Would I plant ivy under my hosta...no. However, almost my entire back yard was woods with ivy when we first moved in to our house. About four years ago I also saw a beautiful hosta garden that was planted with ivy underneath and that began my hosta obsession. I've found that if you just pull the ivy from directly around the hosta...maybe a few inches...it's easier for the eyes to pop up in the spring. Make sure you mark everything by the fall with plant markers and you shouldn't have any trouble when things start coming out in the spring. That being said, it's best to buy hosta that grow taller so you'll be able to see them above the ivy!

Roundup will kill the ivy and you can go around your hosta and keep it back. Just lift the hosta leaves a little and spray.

My ivy had to go. Hostas don't have a chance with ivy around unless you are constantly ripping off the new growth. It's too much work, when you can have the same effect with something that doesn't suck up all the nutrients. I use lysimachia nummularia, the golden cultivar and it looks beautiful. I've seen others use creeping myrtle, and even creeping juniper with excellent results.

Thank you. I am basically too lazy to keep it in check - so it will all have to go. I planted ONE small ivy plant (about 5") about 3 years ago - and it's already spread the entire lenght of the side of my house and spread the entire width of the bed. It's like "the ivy that ate Cleveland" or something.

My older 2 sons are working on their Family Live Merti Badge for Boy Scouts. Once of the requirements is to do a project that will benefit their family. HMMMMM, I think I have a project in mind...ripping out that ivy!

I found that to be true about the Hostas and the Ivy I planted. The Ivy looked realy nice, but then my tulips were not the same this yr. Most did not come up and when some did, they looked terrible. It was as if - everything I had planted were saying- HELP- I am Chocking Here ! Gone with the Ivy.

Pat