The big disadvantages of ivy boil down to six core issues for most homes. The list covers invasive spread, tree damage, toxicity, pest hideouts, fire risk and pricey removal. Each one can hit your yard hard if you plant the vine in the wrong spot or skip yearly checks.
I bought a house with a heavy ivy carpet across the whole back lawn. The English ivy drawbacks showed up within the first month of yard work. Bare dirt under the mat, rats under the leaves and dead branches in two oaks.
Pull back any thick ivy patch and you find a wild zoo of critters. Slugs, rats and even snakes love the cool damp space under the leaves. My own patch held a mouse nest the size of my fist near the fence post.
The plant kills the grass and small plants under its mat by year two. No light gets through that thick green carpet to feed the roots below. You end up with bare soil that washes away in any heavy spring rain.
Here is the worst of the problems with English ivy for tree health. The Washington State NWCB notes vines can climb up to 99 feet (30 meters) on a single tree. That much green adds a heavy wind sail to the canopy of your oak or maple.
The added weight raises the chance of a blowdown in the next big storm. The aerial roots also dig into the bark and let in fungus and bugs. A healthy 50 year old tree can fail within a decade of heavy ivy growth.
Toxicity is the third big issue you need to think about before you plant. NC State Extension lists the plant with a medium severity rating for pets and people. The sap holds harsh natural compounds that can cause harm. One group is called saponin, found in the leaves and stems.
A curious dog or cat that chews a few leaves can throw up for hours. Skin contact with the sap causes rash and blisters for about 1 in 5 people. Kids who pop a berry into the mouth may need a quick call to poison control too.
Dry ivy on a wall or tree turns into a fire ladder in hot summer months. Flames climb the dead vine straight up the trunk to the canopy fast. Fire crews in California now name ivy as one of the worst home fuels on the list.
Removal costs hit hard once the vine takes over a typical lot. A pro crew may charge $500 to $2000 to clear a small backyard patch. The job takes hours of cutting, pulling, bagging and herbicide spray for the regrowth.
Pests find a five star hotel under any thick ivy carpet on the ground. Rats, ticks and mosquitoes all use the cool damp shade as cover. Tick numbers in ivy beds run three to five times higher than in open lawn areas.
The clear way to skip these English ivy downsides is to keep the plant inside. Pick a hanging basket or a tabletop pot in a cool bright room. Stay away from outdoor beds, tree lines and yards with pets or kids.
Indoor only, in a container, far from trees and pets is the safest setup. You get the lush trailing leaves with none of the yard chaos that comes later. Skip the outdoor route unless you plan to trim and check the vines each month.
Read the full article: English Ivy: Care, Cultivars and Caution
