How long should it take english ivy to grow up the side of a two story house?

Question

I am thinking of planting english ivy on the side of my house and it is a brick two story?

First will it hurt the brick?
and how long will it take to grow up the side very good?

Answer 1

In Zone 6 in Columbus Ohio it took two to three years for 5' staked 3gal plants to reach the second floor. You must provide support while waiting for them to attach themselves. I used masonry nails and copper wire. I managed this house with ivy for over 5 years after established and it looked great however it does require 2 or 3 thinnings a year to look its best. I kept it at 50% cover allowing the red brick to show thru. This was the north side of the house and indeed ivy on the south side suffered from die back most winters. Wholesale nurseries grow it already staked in the larger containers and these work well for starting. Saves you a year in my opinion.

Answer 2

I prefer Boston Ivy. That's what we have growing on the side of our two-story home. The leaves are big and lush green until Fall. Then they turn a crimson red and fall off the vine. It also bears little fruit (like blueberries) that the birds love to eat but they also attract honey bees late in the season for one to two weeks. Also, the little sprouts easily root themselves when they fall into fertile soil below--no need to purchase more. So far, there has been no damage to the mortar. The vine grows by sending out new sprouts that have tiny suction-cup like extensions on them (hard to completely remove, at times). I do have English Ivy in the backyard growing on a fence, and that grows a bit faster and spreads faster then the Boston variety. It does stay green to greenish-brown all year, maintaining its leaves. But I question how you will get the English Ivy to "hold onto" the brick to get started because they don't have the grasping little feet like the Boston Ivy does. On our fence, we had to tie a lattice work of plastic-coated wire (used for weed whackers) so the ivy could be manually twisted around the wire and tied on with soft ties. You might have to use a large trellis. As for planting either one: Start with some good, fertile soil and water when dry (once established). Space every foot or so apart for English; Boston grows into a tough, woody-like bush so they can be planted maybe four or five feet apart (one plant, over time, can cover a third of the house in five to seven years).

Answer 3

Ivy grows like a weed, but it will still take years to fill in. In my opinion it ruins the brick, the crawlers have a tendency to damage and crack it. However, it does look lovely. The choice is yours to make.

Answer 4

I tell ya' it'll take way more effort trying to remove it... when you decide you don't like it creeping all over your house, under the eves and into the gutters. Pruning ivy on a two story building is a nuisance...near impossible.

Answer 5

it wouldn't exactly hurt the brick, but it might take a few months or so.

Answer 6

all depends on your climate and what side of the house you plant on , not to mention soil conditions and the care you give it

Answer 7

geez if you really like it, it will cover the house soon. But on the bad side it will ruin the structure. ................