88v8
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- Glorious Gloucs
Any wall plant requires maintenance. Left alone they do what plants do. Blame the owners, not the plant.
In our previous house I planted ivy Goldheart at the back. It beautified, it waterproofed, it covered the (inevitable) cracks at each end of the 9" cast-in-place lentils and the stainless straining wires I installed to restrain the cracked wall, it provided food and habitat. It also protected the garage parapet from the sun/consequent cracking which happened where the ivy was not, but not where it was.
Every year I cut the ivy to keep it off the roof and windows. I cut it just below the verge, by next year it had covered the verge and was a foot onto the roof, no harm done. Around the window it got an additional interim cut by leaning out.
Blame the owner, not the plant.
Caveats: It needs a reasonable climb area. I wouldn't plant it on cob. Or wattle/daub. Or where there is thatch. Or minimal foundations. Etc.
Ivor
In our previous house I planted ivy Goldheart at the back. It beautified, it waterproofed, it covered the (inevitable) cracks at each end of the 9" cast-in-place lentils and the stainless straining wires I installed to restrain the cracked wall, it provided food and habitat. It also protected the garage parapet from the sun/consequent cracking which happened where the ivy was not, but not where it was.
Every year I cut the ivy to keep it off the roof and windows. I cut it just below the verge, by next year it had covered the verge and was a foot onto the roof, no harm done. Around the window it got an additional interim cut by leaning out.
Blame the owner, not the plant.
Caveats: It needs a reasonable climb area. I wouldn't plant it on cob. Or wattle/daub. Or where there is thatch. Or minimal foundations. Etc.
Ivor
