How fast will Ivy grow across a walls ?

I am interest in the speed at which ivy on a wall will spread.

By way of a background I am considering growing it on a shed (Concrete) and wanted to know how long it would take to cover it..



My location is Ireland..



I appreciate that different types would grow at different speeds, but am looking for some indication.. I suppose I dont need a Mathematician but a gardener ! ;)



Cheers for your time in advance..

How fast will Ivy grow across a walls ?
Hello from Michigan,



Well I think you are familiar with English Ivy (Hedera)... it's an evergreen climbing vine. It will climb concrete or brick by the use of aerial roots. It's a pretty moderate grower.



Faster than that are Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia). These vines loose their leafs in the winter and have a beautiful fall coloration. They are related to grapes. They climb by the use of tendrils which have a sort of suction-cup and glue. Very easy to grow, great for attracting birds (they have a small grape-like fruit) and quick.



If you want something classy-er... I'd go outside the "ivy's" and head over toward Hydrangea's. Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomela subsp. petiolaris) and Japanese Hydrangea Vine (Schizophragma hydrangeoides) are great. They both grow using aerial roots. Neither like hot direct sun. They bloom in late spring and are truly amazing.



I disagree completely with "Lisa"... about the damage that vines can create. Studies show that vines do as much damage as average rain fall. Check out www.premiumplants.net They are regionally known growers of vines and groundcovers in our area. They have quite a bit of vine info.





I hope that this helps

Good luck-
Reply:not long it spreads and grows very quickly
Reply:I had ivy on a fence when I lived in NJ, we would cut it down every year and it always came back. Not only that, but if the wall is porous the ivy has little "legs" on it that dig right into the surface. Think twice before you plant it.
Reply:There's an old saying about English ivies:



1st year it sleeps,

2nd year it creeps,

3rd year it leaps!
Reply:Old gardener's adage on Ivy: the first year it sleeps, the second year it creeps and the third year it leaps.
Reply:Too fast here in Florida.

Are you sure you want an ivy covered structure? Despite the "Ivy League" universities here in the US [which have killing freezes yearly], ivy is NOT GOOD for your walls. It shoots little roots into the tiny holes in mortar and wood. As it grows it eats away at the building material. When you have to remove it, you can't just pull it out or spray it with weed killer. You have to cut or pinch it off at the edge of the wall. And each vine has hundreds, if not thousands, of roots.

If you insist on doing the ivy thing check out the link below.

Good luck!
Reply:oh, no. please dont! especially not Virginia creeper as suggested above, it is a real pest and will fill your garden. Your neighbours will hate you, I promise.



how about Clematis?



I wonder if you could spray the wall with liquid tomato fertiliser and grow a nice crop of moss and lichen?



Make/buy some solid wooden trellis in green and screw it to the wall. Grow Jasmine, clematis etc up this.



although if you do use ivy, the small garden birds will love it.