Tips against rampant plants

Contents

1.  Every hobby gardener has probably already experienced this: the small plant from the garden center turns out to be a real weed after only a few years. But: There are a few good tricks to keep rampant plants in check.
   2. Tame rampant plants: Important tips at a glance
   3. How can you tame rampant plants?
   4. Strong partners for runner-forming species
   5. Proliferating ground cover
   6. How can you keep rampant trees in check?
   7. Plant vinegar trees only with rhizome barrier
   8. Plan rhizome barrier for bamboo

 Every hobby gardener has probably already experienced this: the small plant from the garden center turns out to be a real weed after only a few years. But: There are a few good tricks to keep rampant plants in check.

many flowering shrubs are not quite as tame as one would like them to be, 

but turn out to be rampant plants. Columbine and spurge (Centranthus), 

for example, sow themselves, 

the latter even germinating in narrow pavement joints. 

In the noble varieties of the flame flower (Phlox), 

self-seeding leads to wildness: the offspring usually bear the 

flower colors of the wild species and may even displace 

the cultivated forms in extreme cases because they are more vigorous.

Tame rampant plants: Important tips at a glance

Cut off wilted flowers from flowering perennials, which should not be seeded, before the seeds ripen

Share runner-forming species regularly and combine with strong partners

Dig a root barrier before planting rampant woody plants

How can you tame rampant plants?

If possible, cut off all wilted flowers from flowering perennials 

that should not be seeded before they ripen. For other wild perennials, 

however, self-sowing is desirable. Short-lived species such as foxglove, 

silverweed and yellow poppy are preserved for years in this way, 

although the individual plants die after only two years.

Strong partners for runner-forming species

With runner-forming types like the Goldfelberich (Lysimachia) 

is also not good cherries eat. One should divide them regularly 

and combine them in the bed exclusively with species that 

are also not so easy to get under, like cranesbill or lady's mantle.

Proliferating ground cover

Proliferating ground cover such as ivy, 

golden strawberry (Waldsteinia ternata) or 

lampion flower (Physalis alkekengi) facilitate the care of larger 

groups of trees and shrubs - the plants form a dense carpet 

that is impenetrable even to weeds. But: competition-weak, 

flat-rooting shrubs like the flowering dogwood must be well ingrown, 

otherwise they will die with time. Even dainty species like 

commemorative species (Omphalodes) or comfrey (Symphytum) 

should be treated with caution. They form such a dense felt that 

the roots of the woody plants cannot absorb enough water. 

Tip: When planting, dig a shallow root barrier made of pond liner around the shrub.

How can you keep rampant trees in check?

Even trees and shrubs can become a nuisance in the garden. 

They form offshoots or spread in the garden by self-seeding - 

for example the Norway maple. It becomes particularly annoying 

when the seeds germinate in the hedge. You don't notice them immediately 

and they are very difficult to remove after only two years. 

Therefore, search your hedge for seedlings with every cut. 

The horse chestnut bush (Aesculus parviflora) grows 20 to 30 centimeters 

wide every year and forms clumps of several square meters in size 

with numerous short root runners.

Plant vinegar trees only with rhizome barrier

The vinegar tree (Rhus typhina) is undoubtedly one of the most 

beautiful autumn coloring trees, but can make life quite difficult for 

garden friends with its root runners. And: If one stabs the runners off, 

its spreading urge is only so correctly promoted by the injury of the roots. 

That is why vinegar trees should always be planted with a rhizome barrier. 

With the Siberian dogwood (Cornus alba 'Sibirica'), 

the outer, low-lying branches form roots very fast with ground-contact. 

In this way and can the shrubs with the time large surfaces conquer.

Plan rhizome barrier for bamboo

Bamboo is without doubt the king of usurers. 

Runner-forming species can conquer a small garden within a few years, 

moreover, the flatly spread rhizomes are extremely hard. 

Therefore either plant the non-growing umbrella bamboo (Fargesia) 

or install a rhizome barrier. This is a plastic sheet about 70 centimeters 

high and 2 millimeters thick, which is screwed together with a metal 

rail to form a ring and buried vertically. Do not choose a diameter 

that is too small, otherwise the plants will suffer from drought