Cutting back ivy

[IamEarthymama]

In my tiny terraced house garden I planted a small Ivy 20 years ago.
It covers a rather rough wall and looks beautiful. It is full of pollinators on these sunny autumn days
Sadly it has become really wide and reaches out for about 3 ft over the border.
Other shrubs also reach for the light rather than growing up iyswim. I can only plant at the front of the border.

I have cut it back in the past each Spring and it returns with vigorous growth. I struggle to cut it during the summer as I like the borders to be full of flowers
Any suggestions for keeping the height but restricting the width?
Should I remove the Ivy in its entirety and replace with other climbers? I love watching the pollinators buzzing around it but it is encroaching and making a tiny garden even smaller

(I need some sort of climber to ensure privacy in the garden as the house next door is owned by a letting agency and we have had several "interesting" neighbours over the years)

That’s a tough one. It is beautiful but it will always win in the reach for the sun.

I’d drastically prune it back and put some other climbers in either side. Tbh most climbers will do the same, so you need something that has to have support and is well behaved, and then grow it up a trellis. I don’t know any evergreen climbers like that. Maybe jasmine? Hopefully some other posters will have ideas.

Another option is to put a few stepping stones in the bed, every metre or so, so that you can reach and prune it in the summer. A drastic late spring cut back to 1’ should be enough hopefully.

peakotter
Thank you.

It is indeed very beautiful.
I think the fact that we are in a valley doesn't help,

It covers a wall about 20ft long.

I want to grow lots of flowers so I think I am going to have a serious think over the winter.

I have to say I'm not a fan of ivy on brick walls - I had to remove mine as it damaged it badly over the years.

I would look to a more permanent, manageable solution to provide privacy from next door.

What height is the wall? Can you attach trellis to it - you can go up to 6 feet in height. I would remove the ivy and plant lots of climbers - honeysuckle, jasmine, clematis, daphne (gorgeous fragrant flower and lots of varieties).