How to Grow Ivy (Hedera)

Choose English ivy as a landscaping tool if you live between U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9. The species is reliably winter hardy through much of zone 5 and the warmer parts of zone 4. In the colder zones, place it where it gets some protection from winter winds, or the appearance of the vine suffers.

Locate your English ivy in moist soil to achieve the best results. English ivy is somewhat tolerant of drought, but the vine generates more vibrant foliage color when you grow it in a damp soil.

Plant your English ivy vines without worry about whether the site receives enough sunshine for the plant to develop. English ivy grows in full shade, partial shade and in full sunshine. The ideal site is partly shady, according to the University of Connecticut Plant Database.

Dig planting holes for your English ivy in a rich, fertile loam and place the plants in to the same depth as in their nursery pots. English ivy is adaptable though, growing in a variety of soil types. The pH level of the ground matters little, since English ivy grows in alkaline and acidic soil. English ivy is an option for planting close to roads and in coastal areas, since it displays some tolerance to exposure to salt.

Monitor the growth of English ivy when you allow it to attach to your home or other buildings. These vines have little trouble making headway into gutters, siding or other surfaces, where they may cause damage. Prune these “runaway” parts of the vine back using shears. Shear back English ivy when you employ it as ground cover by using the sharp end of a spade or pruning shears. Cut back the vine when it begins to overstep its boundaries and make its way into “unintended areas’” advises the Missouri Botanical Garden. The stems spread out and take root wherever they touch the surface when you trail English ivy along the ground.