When you’re getting ready to plant ivy, spacing is everything. Whether you’re looking to cover a house wall, mark a property line, or just fill in some garden beds, you need a plan. The big question is: how fast do you want that lush green coverage? Here’s a quick guide to getting your spacing just right.
Getting Your Spacing Right the First Time
Before you grab your shovel during planting season, make sure you’ve mapped out your distances. Ivy is a bit of a homebody—it really doesn’t like to be transplanted once it’s settled in, so it’s best to get it right from the start.
Spacing for Ground Cover
Ivy is a fantastic ground cover, especially for those tricky shady spots where nothing else seems to grow. It actually prefers the dark over intense, direct sunlight. If you want a solid green carpet within a single year, aim to plant your ivy about 10 inches (25 cm) apart. Closing those gaps quickly is a great strategy to keep weeds from moving in while the ivy establishes itself.
Spacing for an Ivy Hedge
We all want a privacy hedge that fills in overnight, but remember: ivy is in it for the long haul. If you pack the plants too tightly, they’ll start competing for space, and you’ll find yourself pruning constantly just to keep them in check. For a healthy, manageable hedge, a wider spacing of about 14 to 18 inches (35 to 45 cm) is usually the sweet spot.
Ivy on Walls and Fences
If you’re looking to cover a house wall or a garden wall, one plant can often do the trick. However, if you have a wide area you want to climb, space them out based on the size of the nursery plants:
- Small plants: Space them about 20 inches (50 cm) apart.
- Larger plants: Give them about 3 feet (1 meter) of breathing room.
Most gardeners plant ivy right up against the base of the wall so it can use the structure as a climbing aid immediately.
Pro Tip:
To keep your wall from looking like a solid block of green, try mixing in some color! Ivy looks stunning when paired with flowering climbers like clematis or climbing roses.
Distance from the Neighbors
Be a good neighbor and think twice before planting ivy right on the property line. You could run into two issues pretty quickly: ivy is a vigorous grower and can start acting like a weed if it wanders into the yard next door. Every vine that touches the ground will try to take root and start a new plant.
While regular trimming keeps it under control, you need to be able to reach all sides of the plant to do it properly. Make sure you leave enough space—about 3 feet (1 meter) from the boundary—so you can get back there to maintain it.
