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mnfe2

Ground Cover options?

mnfe2
13 years ago

I have not done a lot of gardening, as we fairly recently bought our first house. There is ivy in a small bed in front as well as under/on the trees in the front yard. The ivy has grown up the brick on the house and chimney. There's evidence that it was removed once before, all the way up. I want to eradicate the ivy. I think it's destructive and we have a tendril that's found it's way into the basement.

I'd like to remove the ivy as much as I can and then plant some new ground cover where it is in order to (try to?) compete with the ivy. From looking at pictures, I think it's English Ivy. We have small children so I'd prefer to avoid strong chemicals, where possible.

Any suggestions? I've tried looking up my zone and I get anywhere from 7-9, I'm about halfway between Renton and Issaquah. I'd like something low maintenance, preferably that flowers. Our soil has a LOT of rocks in it, but otherwise feels pretty sandy under the layer of top soil the previous owner put down. The area I'm looking to start with is pretty defined and contained (the ivy hasn't escaped from it yet, anyway). I wouldn't mind something growing up our brickwork as long as it's safe and doesn't promote pests. The mortar was recently tuckpointed so it's in good shape and we want to keep it that way. We also have a lot of deer around, so something they don't like and is pretty shade tolerant. The spot I'm starting with is partial sun, but I'd like to eventually get rid of the ivy under the trees as well.

Oh, and it should have blue flowers. Per my daughter. :)

I have a ton of other questions too, like how to get rid of the dandelions that have taken over our lawn (I think it's about 50% weeds) without using harsh chemicals. :) I figured I'd start with this one because the ivy bothers me more than the dandelions do.

Comments (13)

  • dottyinduncan
    13 years ago

    Welcome to gardening! It's a hobby (passion) that is wonderful. You are right to start with the ivy. It is a REAL nasty and very difficult to eradicate. When it climbs up something, it gets flowers, then seeds then spreads everywhere, which is what you have got. I'm sure others will have great ideas on how to get rid of it, but I know it is tough. But, while you are working on this, make sure you have somewhere in the garden that is easier, and more fun -- perhaps a little veggie garden?? It would have to be fenced from the deer though. Good luck.

  • Embothrium
    13 years ago

    Find your zone with this.

    Here is a link that might be useful: WASHINGTON USDA Hardiness Zone Map

  • buyorsell888
    13 years ago

    Round Up is not as harsh as many think and repeated applications are going to be required to kill ivy which is a noxious weed here.

    My DH kills dandelions with a welding torch. Weed n'Feed type fertilizers/herbicides are a lot harsher on the environment and hazardous to people and wildlife/pets than Round Up is. I would not use them though they will work.

  • Embothrium
    13 years ago

    Not sure I'd want to expend much of the expensive glyphosate (RoundUP etc.) on ivy.

    Check label directions, see if ivy is mentioned - and how to use it for that. With woody weeds, blackberries for instance, there may be a certain time of the year only when spraying of glyphosate is recommended.

  • gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
    13 years ago

    It takes some elbow grease but the best way to remove ivy is manually. Because of the very waxy cuticle covering the leaf, it is difficult (often impossible) for standard herbicides to have much of an effect. Typically the recommendation is to cut back the top growth and then paint the herbicide directly on the exposed stems. But that takes repeated applications and time :-)

    Blue flowered groundcovers suited for part shade are not all that plentiful. I'd look at some of the creeping campanulas, Veronica 'Georgia Blue', ajuga (bugle weed) or vinca. Or you can use low spreading perennials that can act like a groundcover.......creeping woodland phlox, hardy geraniums, pulmonaria, etc.

  • Embothrium
    13 years ago

    Vinca certainly grows well in this area.

    Too well.

  • mnfe2
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    Thanks for the suggestions. I was able to spend a couple of hours working on the ivy patch, and got about half the vines and some of the roots out. I think the most concerning roots are going to be the ones right up against the house, I think that's where the plantings were started. It's not a huge patch so I think manually will be best for now.

    I did discover that there is more terracing in that little area than I thought. The lower part has a retaining wall, but there were THREE very narrow terraces hidden under the ivy instead of a natural slope like I thought we had. So I'm rethinking the straight groundcover and I'm thinking about planting a small perennial garden. I love peonies, I just don't know if that area gets enough sun. If we go with the groundcover option, creeping phlox was one of the ones I was looking at. If it's not too invasive I might use it for the parts that are hard to reach (right above the retaining wall). Once we're farther along with the eradication I want to go to a nursery and look at the options in person.

    Anyone have any experience with Squak Mt. Nursery?

  • reg_pnw7
    13 years ago

    Manually is the best way to get rid of ivy. Roundup can work, but I've used Roundup to kill weeds coming up through desired ivy so you can see it will be tricky to kill the ivy. You mow the ivy first, then spray the new growth, repeat process as necessary. No I think you're doing it the right way by digging it out.

    Creeping phlox is pretty when in bloom but only then. It can look pretty bad in winter. Vinca is about as noxious as ivy. It does at least bloom, and it doesn't spread as fast, but its roots are a lot more pernicious. If you have shade in this bed, it's probably not sunny enough for peonies.

    I'd consider planting low growing shade shrubs here, like azaleas, dwarf rhodies, skimmias, sarcoccocas, leucothoes and hydrangeas. You could plant shade perennials in parts also, like hostas, epimediums, dicentras and pulmonarias.

  • botann
    13 years ago

    Vinca, in the right location is fine, but there is no right location for Ivy.

  • gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
    13 years ago

    Amen :-) I've grown vinca in various locations without problems. And if growing where not wanted, it is far easier to remove than any ivy I've ever encountered. I'd just avoid planting it adjacent to any natural area but in a controlled garden setting, no worries.

  • dottyinduncan
    13 years ago

    I have just planted iberis, aubretia and alysium (basket of gold) along the top of a brick wall. They are already looking very pretty and even though they are spring flowering, they bloom for months here. Would these plants work in your lowest narrow terrace?

  • stolenidentity
    13 years ago

    Squak Mt. Nursery is a wonderful place. I've spent a good amount there, of time and money.

  • tallclover
    13 years ago

    I'd say forget ivy, it's hugely invasive in the PNW. Go with periwinkle, Vinca MAJOR for a strong grower, one that is easily contained by edging or mowing. Vinca minor stays low to the ground, while Vinca major stands tall at about 20 inches creating a deep sea of green--and it is evergreen.

    Here is a link that might be useful: VINCA MAJOR -- as seen in photos around my property

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