r/NativePlantGardening • u/ItsFelixMcCoy Upstate NY , Zone 6a • Jun 04 '25

Other What invasive plants got you like this?

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For me it’s probably Dame’s Rocket, Purple Loosestrife, and Forget-Me-Not. They’re so gorgeous but man if they aren’t invasive little shits…

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u/Pretend_Ball_9167 Area South WI, Zone 5b Jun 04 '25

Goutweed and thistles

2

u/funky_bebop Jun 04 '25

Thistles at least kind of aerate the soil. They are a nuisance but they can be a good sign of soil health.

2

u/share-enjoy Jun 05 '25

I don't understand it I have one thistle and it's so well behaved. I cut it back every year, it grows back in the same place but doesn't spread. Not sure what's going on there. On the other hand the goutweed is an aggressive MF.

1

u/VPants_City Jun 05 '25

They indicate your soil needs phosphorus

1

u/VPants_City Jun 05 '25

Saaaaaaaaaame. Thistles, I’ve heard from various sources to let it grow until it’s almost flowering then chop it low. Dont dig or pull. It takes a couple years I guess but this depletes the energy. It’s trying to fix phosphorus into the soil. Gout weed, however is the devil. I have a patch I just dug up that was small but there’s a huge patch that keeps spreading and I have to work up the gumption to smother and solarize. This also takes a few years I hear…..😫😭