Town Crier Articles

Just Say “NO” to English Ivy in Your Flower Beds
Posted on September 1, 2026 6:42 AM by Gale Hyatt
 
We all know how pretty Ivy is!  However, do you know the reasons why it should not be planted or grown in New Town flower beds?
 
Ivy has several drawbacks that can impact your garden negatively. While English Ivy has traditionally been recommended as a fast-growing ground cover, that is precisely what makes it so bad in a flower bed.
 
English Ivy has been labeled as invasive in both the United States and Canada. THINK TWICE BEFORE PLANTING IT IN YOUR NEW TOWN FLOWER BEDS! 
 
Here are five reasons against growing English Ivy in your flower beds:
  1. Invasive Growth - Ivy can quickly overtake beds, choking out other plants, shrubs and disrupting the garden’s ecosystem.
  2. Structural Damage - When allowed to climb, Ivy can damage walls, roofs, and trees by weakening their structures. Ivy can ensnare trees snd shrubs.
  3. Maintenance Challenges - Controlling Ivy’s spread requires regular maintenance, which can be time consuming and costly.
  4. Pest Attraction - Ivy can attract pests like aphids and spider mites, which may harm nearby plants and shrubs.
  5. The plant will create such a dense carpet that it denies sunlight to other plants and can choke out other ground cover species entirely. 
 
If you'd like some alternate ideas on what to plant, consult this list of resources provided by the NTRA Landscape Advisory Committee. 
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