What do you do when you fall in love with a plant but you know it spreads and could take over your entire garden?
Contain it!
This could be as easy as planting in its own container. Ceramic, metal or resin pots certainly put a punch of color in a corner, on a deck or by the front entrance. They’re also great for adding plant height and focal points in the garden.
Perhaps a touch of whimsy would add pizzazz to your garden while controlling your marauder. Picture your potential runaway planted in a pot, “sitting” in a hole cut in the seat of a painted and weather-sealed wooden chair. This creates a colorful garden focal point, elevates your beauty and keeps it from spreading.
If you want the potential invader in the ground, ask your local garden center for their suggestions. Mowing to eliminate new growth controls some plants. Herbicide application can have the same effect.
Other plants, such as running bamboos, don’t give in this easily. No, these require a Well Designed Plan (see below), which includes building a trench to prevent the roots from going AWOL.
A Well-Designed Plan to Contain Vigorous “Runners”
- Determine where you would like to plant.
- Dig a trench along the boundary.
- Line this trench with either concrete blocks or 40 ml high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Don’t use wood or metal container in the ground because they will rot or rust eventually and allow the plant to escape.
- Backfill.
- Plant.
- Periodically, check the edges of the trench liner to be sure the roots don’t try to climb over the barrier. If they are, be ruthless and cut them back.
Now, sit back and enjoy your newly contained friend.
