A house wall covered in ivy is certainly very decorative. It ensures a good indoor climate in the house and offers birds and insects good shelter. In addition, you don't have to paint the wall and the facade is protected from unwanted sprayers. However, there are a few things you should consider before planting.
What should you consider when adding ivy to a wall?
When adding ivy to a wall, you should choose a suitable facade, inspect the wall for damage, cut back regularly and carefully plan the removal of the ivy. The landlord's consent is required for rental apartments to avoid damage.
Which walls are suitable?
Not every wall is suitable for planting with ivy. This is especially true for very light walls. Light colors reflect the light too much, causing the ivy tendrils to move away from the wall and the roots to hold on.
The facade should also have a slightly uneven surface so that the ivy can climb up it more easily.
Check the wall for damage beforehand
Ivy can cause considerable damage to a house wall or wall if the wall is damaged. If stones are loose, the joints are no longer tight or there is a lot of wood in the wall, the roots of the ivy can penetrate and widen holes and openings. This causes moisture to get into the wall.
So before you plant ivy on the wall of the house, examine the wall carefully and repair any damage beforehand.
Prune ivy regularly
Ivy begins to grow vigorously after a few years. The tendrils can grow up to two meters longer within a year. It often doesn't take long for the ivy to reach the roof or obscure windows.
You must therefore cut back ivy as regularly as possible. In particular, he shouldn't get on the roof, as he can easily lift roof tiles.
Ivy also forms shoots on the ground, so you have to regularly use scissors or pull out cuttings. This is especially true if the wall is close to a neighboring property.
Removing ivy from the wall
Ivy is not that easy to remove from a wall. To do this, you must carefully tear off the shoots from top to bottom. However, there are still traces left by the roots on the wall.
You can remove contamination with wire brushes or a high-pressure cleaner (€119.00 on Amazon). You must proceed carefully so as not to damage the masonry.
Tip
If you live in rent, you should definitely ask your landlord for permission if you want to add ivy to a wall. The damage caused by ivy can be quite expensive.