Hedera (ivy)

Hedera (ivy)

The ivy is winter hardy and evergreen. And it has a lot of leaves. It therefore ensures a lot of privacy. And in winter you will have a beautiful, green hedge, while the rest of the garden may look a bit bare and therefore uninviting. Do you have a large garden or a very small one, this ivy really fits anywhere. Not only because of its appearance, but also because of its narrow habit. Really an ideal hedge plant.

Types of ivy

There are two types of Hedera:

Hedera Helix - also called the small-leaved ivy. In addition, the leaf is also slightly finer. And it looks a bit more elegant. The leaves are slightly darker in color. The Hedera Helix holds its leaves in the winter. And diseases? You will not have to worry about them with this ivy.

Hedera Hibernica - the Irish ivy has a lighter leaf than its brother or sister. During harsh winters it can lose a leaf here and there; but fortunately new leaves come out in the spring. This Hedera is slightly more susceptible to pests and diseases.

An easy plant. You can certainly say that about this Ivy Hedera. It does not really matter in what type of soil it is planted. It just likes to be in full sun, partial shade or shade. It really makes no difference. Therefore a perfect hedge plant for your garden.

Why choose an ivy plant?

• The Hedera is winter hardy.
• The plant is evergreen.
• You can plant it in any soil type.
• Place it where you want: in the sun, in the shade or partial shade.
• The ivy hedge provides a lot of privacy. Towards neighbors but also towards passers-by.
• You can prune the hedge plant well. Even very rigorous; yet it always grow again.
• It is very strong and therefore not very susceptible to diseases.
• The plant has a narrow growth form, which is good for small gardens.

When is the best time to plant a Ivy Hedera?

You can plant the Hedera all year round. The best time is from March to early October. During this period the soil is warm and the roots can develop fast. Keep in mind that ivy does not always grow at the same speed as others. The ivy grows fastest in the spring and the growth stops in the fall. If you want quick results, it is wise to put the plants in the ground before spring. This way the Hedera can grow all spring and summer.

How do you plant an ivy Hedera?

1. Make sure that the soil where you want to plant the hedge is weed-free.
2. Dig a straight trench about 1.5 times as deep and wide as the Hedera clods. Tip: stretch a rope before digging. This gives you a nice, straight hedge.
3. Put some cow manure pellets into the trench. The Hedera grows in any soil, but it can always use a little help.
4. Mix the manure with a little sand. The roots do not like it when they come into direct contact with the fertilizer.
5. Place the Hedera plants along the trench where you want to plant them. Are you satisfied with the distribution? Then place the hedge plants in the trench.
6. Fill the trench with soil. Press it down well.
7. Water the plants generously. Keep doing this for the next couple of days, so that the plant grow well.

Tips

Provide enough water, but not too much. Ivy Hedera does not like wet feet.

Once the ivy is growing, it grows up against, for example, a fence or mesh wall. But at the beginning, it definitely needs support from you. Braid the shoots in height and width by hand through the fence or mesh wall. If new shoots appear, you must also braid these. That takes some time, but you help the plant enormously with this. And ultimately you help yourself as well, because only when you take case of the ivy it becomes a beautiful, full hedge.

Placement

Only when it is freezing, you can’t plant an ivy. The rest of the year you can however. The plant thrives anywhere, in the sun, in the shade or partial shade.

You can keep 4 or 5 ivy plants per linear meter.

Advice & Care

• Give enough water, but not too much. Wet feet is no fun.
• Braid the plants and new shoots by hand through the fence or mesh wall.
• As mentioned, the ivy plant grows very quickly. So you should prune it twice a year to keep it in check.
• Preferably prune from March to mid-November.
• And please do not prune in bright sun, but in cloudy or even rainy weather. This way you prevent damage to the edges of the leaves.
• You can of course quickly prune with an electric hedge trimmer, but you will really get the best result if you prune the plants manually with a hedge trimmer or special pruning shears.
• When the hedge is fully grown, keep pruning the hedge in shape. This is also good against the lignifying. But it will also prevent damage to your house or other plants. The ivy likes to proliferate. With regular pruning you can keep this well under control.

Treating known ailments of the Hedera (ivy)

As we already wrote, ivy is a very strong plant. Only when it freezes harshly can this cause a problem.

Frost damage - once it has frozen considerably, the ivy may show brown leaves. You'll be fine, but be patient. Let the plants sprout first. In April or early May, new shoots or growth buds appear on the branches. At that point, you can cut off the damaged branches. After this, the recovery will start. It sometimes takes a while, but a Hedera always heals from someting like this.

Advantages and disadvantages of the ivy

Benefits

• The plant is evergreen.
• Hedera ivy is winter hardy.
• It is very easy; you can plant it anywhere.
• The ivy hedge quickly grows high and dense and provides great privacy.
• The hedge plant is easy to prune.
• It is very strong and therefore not prone to disease.
• The plant has a narrow growth form.
• You can prune it all year round.

Cons

• It can overgrow other plants.
• The plant leaves marks on your house, garage or fence.

Conclusion

Are you looking for an easy, evergreen hedge plant that quickly provides you with a lot of privacy? Then the Hedera is the perfect plant for you.
If you have any further questions, please contact us.