need ivy/ground cover recommendations

15 years ago

I am renovating a trailer park about 25 miles south of Youngstown. Got most of my big trees in the ground and am now turning my attention to other problem areas.

The property is on a hill and there are cut banks where I'm having erosion problems. This is due to kids running around where they shouldn't be and really heavy rainstorms. Anything I put in must be able to handle some foot traffic, allow spring bulbs to come up through it, spread on its own but not be invasive. Full sun to slight shade and I'll water the plants only for the first year. Soil is pretty clayey but most everything I plant seems to grow well.

I've never really worked with ground covers before so here are my questions:

1. I've seen ivy used in such situations and it looks like a good option. However, it can be a little boring. Are there ivies that have small leaves and perhaps more interesting colors than just basic green?

2. I'm open to other recommendations as long as they are meet my requirements.

3. Where can I order these plants? The local nurseries are limited in what they stock so I buy about 80% of my plants online.

Thanks for your help.

Rolf

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Comments (3)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
15 years ago
I hesitate to recommend English ivy for any purpose. While it may not be invasive in your location, it is extremely so elsewhere plus it tends to provide virtually ideal habitats for rodents and is often dense enough to prevent any other plants from emerging. Fancy leaf or variegated forms of ivy tend to be not as hardy as the straight green species nor as vigorous and often revert back to the species.

I'd consider Cotoneaster dammeri as a better solution. Excellent on slopes and for erosion control. More of an airier habit and structure, attractive, easy to maintain and allows smaller plants and bulbs to emerge unobstructed.

Here is a link that might be useful: recommended groundcovers for Ohio
Trill
15 years ago
Don't know if this would work for you, but I have a simular problem, and someone suggested native grass. You can sow wildseeds with the grass or at a later time along with bulbs. There are some really nice grasses available that add different textures and colors to the landscape. Look at outsidepride.com for several different options for ground covers and grasses. They offer a low growing native grass that I think I am going to try to help with our erosion problem. I want it tall enough to blow in the wind, but short enough to allow flowers to show. Hope this helps! Good Luck!
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joanicole
15 years ago
I have ivy that is old, congested and has a thick layer of roots, (some are 3" thick) covering a steep bank near my driveway that seems to be effectively keeping erosion under control. It is visible as you drive up to my house, and it has looked very bad the last couple of years because the roots show through and the green is spotty and appears dry despite adequate water.

It is very invasive but I don't want to try to replace it.... too much work! I just want to make it look better so I've cut off the surface layer and my helper and I are hacking at the roots to try to thin it out.

I expect it will come back and look better this summer. Please advise if there is anything I should do. Wish I could post a photo but I don't know how.

Thank you, Joan from Ashland OR