Gardeners constantly battle with invasive plants – although they can be breathtaking, they can also take over your entire garden and smother other plants nearby. Understanding the growth habits of a plant is rule number one when deciding to grow it in your garden.
Luckily, there’s a smart and eco-friendly solution to this issue. In this article, we are going to discover what to do in order to stop invasive plants from spreading in your garden without harming the environment.
Let’s see what gardening strategies can keep your garden looking healthy and thriving!
Grow Them In Containers
If you are growing plants like black-eyed Susan, mint, or other popular herbs, then you must take precautions because they often tend to get invasive and spread quickly.
Before you get to digging, you must find a suitable container for your new plant. Make sure that it is large enough so that the plant’s root system can grow and spread comfortably.
Use containers that have drainage holes in the bottom so that you don’t smother your invasive beauties. Make sure that the material of the container is durable – this will prevent the invasive plant’s roots from growing through the container.
Use a well-draining potting mix for your invasive plants (they still need proper drainage!). Leave enough space so that the plant’s root ball can fit properly.
Remove the plant from its current container gently (be extra careful with the roots). Place the plant upright in the center, then fill out any empty space with the rest of the soil. After that, gently press the soil down to secure the plant.
Once you’ve done that, it’s time to put the plant in the ground. Find a location where it can receive enough sunlight and water (this might vary depending on the plant type).
Start by digging a hole that is large enough to fit the entire container – make sure that the container is slightly above or at the same level as the surface of the ground. Place the container in the hole and fill out any empty spaces with the soil.
You might also be interested in: Discover 15 Veggies Perfect For Container Gardening
Reasons Why This Method Is Effective
I bet that you are now questioning this method (don’t worry, I did, too). However, I can guarantee you that this works perfectly!
In case you didn’t know, invasive plants tend to send out runners or rhizomes which help them spread easily. But when you put them in a container, there’s a physical barrier that will prevent the plant from sending out these runners all over the garden.
You can also easily control and manage their growth. Invasive plants can become quite aggressive and competitive for nutrients, sunlight, and water, thus leaving your other plants with nothing.
However, once they are in the container, you can easily prevent them from dominating nearby plants. Plus, you are in control of how much water and nutrients these plants receive.
Just make sure not to overdo it because you would end up giving them more energy to fuel their invasive tendencies.
Even though it would be much easier to simply avoid these plants, there are still some gardeners that absolutely adore them. For instance, mint and black-eyed Susan have wonderful flowers and mesmerizing fragrances that can truly spruce up your garden.
So, planting these invasive plants in containers is a perfect solution to admire their beauty, but still protect the rest of your garden.
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