Hey everyone! I'm looking for some advice on gardening because I'm a bit of a newbie. I live in the Great Lakes region and I've got this 40-square-foot patch of land between my driveway and porch that's overrun with creeping bellflower, which is invasive here. I plan to pull the bellflower out by the roots and then plant some native flowers from my local garden center. But I'm concerned there might be more to it. For instance, could the bellflower have drained the soil's nutrients, or will leftover roots resprout and cause issues for the new flowers? What steps should I take to ensure the native flowers thrive and prevent the bellflower from coming back? Thanks in advance!
4 Answers
Definitely consider covering the area with a tarp! This will help prevent the bellflower from sprouting back right away. You'll want to leave the tarp on for around 30 days or so, especially since it's sunny there. To keep it secure, you can weight it down with bricks.
Good idea removing the bellflower, but you might want to check with your garden center about the timing for planting native flowers. Some need to experience winter conditions before they can germinate, so the best approach might be to plant them just before snowfall. As for soil prep, native plants often thrive in less rich soil, so avoid adding too much compost. A light layer of straw over the seeds could work, but don't sow too early!
Covering the area with cardboard and mulch can also help while you wait. Just make sure to remove everything thoroughly and give it some time to settle before planting. If you’re worried about germination timing, you might want to pre-chill your seeds in the fridge before planting them to help with that!
Creeping bellflower has those pesky deep rhizomes! When pulling them out, make sure to dig down at least a foot to really get them out. You can plant your native flowers right after, but be prepared to do a bit of weeding afterward since you might miss some bits. I’ve tried both planting immediately and waiting, and both methods have their challenges, so just be ready to keep an eye on it!
That sounds great! But how long should I actually leave the tarp on? I'm worried about the heat creating a greenhouse effect under it.