The enemies we might not realise are in the garden
SOME plants look pretty but are such fast growers that they will soon become noxious weeds. Other plants are lovely to look at but poisonous. There is no sense getting poisoned by a plant you yourself planted.
To choose plants for your garden wisely, you will need to do some research or discuss your plans with some experts. When you realise the characteristics of the plants you are attracted to, you will be able to minimise the damage they could cause.
A plant with unruly habits can be controlled to some extent. However, if things get out of hand it is best to be cruel and cut down or remove it completely. Thorny plants need to clipped often for safety reasons if you have curious children or pets. Disease-prone specimens should be kept away from healthy neighbours so that spores or pests do not spread. Here are some methods to control the enemies that may lurk in your garden. Fast growers Fast growers will quickly turn an empty garden into a ‘forest’ and occupy the entire area if not kept in check. The most common transformation occurs as soon as the plant is out of the nursery pot, outgrowing the allotted space and threatening to swallow up the rest of the garden. It is best to avoid plants described as vigorous or fast-growing if you do not have time to keep things under control.
For instance, Bamboo spp will be very difficult to cut down because of its thickness and compact growth. Even chainsaws will face difficulties. A homeowner once asked my staff to clear some bamboo and they failed to remove it all even after two days’ work. Poisonous plants Do be careful when pruning poisonous plants in the garden. These may contain a toxic latex. There are some euphorbias that will cause allergic reactions, particularly among those with sensitive skin. Be careful not to get the sap in your eyes when pruning using shears. It is probably best to wear goggles and gloves.
If you have young children, do be careful not to present them with Dieffenbachia. Also it is a good idea to teach them never to eat anything or play with leaves or flowers before checking with an adult first. Some beautiful flowers are very toxic and many of us are unaware of this, happily displaying them in vases indoors. Spreaders Plants that send out surface runners and rhizomes or subterranean stolons are great when we want them as ground cover. However, these need to be kept in check as well. Otherwise you may find they will seek ‘world domination’. The morning glory is lovely until it begins running wild all over the ground. Deeprooted suckering plants can also become hard to manage. Spikes and thorny plants While most of us are able to forgive a beautiful rose or bougainvillea for their thorns but those from the cacti or the dagger-like leaf tips of yuccas can also endanger unsuspecting children running about in the garden. Even the pruned branches of bougainvillea can still hurt your hands if they are not protected by gloves during handling. Long-lasting plants There are some plants that will not want to leave your garden once they have settled in. Take the heliconia for instance. You will not be able to get rid of them unless all the underground rhizomes and stolons are totally removed and killed using weedicide. Self-sowers Unfortunately, self-sowers are never vegetables or the shrubs that we need. These often exotic noxious weeds include giant mimosa. Self-sowers are laden with air-blown seeds and birds also carry the seeds to other places as well. Uncontrolled importation of seeds might bring in noxious weeds without you realising it. This could in the long term harm our local plants and crops as well as fauna. Thus plant quarantine is very relevant in the control of self-sowers, which could soon become pests.
Hopefully this has given you some idea on the importance of understanding the plants we add to our garden to prevent future problems. Do send me an email if you have questions, comments or suggestions. Happy gardening.