News Release Distributed 09/17/10

By late summer, it’s not at all uncommon to see landscape beds that have grown decidedly untidy. Tall plants shade out or fall over onto smaller plants. Plants spread into areas where they weren’t intended to grow. Vines develop a mind of their own and take off in totally unexpected directions. Without the guiding hand of the gardener, the resulting chaos can lead to one big mess.

Some of these problems can be avoided by becoming familiar with a plant before you plant it. In particular, you should always know what the mature size of a plant will be. It’s amazing that people always ask how big the puppy they’re thinking about taking home will grow, yet they often fail to ask about the mature size of the plants they buy for their gardens. This results in trees, shrubs or perennials that eventually become too large for their locations.

Even in a well-planned landscape, though, the gardener’s controlling influence is important. The most useful methods for dealing with especially enthusiastic plants are pruning, supporting, removing or creating barriers to prevent unwanted spreading.

When it comes to pruning, it’s good to remember that it’s better to prune lightly occasionally as needed, than to allow a plant to get way overgrown and then cut it back severely. A few judicious snips here and there help keep more vigorous plants from overwhelming their less vigorous neighbors. Done properly and regularly, this type of pruning is not even noticeable.

Pruning can control the size or shape of a plant or influence how it grows. Lightly trimming back plants like coleus, hibiscus or impatiens every now and then will keep them more compact and bushy. Cutting wild shoots that occasionally occur on shrubs will keep them more shapely and attractive. And, of course, removing or shortening growth that is covering nearby plants will help those plants to stay healthy.

Staking or otherwise supporting plants keeps them from leaning or falling over onto others. It helps the tall plant look better, and obviously benefits the plants that would otherwise be covered. The stake should be tall enough to do the job but not be too obvious. If young children will be playing around the garden, however, the stakes should be taller than the children to reduce the possibility of injury. You should also be careful when bending over in beds where plants have been staked.

Stakes may simply be placed in such a way that the plant is supported by leaning up against it. On the other hand, it may be necessary to tie the plant to the stake. Green, brown or black twine or plastic ties will be less obvious than other colors. Make sure you tie the lower and upper parts of the plant to the stake to provide proper support.

Another less noticeable and often useful way to support plants involves the use of a brick or stone and works remarkably well. Straighten the plant up into the desired position, and then wedge a brick or stone at the base. You will find that the support at the base often will hold the plant more upright without being visible. If this doesn’t work, a stake might be necessary.

Other techniques for support include tying twine in a loop all the way around a plant, using a wire cage – this is best done early in the growing season to allow the plant to grow into it – tying a plant to a sturdier, nearby plant and using one of the commercially available support systems, of which there are many.

Many perennials and tropicals spread by rhizomes underground – some fast and some slow. If growth shows up outside the area you’ve allotted for that plant, promptly dig out the unwanted growth and replant it somewhere else, pot it up for a friend or throw it away.

Barriers extending at least one foot down into the ground around aggressive spreaders can help keep them under control. Sometimes a plant can be planted in a container with the bottom cut out and then placed into the ground to limit or slow spreading. Digging, dividing and replanting clumps of aggressive spreaders annually is another good way to make sure they stay put.

Use your imagination and deal with each situation creatively. The important thing is to act promptly and regularly where control is necessary.

Visit LaHouse in Baton Rouge to see sustainable landscape practices in action. The home and landscape resource center is near the intersection of Burbank Drive and Nicholson Drive (Louisiana Highway 30) in Baton Rouge, across the street from the LSU baseball stadium. For more information, go to www.lsuagcenter.com/lahouse and www.lsuagcenter.com/lyn.

Rick Bogren