Monty Don Regrets Removing Ivy, Embraces It

0:00On April 3rd, Monidon, the gardening guru from Gardner's World, just admitted he regrets stripping Ivy off one of his walls at Long Meadow, his famous garden. He pulled it all off last winter when it got too wild, but now wishes he'd just pruned it back instead. People often bash Ivy for wrecking buildings, and Monty agrees it can grip onto rough surfaces with tiny roots. But he says the real issue is, when old, cracked render lets water seep in and removing the ivy yanks that loose stuff away. It's not the plants fault, it actually holds things steady. Ivy shines in the right spot, looking gorgeous on trees or ground cover, and it's a wildlife magnet with berries and shelter. Monty keeps it on other walls, and even pushes folks to embrace it over the bad rap. Looking back he'll let it regrow since the roots are still there. He stresses handling plants smartly pays off every time. Meanwhile, as spring hits, Monty's reminding us to ease up on mowing. Keep grass taller early on for healthier lawns and more buds for birds.

1:03Smart moves like that, keep gardens thriving.