Ivy is one of the plants that stand out in appearance, because its beauty is visible from afar.During walks in the park or villa estate, it is worth taking a closer look at the green shoots of the creeper that cover the walls and walls of houses, gazebos, pergolas and entwine tree trunks and branches.
Ivy climbs not only towards the sky.It works perfectly as a ground cover in shady places under trees and shrubs, where neither the lawn nor many ground cover perennials stand a chance. competition of trees with a shallow root system, e.g.birch or maple.
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Well-known view - ivy climbers climbing over the wall (Image: Fotolia.com) |
Partially creeping and partially creeping shoots create a beautiful setting for various decorative or construction elements, such as stone carvings or wall bases, adding a unique charm to older gardens.Ivy is perfect for covering many places of not very attractive appearance.
Long stems of this climber will easily cover dry corners under roof ledges, green steep slopes on the north side or braid the housing of garbage cans. Increasingly, ivy is used to create space-saving screening walls on trellises for vines, as well as to fill openwork wire mesh fences.
Protects? No harm?
Climbing up to a height of about 20 m ivy perfectly green the walls. Undoubtedly, this creeper can be planted next to undamaged walls with a solid surface.The plant protects them from moisture and soothes fluctuations in temperature.
If there are scratches or holes in the plaster or mortar, sticky roots easily grow into them, increasing the damage. In addition, ivy is not suitable for covering overhead surfaces, such as balconies or wide eaves.
In the early years, young ivy grows quite slowly. During this period, slender shoots need at least the simplest support, e.g. wooden scaffolding.With such help, it will be easier for them to climb upwards, clinging to the closest elements of the structure. even more. On his way to the clouds, he easily covers the high walls of the house, no longer needing any help.
Proven, strong and fast-growing varieties of Hedera helix ivy include: 'Plattensee', 'Wingertsberg', 'Thorndale' and 'Woerner'. Some varieties of H. colchica and Irish H. hibernica grow similarly high. These two species have less cut leaves, but larger ones. They are also less frost-resistant than common ivy. Frost on sunny winter days can harm climbers.Therefore, it is best to plant them in the spring or shade young specimens.Ivy prefers shaded places. Its shoots avoid the light and hardly grow near sunny walls.
Green walls for a good microclimate
Climbers covering the walls perfectly decorate the house. Ivy is green all year round, and the shedding wild wine turns beautifully in autumn. However, decorative qualities are not everything.Climbing plants on facades also improve the microclimate in the house and garden.
There is an isolated layer of air between the leaves and the wall. Its effect is stronger when the shoots of the plants do not grow right next to the wall, but with a slightly offset trellis. The effects of thermal insulation in winter are slight and it is difficult to even talk about measurable energy savings. In summer, however, the effect of the vegetation cover is clear.
The sun's rays do not heat the wall, but the plants. The leaves constantly evaporate small amounts of water, thus lowering the air temperature.Another advantage of green cover: plants filter dust and the smallest and most dangerous dust particlesDirt is deposited on the leaves and will be washed away by rain.
Green walls are a great attraction for animals. Under the cover of leaves, the birds find a safe shelter and accommodation, they can also nest here in peace.In autumn, they eagerly eat the tasty fruits of ivy or wild wine.During flowering, climbers are a source of food for many insects.
Many species of vines are used to cover the walls. For a long time, the most popular plants have been adherent to the wall, such as the Parthenocissus virginia creeper and the Hedera ivy, which is an always green vine that adorns the facades of houses also in winter. Vitis, Wisteria, or Fallopia knotweed can climb on trellises and various supports.
Scaffolding has the advantage that before renovating the wall, you can tilt it with the plants and put it on the ground.Supports for creepers are also mounted on walls covered with thermal insulation. Special systems used here protect the insulation against damage.
