Your garden can be a wonderful space, but some plants might end up causing more harm than good. Certain species spread aggressively or require constant upkeep, making it harder to maintain a healthy garden.
Knowing which plants to remove can help you protect your garden’s health and prevent unwanted growth. This article will guide you through some common plants that could be doing more damage than you realize.
English Ivy
English ivy can quickly take over your garden if you’re not careful. It grows aggressively, smothering other plants and harming trees by covering their trunks.
Removing it takes patience. You’ll need to cut vines at the base and higher up to stop its spread.
Wearing gloves helps protect your hands. Pulling ivy off trees isn’t necessary right away, just focus on cutting and removing it at ground level.
Lily of the Valley
If you have Lily of the Valley in your garden, you might find it spreading faster than you’d like. It grows well in shade and can quickly take over space meant for other plants.
Controlling it can be tricky. You can try physical barriers, digging up roots, or using targeted chemicals carefully to keep it in check.
Remember, this plant can be charming but also aggressive, so keeping it managed helps protect your other garden favorites.
Beauty Bush (Kolkwitzia amabilis)
If you have a Beauty Bush in your garden, you might find it grows quickly and can become quite large. It blooms on old wood, so pruning at the wrong time could reduce flowers.
You’ll want to prune out dead branches and remove about a third of the largest stems each year. Cutting the oldest stems after flowering helps keep the plant healthy and manageable.
This bush enjoys full sun to part shade and prefers well-drained soil. If it’s taking over your space, removing it can give your garden room to breathe.
Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea)
Creeping Charlie, also known as ground ivy, spreads quickly across your yard. It’s a low-growing perennial that can take over lawns and garden beds if left unchecked. You’ll notice its round, scalloped leaves and purple flowers in spring.
Removing it takes patience because it roots easily from broken stems. Regular weeding and moist soil can help make removal easier. If you catch it early, you have a better chance of controlling its spread.
Japanese Knotweed
Japanese knotweed spreads fast and forms thick patches that block sunlight from reaching other plants. Its roots grow deep, making it tough to remove.
If you catch it early, you can try pulling up every shoot regularly. For larger infestations, cutting stems close to the ground helps, but you’ll likely need professional advice.
Be careful not to compost any cuttings, as they can regrow easily in your garden.
Kudzu
Kudzu grows quickly and can smother trees and shrubs in your garden. It spreads through vines and strong roots that are hard to remove.
To control it, you can use herbicides carefully or let animals like goats and pigs eat the vines and dig up roots.
You’ll need patience since killing kudzu completely might take repeated efforts over months or even years.
Bindweed
Bindweed spreads quickly and can smother your other plants. Pulling it up often makes the problem worse because it regrows from root fragments.
Cutting it at soil level regularly is more effective than trying to remove roots. Be patient, as bindweed seeds can remain in the soil for decades, making it a persistent challenge.
If you want to protect your garden, remove bindweed early before it takes over.
Poison Ivy
Poison ivy can quickly take over parts of your garden if you’re not careful. It causes skin irritation, so it’s best to remove it safely using gloves and boots.
Try cutting the plant near the ground regularly to weaken it over time. Pulling up the roots helps, too, but be gentle to avoid spreading it. You can also spray it with a mix of vinegar and dish soap on a sunny day.
Bamboo (invasive varieties)
If you’re thinking about adding bamboo to your garden, be careful with invasive types. These varieties can spread quickly and take over your space.
They are tough to control once established, often requiring regular cutting and removal to keep in check. There aren’t native plants that outcompete invasive bamboo, so prevention is key.
Choosing non-invasive or clumping varieties can help avoid future problems in your garden.
Garlic Mustard
Garlic mustard is an invasive plant from Europe and Asia that often takes over gardens in many parts of the U.S. It spreads quickly and can crowd out your native plants.
You’ll want to remove it carefully because it produces chemicals harmful to some native butterflies. Pulling it out early helps protect your garden’s health.
Make sure to dispose of the plants properly to prevent it from growing back. Clearing the area before planting native species is important.
Canada Thistle
Canada thistle spreads quickly through its deep roots, making it hard to control. You can cut it down regularly before it flowers to weaken it over time.
Using a foliar spray of cleaning vinegar can help, but it takes patience. Small patches are easier to tackle, but large infestations need ongoing effort for several years.
Bitter Nightshade
Bitter nightshade can spread quickly in your garden, mainly through bird-dispersed seeds. It’s best to remove the plants while they are blooming to reduce seed spread.
Pull the plants out by the roots to prevent regrowth. Regularly checking your garden helps keep this weed under control. Removing bittersweet nightshade is ongoing but manageable with consistent effort.
Pigweed
If you spot pigweed in your garden, removing it quickly helps prevent it from taking over. It grows fast and produces many seeds, which spread easily if you mow it too late.
Make sure to pull out the entire root system, as pigweed roots can go deep. Doing this early in the season gives you the best chance to stop its growth.
Horseweed
If you spot horseweed in your garden, it’s best to remove it before it goes to seed. This plant thrives in disturbed soil and can quickly take over if left unchecked.
Cover crops like cereal rye can help reduce its growth. Keep an eye on it, especially after digging or tilling, to keep your garden healthy and weed-free.
Spiderwort
Spiderwort can quickly spread and take over your garden, crowding out other plants you might want to keep. While bees enjoy its flowers, it can become a problem if left unchecked.
If you decide to keep it, be ready to remove new shoots as soon as they appear to prevent overgrowth. Otherwise, removing spiderwort will help protect your other perennials.
Bee Balm (invasive types)
If you love the look of bee balm, be careful with certain invasive types. These can spread quickly and crowd out other plants in your garden.
You can control bee balm by dividing the plants regularly. Dig between the main plant and new shoots to keep growth in check.
Give your bee balm space to grow, and avoid planting it near aggressive invasive species. This helps keep your garden balanced and healthy.