I just registered yesterday! I live in Baltimore, MD. This is my first year really doing any gardening, and I think I've done very well. But I do have one project that's making me feel very inexperienced!

 

I have a hill in front my house. I cleared all the grass, and planted 20 clumps of ivy (various common mounding ivies, like pierot, and goldfinch. When I was planning this, my neighbor had a large tree--which they cut down. I also did not account for the days getting longer, and giving more direct sun to my hill.

 

The ivy seems to be growing visibly, but some of the highest leaves seem to have damage. They are bleached white on some parts. Is this from too much sun? Or did I burn it with miracle grow, or overwater? 

 

I'm wondering if I need to dig out the ivy and get a different evergreen, cold-hardy, quick-spreading groundcover--or is my project salvageable?

probably too much sun.......and maybe too much water.......I have found ivy to do best with partial shade at least....there are lots of ground covers tho that do great in full sun.........I found one by mistake and it grows rapidly......prunella vulgaris.......it actually gets a purple flower on it......very aggresive..........would look pretty on a hillside in bloom............a real pain in the butt tho if it gets into your beds.......

Agree ivy prefers shade or partial shade/partial sun.  About the same environment as a hosta, although the variegated variety of ivy may take more sun.

 If you want a vigorous evergreen perennial groundcover that will take full sun, you have plenty to choose from such as:

trachelospermum

vinca

lysimachia

 

Not as vigorous:

verbena

sedum or delosperma

santolina

veronica umbrosia / veronica peduncularis 'Georgia Blue'

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Z7/7b

I live in Tennessee zone 7 and my ivy is covering a wall in my backyard.  It is in full sun for more than 8 hours a day, and it seems to be doing just fine..  One easy way to remember rules about ivy is ...first year it sleeps, second year it creeps, third year it leaps.  Id give it a year at least to grow in and settle into its new home!!

Happy Gardening!

Shanna