How Fast Does Ivy Grow on a Fence? (Growth Factors to Know)

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Having a fence around your garden is a great idea. Not only does it offer greater privacy, but a tall fence also protects your garden against wind and other elements.

However, having a boring fence around your garden could actually have a negative impact on the aesthetic appeal of your property.

Instead, one of the best things that you can do is to add a vine that is going to grow over the fence. This will add a much better look to the fence and make it easy for you to maintain the aesthetic appeal of the property.

For instance, if you have a chain link fence around your garden, covering it up with ivy is a fantastic idea.

Chain link fences are so common because they are relatively inexpensive and are also easier to install. If you have a chain link fence around your garden, covering it up is important, and adding an ivy to your garden is a great way to do just that.

Ivy grows rapidly on all kinds of fences, and it won’t be long before the plant takes over the entire fence.

TheEnglish ivy is fast becoming a popular choice for people who want a plant that is not only good-looking, but one that is also versatile. The English ivy can be grown in a standard pot, or you can care for it and turn it into a wall climber.

Furthermore, the English ivy is widely regarded as one of the best plants for purifying the air around your property.

If you were wondering just how fast the ivy grows on your fence, you should know that it’s really quick. In fact, in one year, this plant can grow up to a maximum length of nine feet.

However, after planting, you should know that the plant will take at least a couple of years before any kind of significant growth can be seen.

To encourage growth and make sure that the plant rises up quickly, you might want to look at a series of steps on how to care for the plant.

Appropriate changes and adjustments will have to be made on your care routine, and you will also have to consider adding fertilizer to your plants from time to time.

The Growth Rate

One of the things that you should know is that the English ivy has a variable growth rate. Compared to other vines and plants, this one grows much faster, but like all other living things, the growth rate primarily depends on a myriad of different factors.

The plant tends to grow slowly in its first year, though you will notice a marked increase in the rate of growth by the second year.

By the time the plant enters its third year, it will fully reach its rate of hitting nine feet per year. Needless to say, you will want to take appropriate steps to care for the plant. If you don’t, the rate of growth is going to slow down again.

Obviously, with the right amount of care, you can make sure that the ivy takes over your entire fence within a few years. It’s also a pretty beautiful sight.

Now, let’s talk about the different factors that are going to influence the growth rate of your ivy.

Growing Conditions

Like all other plants, the conditions in which the English ivy is grown will play an important role. It is recommended for you to make sure that you tick all the right boxes and make sure that all of the needs of the plant are met so that it is able to grow quicker.

There are several important requirements that you need to think about, so let’s talk about them one by one.

Watering

Water is an essential requirement for all living things, and the ivy is not an exception by any means. If you want the ivy to grow properly, it is recommended that you water it on a regular basis.

You should know that your watering routine is going to vary based on the growth of the plant.

While the ivy is still relatively young, you have to make sure that the soil remains moist at all times. This means you have to regularly check the soil and make sure that it doesn’t go dry.

If the soil remains dry for long periods of time, you should know that it’s going to have a dire impact on the growth rate of the plant.

But, once the plant has been established, you might want to wait it out until the soil dries out completely before watering the plant again. This is important because the soil is going to turn marshy very quickly, and it won’t be long before the plant succumbs to root rot.

While the ivy is generally pretty hardy and quite resilient, constantly being in marshy soil could have a negative impact.

Potting Soil

The kind of soil in which the ivy is grown also has a major impact. To aid in the growth of the ivy, you have to consider making use of well-draining soil.

As mentioned above, these plants do not do well in compacted or marshy soil. That is one of the main reasons why you have to consider using well-draining soil.

Organic matter such as compost is a fantastic choice and the plant is going to do really well in this kind of soil. Furthermore, you should know that it’s also going to prevent root rot in the plant because excessive moisture will be allowed to escape.

Also, you should make it a habit to aerate the soil at least once a month to make sure that all excess moisture can be released. This is also going to improve the rate of growth of the ivy.

Light

The plant also requires adequate amounts of light. However, you should know that the ivy does not do well in excessive sunlight.

Ideally, you should give the plant moderate to full shade because that is what the plant requires to grow at its own pace. These plants are not really demanding and will do just as well in standard sunlight.

Ideally, if the plant gets around two to three hours of sunlight in a day, it’s going to grow normally. Excessive sunlight could cause sunburns to the plant and also restrict the growth, so you have to consider that as well.

Temperature

The ivy is quite hardy and can easily survive in all kinds of temperatures. However, the ideal temperature for the plant is between 15°C and 25°C. You will notice an effect on the growth of the plant based on the differences in temperature.

For instance, when the weather is cold, you will notice a significant reduction in the overall growth speed of the plant.

One of the things that you should know about this plant is that it grows very quickly, and that means you need to learn a thing or two about pruning and gardening, because they are incredibly important for appropriate care. If you don’t, it won’t be long before the vine spreads all over the garden.

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