I've been living in my cozy starter home in Metairie, Louisiana for five years now and have a goal to make my yard look amazing without breaking the bank. Gardening expenses can be outrageous, and considering the intense heat here, I've learned to be resourceful. I've picked up various landscaping plants like ginger, shrubs, and Louisiana irises from neighbors' discarded items, local seed libraries, and generous friends. Despite my enthusiasm, I haven't yet planted anything that's taken over my garden. I've heard plenty of horror stories about plants like mint and violets wreaking havoc, and I'd love to hear about your experiences. What plants do you regret planting? I'd appreciate any insights to help me choose wisely as I continue gardening, especially since what can be aggressive in one garden might not be in another.
6 Answers
Sunchokes didn’t produce as expected and are now permanent residents. They keep coming back each year, which isn’t great! Maybe try growing them in containers instead.
I went a bit pumpkin crazy last season. Planting just one sugar pumpkin turned into a massive harvest! We had pumpkin everything, and by the end, no one wanted more. Beware of pumpkin overkill!
I planted a butterfly bush thinking it would attract pollinators, but I later found out it's invasive in my area. Once it gets going, it's a pain to remove!
Honestly, mint's bad reputation is a bit exaggerated. If you're consistent about controlling it, it's manageable. But I did have a tougher time with garlic chives—they’re persistent!
Totally! Garlic chives are like the ninjas of the garden. They sneak up on you when you're not looking!
I love asters, but they turned out to need way more room than I gave them. I didn't expect them to grow to 10 feet tall! Definitely do your research before planting.
I regret planting leucathemum superbum (daisies). They attract pests like crazy and seem to spread without control. I just switched to more native plants like Agastache instead.
Yep, container gardening sounds way smarter! Keep the trouble-makers confined!