Growing Plants Out of a Wall

[Chris]

English ivy can damage walls, boston ivy does not. That is the typical option for shady walls you wish to cover and what I would recommend.

[jbelak]

Can I start with seeds in the cracks of the walls or do I have to plant the ivy in a garden bed?

Thanks for you help

[gnandita1]

What I personally feel is that if you start with the seeds in the cracks of the garden then the walls may get damaged.

[jbelak]

I thought the same thing, thanks

[SageMother]

There are plants that can grow in basket of sphagnum moss. Attached to a wall, they would be stunning and might not cause damage. One of these types of plants might be a good alternative to vines.

[jbelak]

I live in Philadelphia and I'm afraid anything in a basket will not have enough protection from the cold winter.

[SageMother]

I live in Philadelphia and I'm afraid anything in a basket will not have enough protection from the cold winter.

Ouch, good point. What about pillars, that hold pots, next to the wall? They might add a little drama and you could install LED lights to create mood during the summer months.

[Rose White]

Can I start with seeds in the cracks of the walls or do I have to plant the ivy in a garden bed?

Thanks for you help

I had a plant growing out of my stone wall attached to my porch on my 100-year-old house and thought it was pretty cute until the wall fell down!

Rose White, author
"Easy Gardens A to Z"

[mom2manyboyz]

Chris:

I just wanted to thank you for this post. I am getting ready to buy some ivy this weekend to droop over a retaining wall on my berm home. Now, I know what type of ivy to buy.

English ivy can damage walls, boston ivy does not. That is the typical option for shady walls you wish to cover and what I would recommend.

[Green-Moo]

If you grow ivy in a bed at the base of the wall it is less likely to cause damage with it's roots.