I know how frustrating it can be when your carefully tended garden gets a bit too much attention from the weed-whacker.
I once had a gorgeous patch of clematis vines that were the pride of my garden. Imagine my shock when the lawn crew mistook them for weeds and whacked them down!
I had to ask them more than once not to touch my precious vines. To prevent that garden disaster from happening ever again, I’m now putting up some wire fencing to protect my plants.
But it’s not just the weed-whackers that can mess up your garden. I’ve had moments where I was so focused on pulling out weeds that I ended up yanking out the flowers I meant to keep. Oops!
So, if you’ve had a run-in with a weed-whacker or made a gardening goof, it’s good to know when to replant and when to just wait and see if your plants will come back.
How To Handle Your Weed-Whacked Plants (Replant Or Just Wait?)
After the weed-whacker mistakenly hurt my clematis, I just waited for them to regrow. Sure, they might not be as lush this year as they normally would, but the important thing is that they’ve bounced back.
If you’ve got a similar situation, your perennials might just need a bit of patience.
However, if woody plants like trees or bushes get their bases damaged (think of it as their “legs” getting a bit of a knock) this could stop them from getting the water and nutrients they need.
Sometimes, girdling (cutting away the bark) is done intentionally for various reasons, but if it’s accidental, your tree might not recover as well as hoped.
For other perennials, like tulips or daffodils, you might just need to cross your fingers and see if they return next year. They’re only above ground for a short time, so getting cut early could mean they didn’t store enough energy for a comeback.
Also read: If You Are Tired Of Your Old-Looking Front Porch, Decorate It With Lovely Perennials
What To Do When Your Annuals Get Weed-Whacked (Save What You Can Or Start Fresh)
Well, it’s happened to most of us – your fresh annuals get a bit too close to the action and end up getting weed-whacked. If that’s the case, you’ll probably need to head back to the garden center for some new plants.
But don’t give up hope just yet! There might still be a silver lining.
If it’s mid- or late-season, you might get lucky with some hardy plants. They could surprise you and come back from the remaining bits and pieces.
For example, impatiens and petunias, which tend to get leggy and stop blooming, might bounce back if you trim them down to just a few inches above the soil. This is the fresh start they need for the rest of the season.
I know now that letting the pros handle the mowing and weed-whacking can sometimes lead to unexpected results (and not the good kind). If you’re in the same boat, here are a couple of tricks that might be helpful:
For starters, try growing your flowers in hanging baskets or raised beds. This keeps them away from those eager weed-whackers.
Don’t forget to make sure your flower beds are well marked. My rock edging wasn’t enough to keep my clematis safe, so now I’m using some inexpensive wire garden fencing to make sure everyone knows where my garden starts and ends.
You can follow my lead or do the mowing and weed-whacking by yourself (although you should be careful not to mistake weeds and the rest of your garden plants like I did).
Here’s to hoping our gardens stay safe and beautiful!
Also read: Paint Your Summer Garden With 11 Colorful Annuals That Will Bloom Nonstop