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- Q.Overgrown Area - I moved into a new house recently and the garden at the front is overgrown with ivy, etc. I have ...
- Q.Climbing Ivy And Cordyline Plants - Both plants are 8 yrs old and over 7 ft tall. Their leaves have turned brown and dropped off, looking ...
- Q.Ivy - If I lay a blue plastic tarp over a yard full of ivy, will the ivy die off? Getting ready ...
- Q.Ivy As A Ground Cover - I want to get rid of my grass/weeds over a 6 x 30 ft area. I assume I have to ...
- Q.Ivy Frozen - My ivy grows on a trellis. It was really cold this year. The leaves look all brown and dead. It ...
- Q.Some Kind Of Plant In Our Garden - We have some kind of plant in our garden. It looks like an ivy and grows everywhere. I would like ...
- Q.Ivy Topiary - I have had two three-tiered ivy topiaries for 10 years. They have been low maintenance. They are always sheltered. In ...
Asked by
Anonymous on
February 21, 2014Q.Overgrown Area
I moved into a new house recently and the garden at the front is overgrown with ivy, etc. I have dug up some of the plants I want to save and will leave in the established large shrubs. I have scraped the top of the ground to clear area, but there is still a lot of ivy roots, etc. in the ground and it is heavy clay soil. As I have limited time, can I put down a membrane across the top of the ground (will it stop the ivy and weeds from engulfing everything)? Can I then cut holes in the membrane and replant the shrubs I have saved with better soil? Also, I was going to put wood chippings on the surface.
Answered by
Nikki on
February 21, 2014
Certified ExpertA.Yes, this sounds like a good plan. It is a common way to tackle large overgrown areas. Just make sure that you use cloth covering so that the water can get down into the soil. You may also want to lay down a few inches of compost or composted manure under the covering so that it works its way into the clay soil over time and helps improve it for your other plants.
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- Asked by
Anonymous on
February 28, 2014Q.Climbing Ivy and Cordyline Plants
Both plants are 8 yrs old and over 7 ft tall. Their leaves have turned brown and dropped off, looking as though they have died. Extremely cold winter, long spells below freezing. Will they recover?
- Answered by
Nikki on
February 28, 2014
Certified ExpertA.I am sorry to hear about your plants. It is difficult to say for sure if they will recover; however, these articles should help you: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/tips-for-saving-cold-damaged-plants.htm, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/how-to-tell-if-a-plant-is-dead-and-how-to-recover-an-almost-dead-plant.htm
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Anonymous on
March 25, 2014Q.Ivy
If I lay a blue plastic tarp over a yard full of ivy, will the ivy die off? Getting ready to landscape a yard in a few weeks and wondered if this would make pulling it easier.
- Answered by
Nikki on
March 24, 2014
Certified ExpertA.I'm sure this would help but it may only be short term. The foliage may die off but the roots beneath, though smothered, may return once the tarp is removed. This article provides alternatives for killing off ivy: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/groundcover/english-ivy/kill-english-ivy.htm
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Anonymous on
April 10, 2014Q.Ivy as a Ground Cover
I want to get rid of my grass/weeds over a 6 x 30 ft area. I assume I have to till, but is there any specific preparation I should utilize before planting the ivy?
- Answered by
Nikki on
April 10, 2014
Certified ExpertA.It never hurts to add compost or composted manure to an area where you will be tilling and making a new bed. Other than that, the ivy should do fine without anything extra being added to the soil. Make sure to keep it well watered for the first month or so to help it get established.
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
valwing on
May 11, 2014Q.ivy frozen
My ivy grows on a trellis. It was really cold this year. The leaves look all brown and dead. It has done well for the last 4 years. Don't know what to do.
- Answered by
theficuswrangler on
May 12, 2014A.The past winter was unusually hard, and you're not alone in finding your plants dead or severly damaged. Ivies are pretty tough, though. The most you can do is to cut back the dead parts, and see how the plants regrow. This article might have some ideas you can use: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/groundcover/english-ivy/english-ivy-plant-care.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
May 14, 2014Q.Some Kind of Plant in Our Garden
We have some kind of plant in our garden. It looks like an ivy and grows everywhere. I would like to know what it is and how to get rid of it.
- Answered by
Nikki on
November 30, -0001
Certified ExpertA.It could be lots of plants, but ivy (which has many varieties) and some similar looking weeds like creeping charlie are a few that come to mind. These articles should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/groundcover/english-ivy/kill-english-ivy.htm, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/weeds/kill-creeping-charlie.htm
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Anonymous on
May 25, 2014Q.Ivy Topiary
I have had two three-tiered ivy topiaries for 10 years. They have been low maintenance. They are always sheltered. In late April I noticed that one had almost died almost overnight - leaves completely dried and brown. The other one closer to the house had begun to turn brown on the lower tier at the back. I have repotted in larger pots with new soil and Miracle Qrow Quick Grow and worked with the roots to give more air. The first topiary seems to be greening a little on the bottom. But I have recently noticed white spots dotting the leaves. Help! Is there any hope? I have loved these guys and hope to be able to keep them. Is it hopeless? What can I do?
- Answered by
Nikki on
November 30, -0001
Certified ExpertA.It is likely scale or mealybugs. The treatment for both is the same, though I prefer using neem oil. These articles will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/scale-bug-how-to-control-plant-scale.htm, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/mealybugs-white-residue-on-plants-leaves.htm, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/problems/pests/neem-oil-uses.htm
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