How to Prune a Hedera Ivy

Hedera helix, also known as Hedera ivy, English ivy and common ivy, grows and spread rapidly. This vine adds lots of greenery as a ground cover or climbing plant on a trellis, fence, tree or building wall. However, it can become invasive and damage the surfaces to which it attaches. Gardeners can prune Hedera ivy to keep it under control, although it grows back quickly without frequent pruning. This resilience can annoy gardeners, but it also means no worries about over pruning Hedera ivy.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning shears
• Hair pins or floral pins

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Cut the plant back to the desired size. Do not worry about overpruning or damaging the ivy, because it recovers easily. Cut the ivy just below the point where a leaf joins the stem.

   • 2

     Cut off any dead or damaged branches.

   • 3

     Thin tangled plants out by separating all the shoots, and cutting off all but several of the healthiest stems.

   • 4

     Pin a remaining healthy shoot down to the soil with a hairpin or floral pin by laying it flat on the soil at the base of the vine. Continue to pin the shoot down in a shape spiraling outward from the center of the plant. This technique fixes ivy plants that look overly leggy instead of healthy and bushy, especially potted plants. Pin down multiple stems to make the plant appear extra dense.