Buying a House - Ivy on the bricks

horrorhag

DaftyDuck wrote: »

I hate to be a spoilsport so late in the thread.......

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I really do...

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But...
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I see Virginia Creeper, not ivy!

Is that better or worse?

DaftyDuck

Better.

(The message you have entered is too short. Please lengthen your message to at least 10 characters...)

Actually, it was just the right length!

Lord_Baltimore

horrorhag wrote: »

Why only a month ago was it finally removed of the worst post code for insurance claims for burglaries.....

To be fair, the burglars have 'cleaned up' quite meticulously .

I think Virgin Creeper is a vine and there should be less problem with invasive roots.

DaftyDuck

Sorry, brief answer above, working, supposedly!

Virginia creeper is generally much, much less intrusive than ivy, and really isn't a problem if the bricks and mortar are in good condition. You do need to kep it trimmed away from the roofline, or it'll appear in your attic. It'll also harbour far, far fewer bugs, mites and spiders than ivy. It's deciduous, so most of the leaves will fall off in winter, meaning all the little pests peg out in the cold. With ivy, they'll hang on in there in the winter, multiplying away.

Very pretty plant, quite easily controlled. Nonetheless, expect your surveyor to moan about it, and do check that the root isn't near a drain, and hasn't caused any damage to the wall. Less likely than with ivy, but caution pays.

I have it over my garages (or I did until the drive was being done; it's in a pot at the mo) and it does look lovely.

Yorkie1

It turns a lovely colour in autumn, so it does!

cayennepepper

Virginia creeper grows superfast so it does need constant trimming in the summer months, but it is lovely in the autumn when the leaves turn red and the bark is quite pretty in the winter too. Its roots do not get into the bricks like with ivy, so it would not put me off at all. I had it all over my first house, I loved it. The new owners cut it right down and the walls underneath are in perfect condition.
By the way I would definitely trim it around the guttering and roof space or it will find its way into the loft.