The Case of the Invasive Plants

There are different types of unwanted weeds or plants that can take over your garden and choke out the beautiful flowers you’ve worked so hard to grow and nurture. The “just plain weeds” can be pulled and done away with easily. If you are dealing with an invasive plant, however, it can spread quickly and take up the space and nutrients needed to help your garden thrive. They can overrun your garden!

Consider some of these actions to stop these plants in their tracks!

1. If you spread a nice, thick layer of mulch around your plants, this may stop the invasive plant from dropping its seeds and being able to continue to germinate some new seedlings.
2. You can also take some old plastic ice cream pails and cut off the bottoms of them. Plant this “corral” around each plant you’re trying to protect (at about a 10-inch depth). The bad roots should be stopped from trying to sneak in and invade the good roots.
3. If you need to, you can try an environmentally safe weed killer. That means a spray that is natural and non-toxic. Only apply this spray to the invasive plants, not the healthy ones you’re trying to protect. If you’re not careful, this step can be risky. I’d take into consideration how far the invasive plants have spread in your garden or flower bed. 
4. I’ve heard from some fellow gardeners that apple cider vinegar (used at full strength) may be used on this problem. Just pour the Vinegar as close to the bad plant’s roots as you can. 
5. We haven’t talked about the elephant in the room yet. The most permanent way to rid yourself of these invasive plants is to dig them up and dispose of them properly. This is obviously the most difficult and time-consuming of the ideas out there, but most gardeners swear this is the surest way of getting rid of them. You just need to get out your handy spade, hand shovel, or regular sized shovel (depending on the size of it), and work away at it. The task will be a bit easier if the ground isn’t rock hard but rather a bit moist and a bit crumbly.

Good luck to you in whatever steps you take to beat this nuisance!