How to Root Ivy and Create an Ivy Tree

A shaped ivy against a building is called an espalier.

Ivy plants generally grow rapidly, and you can quickly shape them into a tree form against the side of a building or trellis. Rooting the ivy involves placing the cuttings in water for a specific period of time, then selecting a planting spot that meets the light and soil requirements for the species you are planting. Once the ivy plant begins to mature, you can guide the vines into the tree shape against the support structure.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• Seed starting cell
• Soil-free potting mix
• Water
• Plastic bag
• Compost
• Shovel
• Colored masking tape
• Adhesive vine hooks
• 16 gauge wire
• Wire cutters
• Pruning shears

Starting the Cutting

1. Use sharp scissors to make a cutting of an existing ivy plant. Cut a 3 to 6 inch terminal piece of a new green shoot. The cutting should have three to four leaf nodes.

2. Fill a seed-starting cell with moist soil-free potting mix. Pull the bottom two leaves off the end of your cutting and insert the cutting 1 to 2 inches into the potting mix. Water until the potting mix settles.

3. Put a clear plastic bag over the potting cell and place it in a shady, warm spot. Leave the cutting for two weeks. After that time, open the bag. Leave the cutting this way for one more week, then remove the plastic bag completely.

4. Continue watering the cutting whenever the potting mixture becomes dry to the touch. After four to six weeks, the cutting will be rooted and you can transplant it outdoors after the last frost passes.

Transplanting the Rooted Cutting

1. Select a planting spot that has the correct sun and soil requirements for your ivy species. It should also provide a support such as a trellis or the side of a building.

2. Cover the planting site with a 2-inch layer of compost. Turn the compost into the soil at a depth of 12 inches with a shovel.

3. Dig a hole that is twice as wide as the ivy's current container, and just as deep. The hole should be as close to the support structure as possible. Remove the ivy from the seed starting cell and lower it into the hole. Firm the soil around the ivy and water until the soil settles.

4. Apply a 10-10-10 fertilizer to the soil around the plant after three months, according to the package directions. Repeat the application once a month during the growing season.

5. Apply a 1- to 2-inch layer of organic mulch around the base of the ivy plant. This keeps down weeds and help the soil maintain moisture.

Creating the Ivy Tree

1. Use colored masking tape to tape the shape of a tree onto the support structure next to the ivy plant. This can be any tree shape you want.

2. Press adhesive vine hooks into the tape every 8 to 10 inches. Tie the end of a 16-gauge galvanized wire to the hook at the bottom of the masking tape tree trunk. Thread the wire up through the rest of the hooks to create a wire support. Cut the wire into pieces with wire cutters if necessary.

3. Wind the ivy around the wire as it grows. Use pruning shears to cut the ivy back when it reaches the top of the tree shape. Cut back any vines that grow outside the tree shape. Remove the masking tape as the vines secure themselves to the wires.

References

• The American Ivy Society: FAQ
• Yardener; Planting English Ivy; Jeff Ball, et al.
• Home and Garden Ideas; How to Grow Ivy On Your Home; Dawn Marcotte; March 3, 2011
• Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade; Easy Ivy Espalier