Did my ivy die this winter? (grow, tree, vines, yard)
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I have two tiered retaining walls that are hidden with ivy for the past 20 years or so. It has never been invasive because it's well contained and we trim it regularly. It's evergreen with only some of the top leaves dying each winter. This year, it looks like it's all dead. No matter how far I dig back into it, I see no green whatsoever.
Our winters in Pittsburgh are usually cold, but it was extraordinarily cold this year. I don't want to replant this. Very few things cover these retaining walls. I had beautiful verbena there, but it's not hardy enough for my zone and died after 5 winters.
I'm trying to decide if I should wait a month to see if there is any signs of life or if I should cut it back to the base in hopes it might revive itself.
Yes, it's English Ivy. Ours isn't invasive simply because we have it contained and trim it a few times a year. Ivy is only invasive if people don't trim it. It's really thick and deep---like a good one foot thick. Usually just the top leaves are dead in the spring. This year, it's dead all the way through. Being it's so resilient, it's hard to believe it could be completely dead, but we're not seeing any sign of life.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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If you see no green when cutting into the vines it's dead. Chances are it will re-sprout from the roots in the ground but you will have a mess for a few years if you don't remove all the dead stuff. We only got down to about 10F and only for a couple of days, but ours has plenty of new growth already.
I have a bunch of this in the yard here in Southeastern Michigan. With multiple days sub-zero and lows as far down as -20 I noticed the same thing. The ivy that was buried in the snowpack is fine and green. The exposed ivy is brown and looks dead. We'll give it a few weeks and see what happens.
I have two tiered retaining walls that are hidden with ivy for the past 20 years or so. It has never been invasive because it's well contained and we trim it regularly. It's evergreen with only some of the top leaves dying each winter. This year, it looks like it's all dead. No matter how far I dig back into it, I see no green whatsoever.
Our winters in Pittsburgh are usually cold, but it was extraordinarily cold this year. I don't want to replant this. Very few things cover these retaining walls. I had beautiful verbena there, but it's not hardy enough for my zone and died after 5 winters.
I'm trying to decide if I should wait a month to see if there is any signs of life or if I should cut it back to the base in hopes it might revive itself.
My ivy has done the same thing! I have a post next to our house, that has English Ivy covering it, and I keep it trimmed. The ivy is perfect there, and has been there for about 15 years. It looks really dead right now!!! This is Delaware. I think I'll wait a month, then cut it down and plant a climbing rose there.
I have it in my tree beds and mine doesnt look to good so far either. I want it to be invasive and grow like crazy, since it is around our 3 tree beds and here in the city we need something that is basically people proof....
I planted it 3 years ago and to me, it should have taken off better. i am a little dissapointed because i see other homes that have it and it is rampad, and thats what i want.
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I have a post next to our house, that has English Ivy covering it, and I keep it trimmed. The ivy is perfect there, and has been there for about 15 years. It looks really dead right now!!! This is Delaware. I think I'll wait a month, then cut it down and plant a climbing rose there.
