Herbs, Fruits, And Vegetables That Can Take Over Your Yard
Every gardener dreams of bountiful crop yields. It’s only natural to want every plant to flourish and provide you with endless fresh food throughout the summer. While it’s great to hope for lots of produce, be careful what you wish for. Several herbs, fruits, and vegetables can spread rapidly and overtake your entire garden.
Some common vegetables that are known to spread throughout a garden include asparagus, rhubarb, sweet potato, and zucchini. Several tropical fruits, including banana trees and passion fruit vines, can also quickly consume a large outdoor area. Many herbs, including mint, lemongrass, oregano, dill, and horseradish, must be kept in check to prevent them from taking over a garden.
As you select all the plants you want to grow, you naturally want to choose varieties that will thrive. Unfortunately, in gardening, it’s possible to have too much of a good thing. Some plants do so well that they overshadow, smother, or kill other growing things if left unchecked. If you’re new to gardening and don’t know what to add to your new herb, fruit nd vegetable garden, keep reading. Below is a list of varieties tcan potentially take over your yard.
14 Herbs, Fruits, And Vegetables That Can Take Over A Garden
1. Banana Tree
A Banana tree is palm-like plant that bring an instant tropical vibe to any garden. There are more than 1,000 types of banana trees, and many produce delicious sweet or savory bananas you can grow in your backyard. While there are obvious benefits to growing banana trees, they can also take over a space if you aren’t careful. Unlike many other trees, these plants spread underground using stem systems called corms. If left unchecked, one tree can multiply, and within a year or two, you can have a small forest cluster.
2. Ginger
Ginger can be a wonderful to grow. This root provides many natural remedies, and it is a staple in Asian cooking. The plant itself is also lovely, with long stalks and fragrant flowers. While everything looks tame above ground, it may be growing quickly underground through its rhizomes, which spread when conditions are favorable. If left unchecked, a healthy ginger plant will continue to spread throughout your yard, and once established, it is difficult to remove.
3. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a delicious and nutritious root vegetable. They add sweetness and essential vitamins to savory meals, and they are easy to grow in many climates. They are a great choice if you’re new to gardening, as the success rate is high, even if there’s a long cultivating wait. However, these plants will continue to grow and multiply until all the roots are removed. If you forget to pull up a few of these plants, you may return to your garden months later to see sweet potato leaves covering previously bare soil.
4. Asparagus
Asparagus is one of the few perennial vegetables, which means that if you grow it successfully one year, there is a strong possibility it will grow back year after year. This stalky plant can take several years to prosper, but once it’s established, it can take over your garden. Each spring, inspect the asparagus and its root system. If it’s expanding into your yard or into space it doesn’t belong, trim it back to avoid rapid spread.
6. Chives
Several herbs can almost be as opportunistic as weeds in the right environment. Chives are an example of an herb that grows and spreads almost as rapidly as grass. The reason is that it grows above and below ground. It creates new bulbs underground, quickly multiplying beneath the surface. Simultaneously, it grows seeds that spread rapidly. Consider keeping this herb in a large pot to help contain it.
7. Mint
There are many types of mint, and while they are all distinct, each can expand quickly in a garden. It’s a perennial herb that will come back year after year, even in regions with cold winters. If you plant mint in the ground, don’t be surprised if it covers the entire area and begins to take over. To keep it in check, place it in a pot or in an area, like a sunny patch of dirt.
8. Oregano
This is another herb that spreads, providing fragrant ground cover, which can get out of control if left alone. Oregano spreads through underground rhizomes, stem roots, and also by seed. With three different methods of multiplying, it is one of the fastest spreading herbs. Unless your goal is to allow this plant to grow freely, keep it in a contained area, ideally in a raised garden bed or pot.
9. Dill
Dill doesn’t spread outward like mint and oregano, but it can still overwhelm a garden. The reason is its thousands of seeds. Dill produces tons of viable seeds, and disperses them quickly. Within months, you can find new plants popping up in nearby patches of soil. If you notice your dill plant going to seed, trim it back to help prevent it from taking over your garden.
10. Horseradish
This is another great root to grow, but it is often impossible to get rid of once it’s established. Like ginger, it spreads rapidly underground, aggressively and quickly. If you’re thinking about adding horseradish to your garden, place it in a large pot, and it will come back each year as long as you keep adding fresh soil and nutrients.
11. Zucchini
Zucchini is a popular vegetable found in gardens. They are easy to grow in various climates, and each plant can produce many large and delicious green squash. While they are easy to cultivate, they can also overwhelm a garden. Zucchini plants grow large and, if left unchecked, can extend several feet in each direction, blocking sunlight from neighboring plants. Ensure you give zucchini plants ample space in the garden, and trim them back if they’re overtaking other, more vulnerable plants nearby.
12. Rhubarb
This is a perennial that is common in cooler climates. Its red stalks are used in various dishes, from savory to sweet, as well as in pies. It’s a good choice for those looking for species that will return year after year, although it can also grow out of control. Since it’s a perennial, rhubarb tends to expand in a garden as time goes on, especially if not cut back. If you see the plant multiplying, consider digging up the new growth and gifting it to a friend.
13. Lemongrass
Lemongrass is a fantastic herb and a decorative grass. It’s delicious in various Asian recipes, and also makes fragrant tea and essential oil. It can even help keep mosquitoes away naturally. Like many grasses, however, lemongrass can take over an area and spread rapidly. If you don’t want a large field of lemongrass in your backyard, keep it in a container garden or a raised garden bed. Alternatively, you can diligently remove fresh growth as it gets too close to other plants.
14. Passion Fruit Vines
Passion fruit is a great plant to grow in subtropical and tropical climates. It’s a lovely climbing vine that produces stunning flowers that over time, turn into tart fruit. While it's great to grow on a pergola or trellis, if left unchecked, it can spread all over your yard and even climb up your home. Keep an eye it, and ensure you redirect the vine if it’s heading in a direction you don’t want it to go. After each harvest, trim the plant back to keep it manageable.
Summing Up Herbs, Fruits, And Vegetables That Can Take Over A Yard
It’s only natural to want all of your plants to succeed, but you never want one plant’s success to contribute to another’s demise. Some plants do so well, they can spread all over your yard and swallow up the other plants in the process. The best way to prevent this is to know which plants you need to look out for.
Banana trees, ginger, sweet potatoes, and zucchini are known to spread rapidly. Asparagus and rhubarb are perennials that can spread rapidly once established. Several herbs, including mint, oregano, dill, chives, and lemongrass, are also known to spread faster than you may want them to.
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Tom Gaffey is an expert writer who currently resides in Washington D.C. Tom has a passion for real estate and home improvement writing, as well as travel and lifestyle writing. He lived the last twelve years in Hawaii where he worked closely with luxury resorts and event planners, mastering his knowledge of aesthetics and luxury products. This is where he found his passion for home improvement and a keen interest in DIY projects. Currently, Tom resides in Washington D.C, and also working on his debut fiction novel.
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