Contradictory information on ground cover plants...

[Anonymous]

My yard backs to a weeded alley full of poison ivy (public land no one takes care of). They grow so fast and have invaded the adjacent area in my yard (6' off the fence, sloped down towards the end). I'd like to have this area protected by some kind of ground cover to ward off these bastards.

The landscaping company recommended pachysandra, vinca, and english ivy. They all look pretty but a quick search returned rather conflicting and confusing information. Some love them and some say they are no less than a PITA than poison ivy... I'm a total newb to gardening and completely lost here - should I go for one of them, or should I consider something else? I saw people recommend phlox but also say they don't grow fast enough. What's your opinion/experience?

[Anonymous]

I don't know about English Ivy fending off the poison ivy, but there's nothing wrong with an area of English Ivy. It's gorgeous. Just a PITA if it's choking trees and climbing up your brick walls.

[Anonymous]

Do not plant any of those things. You need a native ground cover. Just google.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do not plant any of those things. You need a native ground cover. Just google.

Agree. They are all invasive. Don’t do it.

[Anonymous]

They are all useless suggestions. I just moved into a house filled with pachysandra and I’m in the process of removing it. The ground cover alone will not protect against weeds though. I have plenty of poison ivy growing in the middle of mine.

[Anonymous]

Oh no, those are all trash - countering invasive things with more invasive things! Google or check in with a more reputable landscaper or garden center that focuses on native plants.
I’ve heard of this place, but have never been there myself: https://www.laurensgardenservice.com/native-plant-infomation-and-shopping/

[Anonymous]

Smart of you to get another opinion! I am trying to remove vinca and English ivy and both are a pain and invade the rest of the yard from my neighbor. I think you might regret planting them.

I'm looking into native ground cover myself
https://extension.umd.edu/resources/yard-garden/native-plants/native-groundcovers

https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/habitat/wagroundcovers.aspx

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Smart of you to get another opinion! I am trying to remove vinca and English ivy and both are a pain and invade the rest of the yard from my neighbor. I think you might regret planting them.

I'm looking into native ground cover myself
https://extension.umd.edu/resources/yard-garden/native-plants/native-groundcovers

https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/habitat/wagroundcovers.aspx

PS yes poison ivy is native but it's problematic in a yard, so I get it, op.

[Anonymous]

Why don't you work on killing the poison ivy?

I live in the burbs. Between houses on my side of the street and those behind us is an alley that's the remnant of a lane that went to a farm house when this was farm land. It's not owned by anyone anymore and not maintained.

Several time in the spring/summer, I mow the weeds and spray the poison ivy. Been doing it for years and there's hardly any left. I don't get it growing in my yard any more - haven't for a long time. But, if I don't spray every year, it quickly comes back.

[Anonymous]

^^ PP here. Forgot to mention that I haven't found anything that will choke it out. When we moved in, we had it growing in both vinca and English ivy before we got rid of them.

[Anonymous]

We have pachysandra and don't find it invasive--if it goes beyond its border, it's easy to trim or pull out. But I'm not sure if it would ward off poison ivy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have pachysandra and don't find it invasive--if it goes beyond its border, it's easy to trim or pull out. But I'm not sure if it would ward off poison ivy.

+1. I don't find pachysandra to be a problem at all. It's one of the only things that can help suppress weeds on my steep slopes.

[Anonymous]

Foamflower is a native and it's seriously gorgeous. Flowers forever and the sugar and spice variety I got has variegated foliage. I have only had it one season so I can't attest to hoe quickly and well it fills in though.

[Anonymous]

Poison ivy is sneaky - if you have a bed of English ivy it will just sneak in and then you won’t be able to see it but if you go to weed…now you’re itchy. You could keep a strip of land mowed between your beds and the fence with the poison ivy - basically a grass moat.

I don’t use round up for anything…but poison ivy. Paint it on carefully and you don’t have to use much at all. I would do that, and then plant whatever you want in your yard. The ground covers won’t prevent the poison ivy from getting in.

[Anonymous]

Anyone telling you to plant English ivy is a complete idiot. It’s an invasive plant and there are now many volunteer groups working to eradicate it. Hire a new landscaper.