What's the best outdoor Ivy to cover a fence?

We have a 5 foot high fence that is chainlink / post %26amp; rail. I would love to grow ivy that would cover a portion of it. What is the heartiest and fastest growing outdoor climing ivy or other plant. It must NOT be toxic to dogs. Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge.

What's the best outdoor Ivy to cover a fence?
english ivy (hedera helix)



that's the common english ivy that grows like a weed attaching itself to whatever is around it (up, down, over, around!), is evergreen, has few issues in terms of pests and diseases and is non-toxic or harmful to anything.



it's used extensively in commercial plantings as they are so effective, look good (lush and green) and are tough and strong. full sun or shade, no problem. once established, they are drought and poor soil tolerant.



it's very cold hardy and can even withstand short periods of down to -12C/-10F.



it's available everywhere (often sold as part of an indoor plant arrangement) and can root from every node on it's stem.



get a few of those going and you'll be in business! just remember... over time it can become rather invasive but it's not difficult to maintain within the area you want it to be if you just keep an eye on it once in a while. prune off or redirect stems that go in the wrong direction and it should be the answer to your need to cover your chain link fence.



over time, it'll turn into a dense and lush hedge (if you let it) and you can trim it (if you want to) with hedge clippers.



there are other cultivars with various colour, leaf shape and growth rate differences. some are less hardy but still very good solutions but they probably grow a little bit slower. remember, if it's a variegated leaf you choose (white or yellow and green shades mixed) they require more light to keep their variegation true. in deep shade, they will just revert to solid green.



some options are:



hedera canariensis

hedera colchica

hedera nepalensis

hedera rhombea



hope this helps
Reply:I agree. English Ivy is great. I took a clipping from my English Ivy in the fall and potted it up so it would root over the winter in my basement. In spring I set it in the ground where I wanted it to grow. It has covered all of the ground and is 15 feet up a tree now. It's been a couple of years since I planted it. English Ivy roots easily. I'll take the pruned branches and just stick them in the ground in mild weather and they root up.
Reply:The fastest ivy is English Ivy and it will rapidly cover fences in about 1 year however it is much too vigorous for a small fence and there are other ivies which are also fast growing and more colourful such as hedera colchica variegata which produces flowers.

An alternative to ivy is the jasmine creeper known as jasminum nudiflorum which grows vigorously and produces many small yellow flowers in winter. It will thrive in almost any position of light and shade surviving even cold winters. It can be rooted from cuttings potted in firm moist peat and perlite in a greenhouse at 21 0c. Taking cuttings means that you do not have to buy the plant.
Reply:Wood and ivy fence will last long enough for the ivy to cover it and then fall down.

I would use chain link and something other than ivy, like Jasmine to cover the fence. You could put in the privacy slats until the "ivy" takes over. Ivy grows very fast and would need major pruning in about 3 years and heavy pruning every year after that. Cost vs beauty vs time age old questions for sure.

I have a chain link fence with Jasmine, and it took 3 years to cover the fence solid. It takes a little pruning each year to keep it looking real nice. Yes there are spot you could see through, just like a wood fence. But you could get tighter growing vegetation, or let it grow out more. Mine is by the driveway so it's keep pruned tight.
Reply:I like honeysuckle. Grows like crazy, green all year, incredible aroma in summer. Must keep an eye on it from spreading to where you don't want it.

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