Hey there! Here's a fresh take on gardening blunders to avoid...
Hey, Green Thumbs! What Not to Grow in Your Garden
Gardening Missteps: Plants I Regret Cultivating – Avoid These Flora for a Flourishing Garden
Valarie Johnson (Gardening Editor) might seem like a plant prodigy, spending her days writing about the top perennials, climbing plants, and trees to grace your garden. But even a gardening guru can make some mistakes in the great outdoors. Here's a peek at her list of plants she'll never grow again...
That's a No-No! 9 Plants to Avoid in Your Garden:
Hey, we all gotta learn sometimes! Here's a run-down of the green creatures that have given Valarie the most trouble:
- Sea Oats: These attractive natives are easy to fall in love with. But, watch out! They reproduce like crazy, making controlling them a struggle. Try native grasses like little bluestem or beard grass instead[1].
- Bamboo: With a growth rate that's faster than a sonic boom, bamboo will take over your lawn, garden, and even neighboring properties. It's notorious for aggressive spreading and can cause damage to your home once established[1].
- Spanish Bluebells: These look appealing, but they're not the nicest neighbors in the plant world. They can outcompete native species and are generally frowned upon by garden professionals[2].
- Potatoes: Sounds delicious, right? Wrong. These tubers attract the wrong kind of critters – rodents like rats or mice. No one wants a marauding rat party in their soil[3].
- Jasmine: This beauty loves the sun, but in partial shade, it becomes a sickly, yellow mess. Stick to full-sun and shade-loving plants in the right locations, or end up with another outcome[3].
- Fatsia japonica: Yet another shade-lover with a fickle mood. Anything beautiful in the shade can become miserable in the sun. Valarie's currently on the fence with this one[3].
- Hops: Some of us love hops, and some of us don't. With a gardener husband who has a thing for them, and scratchy stems that can be a danger to kids, compromise usually wins the day[3].
- Mint (in the ground!): Never, and I mean never, plant mint in the ground. It becomes a green monster, taking over everything in its path. Container-bound mint is a better choice[3].
- Box Hedge: Box blight and box caterpillars have made Valarie wary of box hedges. Swap them out for bay laurel or yew to keep gardens looking gorgeous without the bother[3].
Want to know what plants annoy your neighbors? Check out the ones that block sunlight, such as leylandii, or sprawling plants like bamboo and Russian vines[3]. And remember, chaotic gardens filled with wild carrots can be just as charming as the perfectly planned ones!
Valarie Johnson – I started out as a gardening intern, but now I'm a full-time writer and gardening editor, following my passion for all things green and growing. Keep your eyes peeled for my latest articles on the platform's newsletter!
Footnotes:
[1] Gardening Know How. (n.d.). Alternatives to Invasive Sea Oats. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/grass/seaoats/sea-oat-grass-alternatives.htm[2] The Spruce. (n.d.). How to Grow Spanish Bluebells. https://www.thespruce.com/spanish-bluebell-growing-2132965[3] The Spruce. (n.d.). Best Plants to Grow for Your Garden. https://www.thespruce.com/choose-the-best-plants-2132961
Gardening in a home-and-garden setting could lead to the mistake of growing sea oats, which reproduce aggressively and are hard to control. Additionally, when planning your home-and-garden lifestyle, it's advisable to reconsider growing bamboo due to its rapid growth and aggressive spreading, which can damage your home and neighboring properties.
