6 ivy garden ideas for endless evergreen appeal
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Once the bane of gardeners everywhere, ivy garden ideas are rapidly becoming this season’s plant du jour – and it’s not hard to see why. These evergreen beauties lend themselves beautifully to all of our favourite zen garden ideas.
Ivy is able to thrive in both sun and shade, making it ideal for even notoriously tricky north-facing gardens, and it can tolerate extreme temperature hikes, too, adding some glossy greenery to our outdoor spaces even in the depths of winter.
Better still? Ivy can be used in so many ways, be it in your garden borders, as part of your Christmas hanging basket display, or using one of our genius ivy garden ideas below…
The best ivy garden ideas
Ivy garden ideas have certainly been given a boost of late – especially as gardening guru Monty Don has cited the evergreen among his favourite garden plants.
‘I like ivy as a garden plant and there is no need to fear it,’ he writes on his popular blog. ‘It is one of our very few native evergreens and has many virtues that every gardener should nurture.’
Where to buy ivy:
(Image credit: Getty Images/Colin McPherson)
‘Ivy provides really important winter cover for insects, birds and bats, all of which are an important part of a healthy garden filled with beneficial wildlife,’ Monty continues.
‘And it flowers very late in the year so is one of the prime sources of nectar for autumnal insects; honey made from ivy flowers has a particular crystalline quality that is delicious.’
Hey, if it’s good enough for Monty, it’s good enough for us! Without any further ado, then, here are our favourite ivy garden ideas…
1. A living wall
(Image credit: Getty Images)
If you’re looking for living wall ideas to create a stylish vertical garden, look no further than the humble ivy plant.
‘Living walls make a fantastic garden feature, especially for smaller outdoor spaces and gardens where the vertical planting will make the most effective use of the space available,’ says Morris Hankinson, director of Hopes Grove Nurseries.
Morris Hankinson is the founder and managing director of Hopes Grove Nurseries Ltd, the UK’s only specialist grower-retailer of hedging plants, which he established after graduating with a Commercial Horticulture Degree from Writtle College, Essex in 1992.
‘There are many ways of creating your own living wall display, usually with modular systems that can be fixed in position, but ivy is a brilliant option because of its climbing nature,’ continues Morris.
‘Ivy not only gives your living wall a beautiful, vibrant green colour but it also helps you add privacy to your garden and limit wind/noise.’
2. Winter pots
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Oh yes, you’d better believe your ivy garden ideas should include popping this evergreen in pots.
‘Ivy is an absolutely excellent spiller plant for your winter pots,’ promises award-winning garden designer Zoe Claymore.
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