Growing English Ivy

English ivy, a European native, is a fast growing vine that can grow to a length of 20 to 30 feet. With patience, careful attention and creativity it is possible to turn English ivy into a living work of art.

By training English ivy onto a sculptural form, you can create topiary. The same technique, applied to a wall, trellis or fence is called espalier.

Before you embark on an English Ivy project, you need to understand that this plant is extremely aggressive. If you don't have the time or energy to keep up with English ivy, it will be happy to take over. The root structure will cling to any textured surface and once in place, it is hard to remove. Likewise, the stems of English ivy are quick to establish roots anywhere they touch the ground. If you're not up to the challenge but still want an ivy topiary, consider keeping English ivy in a pot well away from the ground and any structures.

Creating An English Ivy Topiary
A freestanding topiary is easily created using the following technique:

• Create a topiary frame out of stiff wire or wire mesh. Geometric shapes (globes, cubes, etc.) are popular, as are animal silhouettes. If you're not artistically inclined, you can purchase topiary frames at garden centers, antique shops or craft stores.
• After you've picked your frame, select a pot that is big enough to form a solid base. Fill the pot with potting soil to within three inches of the top.
• Fix the topiary frame in the container by burying the base securely in the potting soil.
• Plant three six-inch pots of English ivy in a triangle pattern around the base of the topiary frame. Try to get the longest tendril of each plant pointed at the frame.
• Wrap the English ivy tendrils up into the frame, securing loosely with twine, bread ties or craft wire.
• Trim back tendrils facing away from the frame so that the plant will devote more energy to the frame-tied tendrils.
• Water and fertilize the plants regularly.
• As the plant grows, continue to wrap the tendrils up into the topiary frame, trimming as needed to maintain the overall shape. Continue to remove outer growth.

An English Ivy Espalier
The trick to creating a decorative pattern on a wall or fence is creating a solid foundation for your English ivy plants to grow on. To create an ivy espalier, follow these steps:

• Create a pattern in the wall using galvanized nails spaced at two-foot intervals. Grids, diamond patterns and other regular shapes work best. Leave at least one inch of the nail projecting from the wall.
• Connect the nails with heavy gauge aluminum or galvanized wire. Wrap the wire around each nail and pull it tight to create tension between nails.
• Plant several English ivy plants along the base of the wall with the longest tendril of each plant facing the wall. Trim other tendrils back to encourage growth along the wall.
• Wrap the tendrils up into the wire, securing them loosely with twine or wire.
• As the plants grow, continue to wrap the tendrils up into the wire to fill in the pattern. Trim the tendrils as needed to maintain the design and trim lower tendrils that grow away from the wall.
• Feed your English ivy plants regularly to encourage the kind of growth needed to fill in the pattern.