English ivy - Ask Extension
I have English ivy ground cover under three blue spruces. If I keep the IVY from climbing the trees is it still detrimental to the trees to have it gr...
Knowledgebase
English ivy #870373
Asked May 28, 2024, 9:38 AM EDT
I have English ivy ground cover under three blue spruces. If I keep the IVY from climbing the trees is it still detrimental to the trees to have it growing on the ground under the trees? It does make an effective ground cover.
Carroll County Maryland
Expert Response
English Ivy kept on the ground is not detrimental to your spruce trees but it is detrimental to the environment overall.
It is a lovely groundcover but it is an invasive nightmare that shows up in our natural areas which climbs and smothers trees while also densely covering the forest floor, displacing the native species that should be there and co-evolved over eons with our other flora and fauna which support each other.
Here is our page on English Ivy and possible replacements:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/english-ivy/
Christine
It is a lovely groundcover but it is an invasive nightmare that shows up in our natural areas which climbs and smothers trees while also densely covering the forest floor, displacing the native species that should be there and co-evolved over eons with our other flora and fauna which support each other.
Here is our page on English Ivy and possible replacements:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/english-ivy/
Christine
