Ripping out English ivy

fuzzylogic

What to put in its place?

The ivy is currently located in a retaining wall against the front of the house that is about mid-thigh high, facing North. Very little to no sun.

Ripping out this evil crap is a pain, and so is keeping it controlled. I would like to put something in that is easily managed and non-invasive.

Thanks for any ideas!

ETA: I'm in Zone 7, Oklahoma. Drought-tolerant is nice

fuzzylogic

Another vine would be all right, just one that isn't as crazy as the ivy. We once had that stuff grow through from the outside to inside our house back home

alliapistor

I put liriope in place of mine when I ripped it out.  It does well in shade.  Is mostly evergreen.  And although it gradually spreads, it's not invasive.

Good luck pulling all of the ivy out!  It's a tough chore.  I also used a claw afterwards to drag through the soil to make sure that I got all of the runners.

FoxinFiji

We have creeping phlox and sedum growing on our rock walls.  The area with the sedum gets some direct afternoon sun though.  Pictures in blog of one of our rock walls with sedum. 

~NB~

How much time does it take to maintain the ivy? I ask because mine requires less time than many other things in my yard. I never water it, and only trim it a few times a year. This is why I haven't taken it out and planted something else- plus, it's evergreen, so I have my ivy when other people have nothing. It also won't seed unless you let it climb.

I'd be hard pressed to suggest something less demanding and lower maintenance. Good luck.

 

fuzzylogic

~NB~:

How much time does it take to maintain the ivy? I ask because mine requires less time than many other things in my yard. I never water it, and only trim it a few times a year. This is why I haven't taken it out and planted something else- plus, it's evergreen, so I have my ivy when other people have nothing. It also won't seed unless you let it climb.

I'd be hard pressed to suggest something less demanding and lower maintenance. Good luck.

 

The previous owners planted it, we think, to cover a strange spot on the house where it looks like there should be a window but there isn't. Then, they let it get out of control. I don't like ivy. It grows like crazy here and takes everything over, choking everything out, and I'm constantly fighting to keep it from growing up the entire front of the house and taking over my rose of sharon. It's a personal thing, I've never liked it, and the way it attaches itself to walls kind of creeps me out (all those little "feet"). I would rather put in something a little more manageable.