Evergreen ivy is often grown in private homes and apartments. This is due to the fact that the plant does not tolerate winter well in open ground and dies in bad weather. But the florists of the southern regions can easily grow an amazing vine in their yard. This article talks about the varieties of the plant, its care and its features.
What is garden ivy, or Hedera
Many gardeners from a huge variety of plants choose ivy ordinary garden. It is used in vertical gardening; a hedge of vines looks beautiful.
For your information! Garden ivy - evergreen and hardy.
Experienced gardeners choose evergreen ivy specifically for landscaping.
Evergreen culture
Description and characteristics of evergreen garden ivy
Garden ivy is a perennial plant from the Aralian genus. Its curling stems with large aerial roots can grow up to 35 m. There are many species that differ from each other in decorative characteristics.
Leaves of various shapes (in the form of a heart, three-fingered, oval) are painted mainly in green shades. Sometimes red specks are found.
Popular varieties:
- Hedera Helix. Leaves are shiny with a white pattern, swamp green. The roots, like small suction cups, grab onto tree trunks or various vertical supports. It grows up to 35 m, looks good with vertical gardening, but is also planted as a ground cover crop. This variety is attributed to honey plants; white honey with mint flavor is formed from the plant’s flowers. He likes shady places hidden from the wind, and is frost-resistant.
- Colchis (Hedera colchica). A large crop growing to a height of 40 m. It has large leaves 25 cm long in swamp color, but there are also spotty ones. It does not tolerate frost. He loves fertile soil and dark areas.
- Crimean is very unpretentious in leaving. Likes moist soil and partial shade, but tolerates heat easily. This is a large vine, the stems of which grow up to 35 m in height. She has swamp green shiny leaves.
Care for young ivy
Known for shade tolerance, it quickly gets used to life as a groundcover. Located in the southern zones, it easily tolerates winter. But the farther north the territory, the higher the percentage of death, not only due to frost, but also due to high humidity, insufficient shade.
Note! To preserve ivy and facilitate care, planting is carried out in elevated, sheltered from the wind areas.
Variegated ivy
The first couple of years it grows not too actively, because young plants are planted in early spring, so that in the warm season they take root well. For propagation, plants take healthy shoots no older than 4 years. In this case, the ivy will take root quickly in the garden.
Pests and diseases
The main pest of the plant is a spider mite. When it appears on the stems, a spider web forms along which small bugs of light, yellow or red shades crawl. More likely to pick up a parasite in ivy growing in the sun. The tick can be removed by an actellik, which is bred in water according to the instructions and sprayed on the leaves 2 times a week. The procedure must be repeated until complete removal of the pest.
Note! High soil moisture can cause ivy to infect the fungus. As a result, dark spots form on the leaves, they begin to dry out and fall off. In this case, you need to trim the infected leaves and stems, pollinate with fungicides.
A very high temperature in the building where the flower pot is standing can lead to the appearance of scabies. With its appearance on the leaves, a white coating forms, and then small sprawling yellowish dots, which lead to complete death of the leaf. In this case, the infected leaves need to be trimmed, and the plant itself rearranged in a darker place.
Ivy propagation by cuttings
Cuttings are considered the main method of plant propagation. The branches are very easily rooted, they are placed in an ordinary glass with water, which is periodically changed. There are other ways of reproduction (by seeds, bends), but it is the cuttings that are given most easily even to a novice in this matter.
For cuttings, it is best to take annual shoots. Both apical and stem will be suitable. The apical cuttings should be medium in size, the upper branches from 15 to 25 cm long are cut at an angle. On the cuttings, the lower pairs of stems are removed.
Pruning process
Rooting plant cuttings is recommended:
- in water;
- in a mixture of peat and sand;
- in a light mixture with a high sand content.
Note! Plant nutrition is added along with watering an adult bush. As fertilizers, a diluted mullein is suitable. You can apply complex dressing according to the instructions for use.
Winter preparations
In the regions of Central Russia there is a probability of plant death under the influence of low temperatures. Ground cover plants can be protected from frost by a good layer of mulch, and after the first snow - a snow cover about 35 cm high.
Important! With the advent of spring, the top layer of mulch is removed so that warm weather combined with high humidity does not spoil the shoots.
Problems in growing outdoor evergreen garden ivy
Although ivy is unpretentious, minor difficulties may arise with it.
If the stems on the plant begin to turn yellow, then it lacks moisture, and if the leaves begin to fall, then the air is very dry. To solve this problem, it needs to be sprayed periodically.
If ivy variegated garden needs the sun, then its bright leaves turn pale. To do this, transplant to a brighter place.
How to recognize diseases and notice pests
Although this plant is easy to care for, it can get sick very quickly. It is important to immediately see that the liana needs treatment, and to use all the methods.
Important! If a flower is attacked by pests or ailment, you need to inspect all nearby growing plants.
If the leaves began to turn yellow and dry, the problem must be sought in the overdried soil. If it is well watered, then in a week fresh leaves will begin to grow. If the greens are all opal at once, this means that the air temperature is not suitable for ivy. This can happen in the hot summer. Therefore, it is advisable to spray the flower every day with water at this time.
Disease defeat
Sometimes the leaves lose their color. The main reason is that the shrub does not get enough light. To solve this, you need to move it to a brighter place.
A plant growing in open ground cannot be protected from insect attack. Aphids, cyclamen mites are carried mainly by the wind. Seeing on the leaves, stems of pests, you should immediately begin processing. To exterminate them, the bush and all closely growing flowers should be washed with an actelik diluted in water, or karbofos.
How to plant street ivy on a site
Ivy is well established on a hill where there is no wind. You need to find a good place in the garden or at home where the flower will be in the sun.
He is afraid of winter frosts. But not only are they harmful to ivy, increased dampness is dangerous regardless of the time of year or month. Therefore, a place for growing is chosen where it is dry.
For your information! In open soil it grows slowly. In order for young ivy to become stronger before frosts, it is advisable to plant it in the spring.
If the soil for planting is very moist and loose, this will benefit ivy. It is very good when the soil contains a large amount of organic minerals. If the earth is of a different composition, then you need to mix the soil yourself and fill it in the pit for planting with a depth of at least 25 cm. Before planting ivy, you need to make a 2: 2: 2 mixture:
- soddy soil;
- peat;
- river sand.
Conditions for ivy breeding
For garden ivies, three methods of reproduction are used.
- cuttings;
- rooting of layering;
- separation of old plants.
Regardless of the breeding method, you need to follow some rules:
- when rooting cuttings, they need to be cut off from the ivy of perennial street;
- choosing branches, you need to carefully consider them: woody shoots with noticeable aerial roots sprout faster than very young branches;
- plant propagation is best done in the spring.
Important! Cuttings are the main method of ivy propagation.
Cuttings are an easy option to purchase planting stock. Some varieties of plants grow very quickly, that ivy will not even notice the pruning of several shoots.
Rooting ivy layering
Like other species, you can just plant seedlings. Vines on the ground can take root on their own. But you can help in this process and get powerful independent processes. The method of rooting layering is the most common when growing a plant as a ground cover. But it is suitable for those who need to get not the most massive amount of new ivy.
Wiping sheets
The rooting operation is as follows:
- powerful, flexible shoots of the plant below and around the perimeter are instilled into a small depression. Basically, long large shoots are taken to root the layering. Small cuts in the lower part of the branches accelerate the process;
- branches are fastened in the ground with a bracket and sprinkled on top of the nutrient substrate
- begin to water abundantly to maintain stable humidity.
After rooting, do not rush into the sedimentation of layering. In spring, young flowers are separated as independent bushes and planted in a permanent place.
Preparing for landing in the open ground
Before growing ivy, you need to perform the following preparatory steps:
- choose a suitable plant variety. Almost all species take root both in the shade and in the sun;
- find a suitable place for landing;
- water well before planting;
- dig a hole 20 cm deep;
- put in a hole so that the roots fit freely.
Ivy in the country
An ivy fence can be a beautiful backdrop for garden plants or a playground. Therefore, the choice of territory for landing should be treated very carefully. But first you need to buy seedlings.
Propagated by cuttings and layering. If it is impossible to take the cuttings, as well as make layering, then you need to buy ivy in the nursery.
Note! Large leaves and roots are a good sign of a healthy cuttings. If there is a distrust in the type of plant, then it is better not to buy it, since a diseased bush will not take root.
The right time to create a fence is from the beginning to the end of spring. Before landing, you need to make some markup and put the supports. Small trenches are made along the trellis. They should easily fit the roots. The earth inside each trench must be thoroughly loosened and fertilized with compost. After landing, you need good watering.
As it grows, it needs to be tied to supports. In the first summer, the whole fence will be braided, and a beautiful thick fence will be obtained.
Use in landscape design
Florists are constantly using the plant in landscape compositions at their dachas. Beautiful vines encircling various buildings and hiding the gray areas in the country, are a fabulous sight.
Hedge
Plants can transform an empty wall or gazebo. They grow well paired with conifers or bushes. Subject to the rules of cultivation and good care, young curly vines will decorate the house for many years. To ivy, which curls along the wall, pleasing to the eye, it must be periodically trimmed and disease prevention.
Combination with other plants
It grows very well and looks with various trees, shrubs. For decoration, you can plant next to fuchsia. But basically they plant it as a single plant.
How to get rid of the growth of creeper ivy garden evergreen
Many gardeners are faced with such a problem as the growth of ivy on a very large area. A fast-growing plant does not allow other flowers and shrubs to fully exist or braids coniferous trees. To remove the bush, you need to prune the stalk with the pruner at the base and root out the root. It is undesirable to leave cut pieces on the ground, as the bush quickly takes root and begins to grow.
Garden ivy is an unpretentious plant, but behind it you need an eye and an eye. Some varieties are winter-hardy, while others love sunlight. Each gardener will be able to choose the right option for himself.
