Ivy On Roofs

Ivy and walls seem to go hand in hand in landscape design but it takes a good bit of maintenance to keep it pruned and tidy.

Ivy on roofs.

It will be dusty anyway so make sure you wear a mask and gloves. Ivy holds onto a lot of water which can potentially cause damage to any timber elements of your roof structure and even brickwork. Department of agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 10 and you can get it to cover an exposed brick wall in just a few years but it s so simple. Two ivies often seen scaling buildings english ivy hedera helix and boston ivy parthenocissus tricuspidata climb via aerial rootlets and holdfast discs respectively.

Ivy does not stabilise sloped gardens because its roots are shallow it actually makes the problem worse because it smothers other deep rooted plants that would stabilise the slope. This is boston ivy or sometimes called japanese creeper. This will also give time for insects and other invertebrates living in it the chance to decamp. Cut all the ivy stems as close to their base as possible then leave a few weeks to wilt after which they ll be easier to pull off in bits as and when you have time.

The photo above shows the creeper in autumn with a rich red hue and dropping leaves. Boston ivy is fast growing and although the suckers do not actually penetrate into the wall they must be kept away from growing up to the roof level as they can dislodge gutters and roof tiles. Fill in the container with a mixture of 80 water and 20 white vinegar. Pull out and remove any dead ivy and re apply the same solution as much as needed.

If the clambering plant begins to cover skylights or any other windows you could find yourself suffering from a lack of natural light entering your home not to mention a reduction in the ventilation properties of your windows. The ivy brings with it its own problem yes it creeps under tiles and pulls them off allowing the rain in but it will also generate alot of damp and if not treated depending on your structure you. Ivy creeps into neighbouring gardens your home your roof and blocks guttering. Spray the ivy plants thoroughly making sure you don t affect any other plants you don t want to get rid of.

Ivy can transmit bacterial leaf scorch which threatens native elms oaks and maples. Crumbling mortar cracks and loose bricks can be invaded by ivy roots which can widen existing cracks and allow moisture to penetrate.