I come from a long line of city dwellers, so I don't really have any gardening knowledge. I often play the "Is that a weed?" game in my yard. In fact, I only learned last summer that Columbine was a wildflower (and not a weed!) because I spotted it for sale at the nursery. I figure anything they can sell and ask money for I can consider not a weed. So using that logic I thought that Lilly of the Valley was good right? Something I want to have? (I know it spreads and is supposed to be go
od ground cover, and that is just fine in the area I have it.)
Someone was recently telling me they are trying to kill it off in their yard and they tried round up but I guess you have to "paint" each of the plants to really kill them, or they will keep coming back. Is it just a personal preference? I can't imagine I would intentionally kill off something that was a legitimate plant. And a pretty one too.
I also think I have some wild violets, but I guess those fall on the weed list (even though they have a flower name!) since I've never seen them for sale. I can't take all of this arbitrary subjectiveness!
May 19, 2008
Weeds of the valley?
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9 comments:
Lily of the valley is indeed extremely hard to kill. Good thing I love it so very much that I won't ever try. :-) The other thing that tips Lily of the Valley into my "not a weed" column is that it doesn't spread by seed and it spreads slowly enough to be contained, so my patch won't ever infect the neighbors' yards if they don't want it. (Unlike dandelions, creeping charlie, crabgrass...)
You're right; the weed/not weed thing really is subjective. Invasiveness is bad, but a groundcover that spreads in difficult areas is good. Yeah, you pick the line there. I have truckloads of wild violets too, but so far they're staying on my "good weed" list because they're just so darn cute. Subjective enough for you?
So...the deal with columbine is this: the wild flower type is invasive. The type they sell at the nursery is not. We had Columbine all over the yard even after I dug it all out...so beware.
I like the violets too, they are such a pretty color- so far I have left them alone, but I've noticed I seem to have more every year.
So far, the Columbine seems to stay at the end of the deck- so I think it's the right kind and someone planted it there at some point. (but who knew there was more than one kind?! Well, you did...) It's confusing!
I don't have the heart to get rid of the violets either. They DO have a flower name. And are cute cute cute.
However, I'd be ok if the dandelions went bye-bye. Must get Weed Hound soon.
'Cuz then weeding would be done. Right.
With the neighborhood green space crawling with dandelions, I've given up on those. I know, bad me, but I have a hard time killing anything with chemicals, and the battle with the weed hound would leave my yard a pit.
I like Lily of the Valley, and don't remotely consider it a weed. I've even thought of planting it in some areas I would rather not mow. I know someone (maybe the same one) trying to get rid of it, and I don't understand it. They also plant lilacs even though their family is allergic to them, so their concept of gardening is skewed in my opinion.
As for the wild violets. If they get mowed over, so be it. If they're in my beds, I let them be.
I like violets. Even if you mow them, they come back. No problem. Of course, I don't see a problem with dandylions either. My mom's back yard is full of both violets and the dandys and it looks beautiful with all the color.
Who in their right mind gets rid of Lilly of the valley? I did so accidentally because I thought the tubers were hastas once. Stupid intergrown plants.
Who gets rid of hosta's?
Personally, I love Lily of the Vally, they're one of my favorites. BUT, the DNR recommends getting rid of them if you're near a wild or swamp area, as they can be quite invasive if not watched.
I too love Lily of the Valley. If I ever decide to get rid of plants I ask others if they would be interested in having them and dig the plants up to give away. Not that I do that all too often though.
I guess anything CAN be a weed if they grow in the wrong place.
I have several wild flowers growing in my... um, yard? It's still a work in progress. The butterflies and hummingbirds seem to like to hang out around here.
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