Hi all,

I'm completely new to anything gardening-related (I'm a bloke) so I'm sure
this will be blindingly obvious to nearly all of you! I'd appreciate any
advice at all.
Anyway, I'd like to cover a wall with ivy because its very ugly, and I like
greenery in general.
Would you generally use a trellis to avoid damaging the wall, and to ensure
the ivy grows the right way (ie. up!)
There is very limited light in this corner - but ivy isnt fussy is that
right?
How would I get it started? Would I need a grow bag? Or would a pot do? Do
you buy "Ivy seed"?
Oh gawd perhaps i should just call my mum...!

Thanks,
Dan.

In article , dg wrote:

I'm completely new to anything gardening-related (I'm a bloke) so I'm sure
this will be blindingly obvious to nearly all of you! I'd appreciate any
advice at all.

Despite the fact that I learnt gardening from women, I claim to be
male. This is not rare on this group :-)

Anyway, I'd like to cover a wall with ivy because its very ugly, and I like
greenery in general.
Would you generally use a trellis to avoid damaging the wall, and to ensure
the ivy grows the right way (ie. up!)

No. Ivy is self-clinging. It doesn't damage walls to a significant
degree.

There is very limited light in this corner - but ivy isnt fussy is that
right?

Right.

How would I get it started? Would I need a grow bag? Or would a pot do? Do
you buy "Ivy seed"?

A good sized pot (12"+) will do. And you typically grow it from small
plants in pots, or places where it has layered itself.

Oh gawd perhaps i should just call my mum...!

Only if she is a gardener :-)


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

On 27/10/04 11:43 pm, in article , "Nick
Maclaren" wrote:

In article , dg wrote:
snip Oh gawd perhaps i should just call my mum...!

Only if she is a gardener :-)

No. No. No. It is *always* a good idea to call your mum. Trust me. ;-)
If she doesn't know, she'll know a someone who does etc. etc. DG - call
home! ;-)
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message
...
In article , dg wrote:

snip
Would you generally use a trellis to avoid damaging the wall, and
to ensure
the ivy grows the right way (ie. up!)

No. Ivy is self-clinging. It doesn't damage walls to a significant
degree.

........ if they are modern walls constructed with good cement.
Older walls with soft crumbling mortar are much more at risk.

--
ned

http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk
last update 15.10.2004

In article , dg writes
Hi all,

I'm completely new to anything gardening-related (I'm a bloke) so I'm sure
this will be blindingly obvious to nearly all of you! I'd appreciate any
advice at all.
Anyway, I'd like to cover a wall with ivy because its very ugly, and I like
greenery in general.
Would you generally use a trellis to avoid damaging the wall, and to ensure
the ivy grows the right way (ie. up!)
There is very limited light in this corner - but ivy isnt fussy is that
right?
How would I get it started? Would I need a grow bag? Or would a pot do? Do
you buy "Ivy seed"?
Oh gawd perhaps i should just call my mum...!

Ivy is self-clinging - there's absolutely no need for a trellis - the
ivy will go where it pleases.

I'd be apprehensive of allowing ivy to get among the roof tiles, and be
warned that once established it *will* get to the roof with no trouble.
I've just removed my ivy because the annual chore of cutting it back
discover the windows is something I don't want to be doing in the
future.

If you do want to go ahead, buy a small pot of an outdoor ivy from a
garden centre, and remember it will take a year or two to get going
really well.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

"Kay" wrote in message
...
In article , dg writes

Oh gawd perhaps i should just call my mum...!

Ivy is self-clinging - there's absolutely no need for a trellis - the
ivy will go where it pleases.

Ivy is the evil spawn of the devil. It will consume your home by stealth.

Use something else that has pretty flowers and, ideally, edible fruit.

--
Brian
Henry Fielding: "All Nature wears one universal grin"

In article ,
"Brian Watson" writes:
|
| Ivy is the evil spawn of the devil. It will consume your home by stealth.

Showing at your local cinema now.

| Use something else that has pretty flowers and, ideally, edible fruit.

Hmm. Have you ever seen Wisteria, Vitis, Actinida, Campsis,
Hydrangea petiolaris, Clematis montana and so on after a few
years of neglect?


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message
...

In article ,
"Brian Watson" writes:
|
| Ivy is the evil spawn of the devil. It will consume your home by
stealth.

Showing at your local cinema now.

| Use something else that has pretty flowers and, ideally, edible fruit.

Hmm. Have you ever seen Wisteria, Vitis, Actinida, Campsis,
Hydrangea petiolaris, Clematis montana and so on after a few
years of neglect?

Have you seen ivy after ONE?

--
Brian
"Reality rarely lives up to TV, usually because reality has a smaller budget
and the opportunities for retakes are minimal."

"Sacha" wrote in message
k...
On 27/10/04 11:43 pm, in article , "Nick
Maclaren" wrote:

In article , dg wrote:
snip Oh gawd perhaps i should just call my mum...!

Only if she is a gardener :-)

No. No. No. It is *always* a good idea to call your mum. Trust me. ;-)
If she doesn't know, she'll know a someone who does etc. etc.
I know the feeling. I'm a mum.

In article ,
Brian Watson wrote:

| Ivy is the evil spawn of the devil. It will consume your home by
stealth.

Showing at your local cinema now.

| Use something else that has pretty flowers and, ideally, edible fruit.

Hmm. Have you ever seen Wisteria, Vitis, Actinida, Campsis,
Hydrangea petiolaris, Clematis montana and so on after a few
years of neglect?

Have you seen ivy after ONE?

Frequently. And after five, too. It is nothing unusual.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Brian Watson wrote:

| Ivy is the evil spawn of the devil. It will consume your home by
stealth.

Showing at your local cinema now.

| Use something else that has pretty flowers and, ideally, edible
fruit.

Hmm. Have you ever seen Wisteria, Vitis, Actinida, Campsis,
Hydrangea petiolaris, Clematis montana and so on after a few
years of neglect?

Have you seen ivy after ONE?

Frequently. And after five, too. It is nothing unusual.

Ssh! We have a pod person in our midst......

--
Brian
Henry Fielding: "All Nature wears one universal grin"

"Nick Maclaren" wrote
, dg wrote:

Anyway, I'd like to cover a wall with ivy because its very ugly, and I like
greenery in general.

Totally agree with all Nicks said :~))

I love ivy and have several varieties in my garden.
There is a nice site with loads of (mad!) info and pictures at:
http://www.eastcheam.co.uk/

Jenny

"JennyC" wrote in message
...

"Nick Maclaren" wrote
, dg wrote:

Anyway, I'd like to cover a wall with ivy because its very ugly, and I
like
greenery in general.

Totally agree with all Nicks said :~))

I love ivy and have several varieties in my garden.
There is a nice site with loads of (mad!) info and pictures at:
http://www.eastcheam.co.uk/

Correction to my previous post: "Ssh! We have TWO pod people in our
midst......"

--
Brian
Henry Fielding: "All Nature wears one universal grin"

In article ,
Brian Watson wrote:

Correction to my previous post: "Ssh! We have TWO pod people in our
midst......"

What's a pod person?


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Brian Watson wrote:

Correction to my previous post: "Ssh! We have TWO pod people in our
midst......"

What's a pod person?
Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

I'm sooooo glad I'm not the only one not to know !!

Turns out to be a book/film. A reviewer on Amazon says, "Pod People, a foreign
rip-off of E.T".

I (as a Sci fi fan) am ashamed to say that I've never heard of it, and my local
library does not seem to have it......

Jenny