Sarah Robertson | Posted: Saturday, April 28, 2007 10:00 pm
Glancing up from where I was weeding, I spotted my husband tossing aside his hoe and reaching down to grab - and then physically strangle - a handful of out-of-control campanula.
"This stuff is EVIL," he said with a growl, giving the uprooted cluster a good shake before dumping it unceremoniously into the wheelbarrow.
I sat back on my haunches and sighed. This particular perennial piggybacked its way into our garden years ago. Foolishly, despite its obvious tendency to spread, I let it stay. Now, a decade later, we are paying the price. Solid swathes have infiltrated several key areas out front, threatening hostas and wriggling into the midst of prickly grasses, delicate perennials and a once-elegant rockery.
I should have known better. Any plant described by experts as "vigorous, reseeding easily and spreading by runners" should be avoided at all costs.
After years of gardening, I'm finally understanding that constant corralling of pugnacious plant species makes me cranky. I don't want to spend my time constantly battling plants that are a) too large; b) too aggressive; c) too vigorous or d) require constant pruning (or deadheading, or feeding, or watering) to look good.
Life is too darn busy to spend it at the beck and call of needy, out-of-control plants!
My garden, unfortunately, is blessed with too many of these treasures. I'm gradually (and sometimes not so gradually!) vanquishing the worst offenders and replacing them with well-behaved choices that better fit our busy lives.
Some of the plants on their way out might be great in another garden, or even in another part of the country where the climate is less encouraging. But from now on, I'm determined that all incoming species will know their place - and stay in it!
So, how to know if a plant that catches your eye is likely to be well-behaved? You can learn a surprising amount of good information from plant tags, books (most nurseries have reference material on hand) and by taking a close look at a plant's physical characteristics.
For example, think twice before purchasing plants characterized by phrases such as "self-seeding," "spreads freely," "fast growing" or "spreads by underground runners."
Sometimes you can get a clue to a plant's growth habit by its physical appearance. If a perennial, for instance, sports a number of runners spilling out the sides, keep in mind that this cultivar might spread faster - or farther - than you want.
Look instead for words such as "clumping," "well-behaved," "holds it shape," and "noninvasive." Other good phrases are "pest free," "no staking needed," "drought-tolerant" and "disease-resistant."
The worst offenders tend to be, by the nature of their growth, perennial plants. Choice groundcovers, flowers and even vines can, over time, become pesky. This is especially true in our climate, where mild conditions promote vigorous growth and good health.
It's also true that shrubs and trees can become more work than they're worth. Sometimes they simply grow too tall or wide, are constantly sickly or become disfigured by pests or disease. Removing such a plant and replacing it with a specimen better suited to the site is your best option.
Keep all of this in mind as you cruise the nurseries and plant sales. Try not to be swayed by gorgeous foliage or drop-dead delicious flowers. Do your homework - the effort you put in today is sure to pay big dividends down the road, resulting in a garden that's both visually rewarding and a pleasure to maintain.