[Cob] Ivy on cob walls

[Angela Percival]

As a biologist I have to weigh in.  Ivy is a non-native noxious plant
species that can have very serious ecological impacts on other native plant
and animal species.  It is very invasive and almost impossible to eradicate
once it becomes established.  If you are a gardener and have familiarity
with it, you would never bring it to your property on purpose.

There are likely native species in every area that could serve a similar
purpose.

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/hehe1.htm


-----Original Message-----
From: Mary Hooper [mailto:mjhooper at trccomputing.com] 
Sent: Monday, December 01, 2003 10:28 AM
To: coblist at deatech.com
Subject: Re: [Cob] Ivy on cob walls

Speaking from experience: ivy is rambunctious--- it will not go where you
want it, but will go across the ground from your support to the wall of the
building, period. It also goes very far afield so you'll have to cut it back
often to keep it in bounds.

Besides, ivy is not native to many areas (maybe even the whole country) and
I suggest it is not something you want to import to your area if you don't
have it already. Just my ten cents worth......
Mary in NC
> sure, putting an arbor--or netting/strings on which to train annual vines,
> some feet out IS the way to both get the shade benefits and pretty much
> protect your mortar/brick/lime.  Although if it's permanent, it would
> probably be a good idea to go under there with pruning shears a couple of
> times a year.
>
>



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