How to Grow Ivy on a Stucco House

Install a mesh or wire grid trellis on one wall of the house. Some trellises come with built-in hardware that may be hooked to the top of the house and secured to the ground; others need to be buried several inches into the ground 2 or 3 inches away from the wall. Alternately, you can bury wooden stakes in the ground and wrap wire mesh around and between them to create your own trellis.

Place the trellis on the east-facing wall of the house if possible. Northern walls may be too shaded to support ivy growth. South- and west-facing walls may reflect sunlight in winter, causing unseasonal warming of the plants which then prompts out-of-season growth.

Plant the ivy at the center base of the trellis. As it grows, the plant will spread up and out until the entire trellis is covered and hidden.

Wrap vines around the trellis as they begin to grow. Hold wayward vines in place with string or twist ties. Secure the vines loosely to avoid cutting into the plant and damaging the outer protective membrane. Eventually, foliage will hide these tied areas.

Check the vine every week during early stages of growth to ensure the tendrils are wrapping around the trellis and not stretching toward the wall. The soft, malleable tendrils of ivy plants will harden and turn woody with age, effectively locking the vine into position, so place these tendrils carefully to train the vine.

Prune the vine regularly every year, in late winter or early spring, to keep it away from the wall and prevent it from growing out of the bounds of the trellis. Cut away any dead or damaged growth. Cut the stems and tendrils as heavily as needed to maintain the shape you want. Most ivy can take very heavy yearly pruning.