There are solutions for plants that get out of control
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It may have seemed like a good idea to plant all those bushes and flowers to fill up your flower bed. It may have seemed convenient to move into a house that was already perfectly landscaped.
But somewhere along the way, something went awry, and now there’s an overgrown mess where a flower bed should be.
“With any scheme, it’s really important not to bite off more than you can chew,” said WBRZ gardening expert Louis Miller. “If you overdo it, you’re going to have poor results, and it’ll be a constant source of frustration.”
First thing’s first: Don’t overplant, Miller said. Many people mistakenly try to model older flower beds that have had time to flourish by planting too many young plants too close together. This backfires, however, because when those plants mature, it causes overcrowding.
If it’s too late to start from scratch, Miller said it may be time to scale back.
The simplest solution?
“Convert it back into lawn,” Miller said. “Get some sod and plant the same kind of grass to smooth it all out. If it was a successful flower bed, any grass would do well.”
Of course, removing large, overgrown plants is easier said than done. At that point, a shovel may be your best friend. But there are other options.
“If you have some nice plants that are just too much, having someone adopt that plant could be easy,” Miller said. “Ask around if somebody wants it. You get them to come, dig it up and haul it off. They’ll do all the work for you.”
Once everything is clear, replanting smaller plants may be an option for those who aren’t satisfied with grass. Shrubs are a homeowner’s best bet. Miller recommended dwarf or semi-dwarf varieties. Things to avoid include tropicals and some annuals.
