Six Fast-Growing Plants You Should Get Rid of Right Now
It’s fair to say that the goal of many gardeners is to create a self-sufficient yard. This means that each year, plants are added to the yard that self-seed, perennial, or simply support themselves reliably. It is hoped that the amount of annuals, whether flowers or vegetables, that need to be added will be kept to a minimum. So you might think that active “spreaders” would be welcome in the home garden. A word of warning, though: if you don’t do something about them now, they’ll become even more problematic next year.
What do I mean by “distributors”? While there are some plants that are considered invasive and should not be planted, spreaders are not so black and white. They may serve a purpose and not yet be considered invasive, but they will crowd out other plants and tend to be painful.
The most common spreaders to get rid of
Most people’s problem with mint is not the mint they plant, but the mint that just appears. Birds can drop it and it will grow anywhere, and what’s even more annoying is that it’s usually not even good mint. But when you do get a nice mint, remember that it will spread. In fact, the mint will spread outside the container through the roots. For this reason, you should keep it in a pot on concrete to contain it.
I really wanted to grow horseradish, and why shouldn’t you? It grows through a taproot and the only thing to know about taproots is that they are a very efficient way to grow horizontally underground. Horseradish is not a container plant, so it’s best to place it somewhere where it can be easily pulled out at the end of the season (which you’ll want to do because it’s so delicious). Save a few roots for spring so they can be replanted.
Fennel is such a dork. It cannot be grown with anything else because it has a chemical reaction that prevents the growth of any other vegetable. So it demands its own space and then begins to take over that space and everything nearby. How much fennel can I use? Of course, less than I grow. Diligent thinning and serious thinking about whether you really need fennel is warranted.
Asters are truly wonderful – they are usually native and ideal late season flowers. The same can be said about yarrow, which blooms all year round. However, both will self-seed to infinity and beyond, taking over any space, including your lawn. Don’t be afraid to pluck them in bunches, ideally before they go to seed.
I don’t know why people specifically grow lemon balm . I did it once and found it had little benefit that couldn’t be replaced by a bunch of other, more delicious plants, and it grows and spreads incredibly quickly. Instead, grow lemon verbena or lemongrass for an annual plant that has many of the same properties.
Savory is a delicious green color that I like mainly to entice garden guests to try the leaves with their amazing lemon flavor. But savory also spreads quickly and will take over space. To keep this under control, actively dig full divisions of savory throughout the season. Don’t let it germinate seeds, which it will process several times over the summer.