Ivy pruning

hi all,
I have this area in my very small side garden with a lot of ivy. I’d like to trim it back and make the area at the base (on top of the wall) into a small bed. There’s lots of roots and shoots in here which look like they make take some shifting! Can I just take some electric trimmers and cut it like a hedge to take it back closer to the fence? I can see it from my sofa as u can see so that’s why I want to make it a bit more interesting. It doesn’t get much light except in the summer. Thank you from a complete novice

 

If it was me I would use secateurs on it rather than the electric option. Cut off the long bits then pull off the rest. It may put up a fight but will come off. Small bits may resist you but will come off. The exposed fence underneath may now be a shade darker than the rest of the fence.

You could plant something a bit more intesting in your planter that could climb up the fence . Maybe attach some wire to the rest of the fence that would allow you to grow more ...

 

Thanks. I want to keep the ivy on the fence as it provides privacy. I just want to take it back a little to create some room for the bed. I’m thinking about having the walls rendered to brighten them up a bit! Yes the planters are a left over from last year when I moved in! Not interesting at all! Thank you.

 

No worries. Then id use the secateurs to lightly trim it back,

 

Thank you. Trying not to kill anything lol

 

Hi @xantia,
We've got that on one of our conifers up the back from the root going up the stem besides stemming over the fence, a few times a year it's clipped and shaped back and it still keeps to the shape nice

 

I agree @WeeTam as that's what we use for ours

 

Great advice as always. What do you think would grow well there once I get it sorted? I read maybe ferns as it doesn’t get much sun? But I also want something to grow over the edge and fall down. Plus I’d like some colour too?

 

A jet wash should bring them up like new, then get some masonry paint if you want them a different colour, rendering can be quite expensive unless you can DIY and you gain very little on a garden wall.

 

You could always try these @xantia as the blue is striking

​

 

My hubby as just brought a new jet wash @martin-f plus the acid for the slabs...that's when the weather wants to alter

He got some artificial climbing plant in a roll the other day connected to plastic mess to stick up the back to block an area and it looks ok

 

if you should come across a good way of killing ivy, please let me know.
Hedge trimmers dont work.

 

@pete It can get annoying mate and way out of control and to where it's situated the growth speed can be quick...luckily for we it's just by the conifer

 

Oooo I like that. What is it?

 

Hi @xantia It's called Elijah Blue fescue grass and in april that's when the blue shows more..this is the blue in full colour

​