all over, though. I know many of you won't appreciate this aspect😉
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I am pleased to say I have got rid of one on a wall. Replaced it with Tetrastigma objectum. Not completely hardy but has been fine on an east facing wall for four years.I don't think it likes to be too wet but the wall seems to takes care of that.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    That's a nice plant but the ivy is holding up next door's rotten fence so removing it entirely wouldn't be an option.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @B3 I think there must br thousands of Ivies up and down the country that are holding fence panels together. It takes a couple of years for it to put down roots and by the time it has got to the top of the fence it needs replacing.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    When my daughter removed some ancient ivy, the fence behind just crumbled into dust.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    When we pruned the ivy too hard the whole fence collapsed.

     Ivy is one if those that “layers”, so it can quickly put down new roots from strands lying on the ground. 
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