My clinging vine is dying! Can you help me save it?

I just moved into this house a week ago and my fave feature: the ivy growing on the walls. As you can see, its dying from the top down. Can it be saved? What can I do?

Help!!

Where are you located?

I am in Houston, texas

Zone 9a

Possibly the upper part of the wall is exposed to the wind, and with our really low temperatures this fall/winter, the wind-chill may have damaged that part of the vines. Was anything done around the foundation of the wall before you moved in? Something that might have compressed the soil?

Not to my knowledge. They did a lot of work inside, not really anything outside. Do I have to cut all that back?

Why don't you wait until spring and see if any new growth appears in the sections of the vines that appear dead. There is plenty of time to cut it back and there is no value in cutting it now. If you don't see new growth by April, I would then trim away, cutting it all back until you see green, viable tissue.

Ken

I'll do that! Thanks!

We Master Gardener's try to help. That's our creed.

Ken

While you're waiting to see whether any of the bare branches are still alive, you may want to read this article (and perhaps some of those listed at the bottom with links) . . .

"Can Ivy Damage Brick or Wood on Your Home?"
http://www.todayshomeowner.com/can-ivy-damage-the-brick-or-wood-on-your-home/

There is also a link to a radio show in one of the the 2cnd of 3 comments.

Some structures are OK with ivy, but it will destroy the exterior of others.
Hopefully your home is in the prior category! And your Ivy is a less problematic variety!

The following blog mentions different Ivies, the "Virginia Creeper" apparently being less problematic.
It also has many different people's experiences with having Ivy growing on their houses, and their advice:

"What do I need to know about growing ivy on a house?"
http://ask.metafilter.com/193394/What-do-I-need-to-know-about-growing-ivy-on-a-house

My parents had two large Sycamore trees outside our kitchen window from which hung a bird feeder that I filled every morning so my mom & I could watch the birds. Under those trees was a 'meadow' of up to 2.5-3' tall Ivy, which a lot of birdseed was tossed into by the birds, but which never sprouted from lack of sunlight & warmth. Dad always cut the Ivy way back every year to keep it away from the house & from climbing those beautiful trees. That was a lot of work for him, but it was pretty. I don't recall having a rat problem, but we did have cats that may have kept them at bay, as they like anything they can hide in, no matter how high up it goes.

Best Wishes!