Why is ivy bad when growing on the ground?
• Ivy provides nesting places for rats and other vermin. • English ivy’s shallow root structure makes it a poor choice for erosion control and it can contribute to erosion in some cases. • Ivy limits understory regeneration of native trees, shrubs and plants by blocking sunlight and shading out native plants. (i.e. No regrowth of native plants.) • Fast-growing ivy competes with native plants for nutrients and water. • Ivy changes the natural succession of the forest. If you look around your will see few young tree to replace the mature trees when they come down. Ivy also creates “ivy deserts”, where other plants, native to our environment, do not grow.
