Garden

[Mominohio]

Having lived most of my life in brick homes, and being very fond of old brick homes, I'd never let ivy grow on the brick. I've seen such damage from it. Not a good thing.

[drizzellla]

When we bought our house, there was ivy growing up the brick on the front of the house. We had new siding put on the rest of the house. The guys doing the remodeling removed some of the ivy to put up the siding. The "roots" of the ivy also removed mortar between the bricks and cracked some bricks. We told the guys to just remove the bricks. We knew we would probably have a hard time matching the brick color.

I would much rather have the brick front instead of vinyl.

[mima]

LOVE ivy on houses, but DH says NO. It causes too much damage to the house and guttering and it is hard to kill when you decide you don't want it anymore.

[mima]

LOVE ivy on houses, but DH says NO. It causes too much damage to the house and guttering and it is hard to kill when you decide you don't want it anymore.

[Junker2327]

I am glad to know this about brick as I love the looks of it on a house too but no way now that I have heard this. My question is what about letting is grow up a big tree in the yard?

I love that look also but not sure whether to try that or not either.

Beckyblu

[Scooby Doo]

On 4/6/2015 beckyblu said:

I am glad to know this about brick as I love the looks of it on a house too but no way now that I have heard this. My question is what about letting is grow up a big tree in the yard?

I love that look also but not sure whether to try that or not either.

Beckyblu

I think it will eventually choke the tree and you won't be able to get the vines out the branches because they wrap around.

[granny me]

A friend of ours was told by their insurance agent to prevent the growth of ivy on their home. She was devastated as she had cultivated and trained it to vine, she was somewhat flippant and said she would pay the higher cost to have it.

[JustJazzmom]

On 4/6/2015 Scooby Doo said:

On 4/6/2015 beckyblu said:

I am glad to know this about brick as I love the looks of it on a house too but no way now that I have heard this. My question is what about letting is grow up a big tree in the yard?

I love that look also but not sure whether to try that or not either.

Beckyblu

I think it will eventually choke the tree and you won't be able to get the vines out the branches because they wrap around.

Trees breathe in through their bark and the ivy will block the tree from breathing and also prevent photosyntheis of the leaves if the ivy leaves take over! How many times do we see a dead tree with ivy all over it? Ivy is a parasite.

[stevieb]

It's a beautiful look, but does need then require maintenance down the road and removing it, should you ever decide you want to, will probably require a professional... I do, though, love the look.

[goodstuff]

Oh. My. Gosh. Danger, Will Robinson! Stop! Desist! Don't do it!

English Ivy growing up the side of a brick home looks romantic and attractive in pictures......but this stuff is almost as invasive and persistent as kudzu! It puts out runners that stick to the brick, can damage masonry, and are difficult to remove; it puts out a sweet sap that attracts ants, provides a privacy screen and habitat for vermin, and runs wildly up the walls, onto the roof and gutters, onto trim, behind shutters, around and onto windows, and (worst of all) into adjoining shrubbery and landscaping. If you plant English ivy, you will fight it for the rest of your life. The battle will be desperate, and you are likely to lose in the end. After a few years, you'll no longer know your house and yard as you knew them pre-English-ivy

Been there, done that, and swore never again. Take my word for it. Don't.