12 Plants You Should NEVER Grow in Your Garden

Summary

In this video, gardening experts share their experiences with aggressive plants that every gardener should think twice about before planting. From the fast-spreading Russian vine to the invasive bamboo and Japanese anemones, they provide cautionary tales about plants that can quickly take over a garden. Other garden bullies like mint, strawberries, and Jerusalem artichokes also make the list, along with tips for managing them. Viewers are encouraged to avoid these troublesome plants or take precautions to control their growth, ensuring a well-maintained and enjoyable garden.

Takeaways

• 😀 Russian Vine (Mile-a-Minute Vine) grows aggressively and can quickly overtake your garden, smothering nearby plants like trees.
• 😀 Bamboo may look nice but spreads uncontrollably once planted, making it difficult to remove. Opt for clumping varieties to avoid chaos.
• 😀 Clematis Montana is stunning but can become invasive, spreading rapidly and attaching to everything in its path.
• 😀 English Ivy is charming on walls but can cause serious damage to brickwork if allowed to grow unchecked near your house.
• 😀 Japanese Anemones spread quickly via underground runners and can dominate smaller garden spaces, making them difficult to control.
• 😀 Bistort spreads by rhizomes and seeds, and though not the most aggressive, it can still easily take over parts of your garden.
• 😀 Leyland Cypress grows fast and creates a dense, dark wall of greenery, blocking sunlight and making it hard for other plants to thrive.
• 😀 Vinca Major (Greater Periwinkle) spreads much faster than Vinca Minor (Lesser Periwinkle), which is more manageable for ground cover.
• 😀 Strawberries can spread uncontrollably through runners if not properly contained, so growing them in pots or containers is advised.
• 😀 Mint, although fragrant and useful in cooking, spreads uncontrollably if planted directly in the ground. It's best grown in containers.
• 😀 Jerusalem Artichokes may seem harmless, but their underground tubers multiply quickly, and even small pieces left behind will regrow.
• 😀 Spanish Bluebells spread rapidly and crossbreed with native bluebells, threatening the survival of England's native species. Stick to native varieties.

Q & A

What is Russian vine, and why should gardeners avoid planting it?

Russian vine, also known as mile-a-minute vine, grows extremely fast and can easily overwhelm other plants. It is highly invasive, quickly spreading and suffocating trees and shrubs, as seen in the speaker’s experience where it smothered a lilac tree. Despite its appearance, it is a plant to avoid due to its aggressive growth.

What is the problem with planting bamboo in a garden?

Bamboo, particularly the spreading varieties, can be invasive. It spreads through underground runners, making it difficult to control. Even if you think you've removed it, new shoots can continue to appear, causing persistent issues for gardeners.

What is Clatus Montana, and what precautions should gardeners take when planting it?

Clatus Montana is a fast-growing vine that can become invasive if not properly managed. It attaches itself to trees, sheds, and other plants, spreading quickly. While beautiful, it requires constant pruning and vigilance to prevent it from taking over the garden.

How can English ivy damage a garden?

English ivy, while charming in certain settings, can damage structures like brickwork and walls. It can also be very difficult to remove once it becomes established, as it spreads rapidly and grows into the building material, often requiring significant effort to remove.

Why should gardeners be cautious with Japanese anemone plants?

Japanese anemones may look delicate, but they are known to spread aggressively through underground runners. In larger gardens, they can be managed, but in smaller spaces, they may outcompete other plants and take over, making them challenging to control.

What are the characteristics of bistort, and why is it a potential issue in the garden?

Bistort spreads both through underground rhizomes and by seeds, making it a plant that can quickly populate a garden. Although it isn’t highly destructive, it can spread rapidly and needs regular management to prevent it from overtaking other plants.

What problems can arise from planting Leyland cypress for hedging?

Leyland cypress grows extremely fast and can create dense, dark greenery that blocks sunlight, making it difficult for other plants to thrive nearby. Its rapid growth makes it a challenge to maintain, and without regular trimming, it can become unmanageable.

What is the difference between Vinca minor and Vinca major?

Vinca minor (lesser periwinkle) is a well-behaved ground cover that stays low to the ground and spreads at a manageable pace. In contrast, Vinca major (greater periwinkle) grows larger, spreads faster, and can quickly become invasive, making it difficult to control once it takes hold.

What challenges do strawberries present when grown in a garden?

Strawberries spread via runners, which can rapidly expand across the garden if not monitored. To prevent them from taking over, it’s recommended to grow them in containers or hanging baskets where their spread can be controlled.

Why is mint considered a potentially problematic plant for gardeners?

Mint spreads aggressively through underground runners and can quickly become invasive if planted in the ground. It’s best to grow mint in containers to keep it from spreading uncontrollably and to easily manage its growth.

What makes Jerusalem artichokes a challenging plant to deal with in the garden?

Jerusalem artichokes, although beautiful and edible, have a major downside: their tubers multiply rapidly underground. Even after digging them up, any small piece left behind can regrow, leading to a never-ending cycle of digging and replanting.

Why should gardeners be cautious when planting Spanish bluebells?

Spanish bluebells are invasive and pose a threat to native English bluebells. They can crossbreed with the native species, diluting the gene pool and threatening biodiversity. Once established, they are difficult to remove and can quickly spread throughout the garden.