Ivy has always embellished bare walls and creates a nostalgic flair. We show what you should consider when planting ivy.
Why you should plant ivy (Hedera helix) in your own garden? The evergreen tendril plant is so diverse that it simply deserves it. You can even use the plant to green the house facade or let it climb up trees. Contrary to the widespread view that ivy damages trees and facades, it only carefully sticks to it with its adhesive roots. There is usually no damage.
No matter whether as an opaque hedge, to beautify seating areas in the garden or as a special kind of houseplant - ivy cuts a fine figure in most places. It is extremely easy to care for and also evergreen. So if you want a versatile and fast-growing plant for your garden or room, then Ivy is the place for you.
Planting ivy: The right time
In theory you can plant ivy all year round. In winter this is not useful because of the frozen ground. The best time is in October, when the ground is still nice and warm and there are no frosts in the immediate future. Spring, at the beginning of the growing season, is also a good time to plant ivy. Choose a cloudy day for planting so the plant has some time to acclimatize before being exposed to full sun.
Planting ivy: The perfect location
Ivy grows in many different places. Actually, he doesn't like it too sunny, but even with that he gets along well. So whether in the shade or in the sun, the ivy will make the most of it. However, light variegated varieties tolerate direct sunlight better than plants with dark green leaves. The main thing, however, is that the ivy has it nice and moist. For this to be the case, it helps to create a layer of mulch around the plant. This keeps the moisture in the ground and doesn't evaporate as quickly.
You can use your ivy asKeep houseplants indoors too. Find out everything you need to know about it here.
Planting Ivy: Instructions
Planting ivy is fortunately not rocket science. Dig a hole twice the height and width of the root ball. Now loosen up the excavation a little and put some back into the hole. Place the plant on top of this so that the upper edge of the ball is flush with the surface of the earth. You should now distribute the remaining soil around the plant. Here you can work some manure, compost or long-term fertilizer such as our Plantura organic universal fertilizer into the soil. Finally, lightly press down the soil and water the whole thing.
You can find out how to plant your ivy as a hedge here.
Care for ivy after planting
If you have successfully planted the young plant in the ground, you should water it sufficiently for the next few weeks. It takes a while for the plant to build up a sufficiently extensive root network to be self-sufficient. In general, the ivy has to get going first. Young plants are not quite as fast-growing as is commonly known from ivy. Nevertheless, after two or three years at the latest, the plants really get going.
You can find more information about caring for ivy in this special article.