Planting flowers and plants in your backyard not only cultivates your emotions and changes your mindset, but also makes your home more beautiful and pleasant. So, what plants should you cultivate? While every plant has its own unique features, some popular plants may not necessarily be beneficial for your garden.
Some well-liked plants like mint and horseradish are notorious for being invasive species, often spreading uncontrollably and choking out nearby greenery. Even charming flowers such as forget-me-nots and climbing vines, if not carefully managed, can overwhelm the planted garden. Experts recommend conducting thorough research before planting to ensure that the chosen plants can support rather than disrupt the local environment.
Even with the most professional gardening skills, some plants can be extremely challenging, not only difficult to cultivate but also hard to control. Some plants are highly invasive, ultimately taking over the entire garden and posing new challenges that may be hard to bear.
Here are five popular plants compiled by “Real Simple” magazine that even seasoned gardeners would avoid at all costs.
Mint is a very fragrant plant. Occasionally picking some mint leaves to brew tea can give you a very soothing feeling. However, according to an article in “Real Simple,” Kaylyn Hewitt, the Chief Floral Designer of The Bouqs, does not grow mint but rather buys it from local grocery stores. She said, “I can’t speak for all gardeners, but I avoid planting mint because it is highly invasive and its roots can suffocate other plants.”
Mint is a rapidly growing plant that can easily become invasive when planted in your yard. Mint is also a plant that is hard to kill; when it grows in an unrestricted environment, it can quickly take over a large area.
However, mint is suitable for potted cultivation, as this can restrict its root growth, and regular pruning can help maintain a good plant shape.
According to “Real Simple,” the author of “Sarah Raven’s Garden Cookbook” and “The Year-Around Pot Plant,” Sarah Raven advises thinking twice before planting mint. “It is a good and easy-to-grow rhizomatous plant, but its aggressiveness is very strong,” she says.
Horseradish can spread through its rhizomes and easily spread in the vegetable garden, so it is recommended to choose potted cultivation when planting at home.
Raven says, “Forget-me-nots,” although beautiful, are best not planted. She explains, “Forget-me-nots are very pretty and easy to buy in the spring at a low price. You can plant them alongside tulips or daffodils early in the year to liven up the garden. But if you don’t remove them before they seed, you will have to remove them from every corner of the garden for the next several years.”
Planting forget-me-nots in pots can solve this problem.
Courtney Sixx, founder of Bouquet Box, warns that ivy and climbing plants such as morning glories, honeysuckles, and wisteria may invade and dominate, potentially choking out other plants.
Sixx cautions that certain varieties of bindweed, if not native to the area, may be invasive, and some popular bindweeds may even carry parasites. Before planting, carefully check whether the purchased variety is invasive to the region.