Whether you are reviewing the overgrown jumble of you garden at its peak or just gearing up for spring, there always seems to be a plant or two that just will not behave. Either something you planted and now regret, something the birds dropped off or a thug, pushing its way in.
Vines are a great example. Too often, when we need a vine, we go for the quickest climbers. However quick climbers can also be aggressive plants, in general. Case in point, the lovely Trumpet Vine. You can never have just one Trumpet Vine; it pokes its head up everywhere. So, first cure: How to get rid of Trumpet Vine.
Then there are the literally invasive plants, like Oriental Bittersweet. Several plants go by the common name of bittersweet and a couple of them deserve it. Although beautiful, Oriental Bittersweet is destructive. Think twice about giving it free rein in your garden. How to get rid of Bittersweet.
And finally, the most annoying vines of all, poison ivy and oak. These weeds seem to be getting hardier and smarter about spreading. They are a great reason for wearing gloves in the garden. How to get rid of Poison Ivy and Poison Oak.
I know this is only the tip of the iceberg. What do you regret planting? And I also know there are times and places where fast growing vines are just the ticket and I would be curious to hear How you use vines, in your garden.
Photo: © Marie Iannotti
Comments
Can I add to the list Snow on the Mountain. I have been fighting this stuff for years. Any thoughts short of killing my entire garden would be appreciated.
Thanks
please help!! how do i get rid of my neighbors bamboo that is growing under my fence,shed and into my yard? it hangs over fence and is a complete pain. it has long pointy tubular runners.
Bryan, ground covers are almost impossible to stop. I’m kind of amazed they sell them as plants, without warnings. I know they have their place, like anchoring hillsides, but most of them won’t stay there.
I don’t know of any methods other than herbicides and smothering. Smothering won’t work, if it is growing between plants, but you could try painting an herbicide on the individual leaves.
Anna, your neighbor’s bamboo is always going to be a problem for you. The only real solution would be to dig a trench and put in a barrier and even then, you would have to be on guard.
To keep it at bay, you can mow it to about 4″ and coat it in herbicide. It will take several tries, but it should start to tire out.
Next spring, when you see it creeping back, stomp on the stems. If you break them while they are young, they die back.
I also need help…
Can you tell me how I could get rid of animals going inside my garden? Most of it are my neighbors pets. Fences won’t work because they will just jump over my fence.
Millie
Millie, you are going to have to make it less attractive to the animals. Either spraying or planting something that smells bad, covering the soil with something coarse or using one of those motion water sprayers. Here’s a list of suggestions from the Landscaping Guide.
Deterring Cats
Deterring Dogs