English Ivy Return

Q: I have a slight hill behind my deck. Long ago I planted English ivy, which has spread and covered the entire hill. I back up to a national park, and when I came back from out of town I found that the deer had nibbled their way down the hill until the ivy is almost gone. Will it come back?

A: I’d be surprised if the ivy did not come back. I would have thought it would be deer resistant but young deer will eat just about anything. Perhaps there are so many deer that competition for food has increased. Consider placing bricks in the area and spreading a layer of chicken wire over the whole hillside. Deer do not like unsteady surfaces and the ivy will eventually hide the wire.