Aggressive plants in the garden. Aggressive plants. Sosnovsky's hogweed - dangerous and merciless

Very often in our gardens not only weeds rage, but also cultivated plants. Some of them are called aggressors because, without proper control, they can quickly take over large areas of the garden. I will talk about some of them with which I have to fight most actively.

My most malicious enemy in terms of aggression is a very beautiful, tender plant, euphorbia cypress.

This is a low perennial with a height of 15 to 40 cm. With beautiful shoots and fragrant flowers, blooming in May-June and again in autumn. It reproduces vegetatively, its roots are very long, rapidly growing, brittle and it is almost impossible to dig them out. For reproduction, a tiny cut of the rhizome remaining in the soil is enough. If left unchecked, spurge can be far from its original landing site.
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My favorite luxury aquilegia perennial, which has many hybrid forms with simple and double flowers of the most diverse colors, very unpretentious, not requiring special care.

Flowering lasts a long time, but after the petals fall, the flower stalks must be cut, even despite the new buds. It is necessary to prevent the shedding of seeds that are spread throughout the site and it is completely unpredictable where we will find seedlings. At the same time, the decorativeness of the flowers, which we need to preserve, is completely lost, and the signs of the original variety are not preserved at all.

We all love the modest and tender forget-me-not garden - also a very aggressive plant.

Having brought a tiny bush of garden forget-me-not with sky-blue inflorescences and planted it in the garden, do not rush to be touched and rejoice. In the spring of next year, the first descendants of this bush will appear nearby, and after 2 years, the forget-me-not will confidently settle into the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe garden. It will grow everywhere - in the shade, in the sun, under trees, on paths. So be careful!!!

Very quickly mastered on the site decorative forms those plants that are considered classic weeds. Our vigilance is dulled by their noble origin, and after a while these plants develop the bad manners of their wild relatives.
For example, the tenacious creeping, which lives almost everywhere except Antarctica and America. Its decorative forms were bred and we began to plant a tenacious plant as a groundcover.

The plant is very unpretentious, 20 cm high with beautiful flowers white, pink and purple blue color. But it very quickly forms numerous creeping shoots that take root, forming daughter rosettes. They must be monitored and swim out in time, otherwise they will cover our lawns with a dense carpet and will grow on them for a long time, since the above-ground cover from these plants does not age and does not rot.

Recently, I talked about a variegated perennial with beautiful variegated leaves.

She should not be allowed to bloom, because from her scattered seeds grows, unfortunately, an ordinary harmful green gout, a weed that spreads around the site at the speed of a jet plane.

So, it is impossible to give the opportunity to breed those cultures that have a predisposition to weeding. Timely thorough weeding helps. True, it takes me a lot of time, and I do not use herbicides.

Therefore, those who are just starting to plant their dream garden, think about whether it is worth planting the plants that I talked about in your garden at all.

Among horticultural crops, there are both modest and neat soloists, as well as plants that can tirelessly expand and create entire thickets. Herbaceous perennials, prone to rapid growth and the formation of continuous plantings, are included in the list of the best landscape crops and conquer with textures, the beauty of dense curtains and massiveness. But such plants can be very insidious, they need caution and care. If you give them complete freedom, instead of a universal partner or placeholder, you will get an aggressor. Enough among perennials and plants that can be classified as poisonous, toxic, skin-irritating crops. And all garden aggressors, beautiful and dangerous at the same time, need a special approach.

Garden aggressors-invaders

The most beautiful and spectacular garden plants from among herbaceous perennial partners and landscape stars are not always harmless and friendly. Among herbaceous perennials there are cultures capable of capturing amazingly large areas in a short time. Aggressors easily suppress other plants, especially fragile crops that do not form large sods and develop in compact bushes.

As a rule, these are large herbaceous perennials with creeping rhizomes and shoots, capable of spreading to an amazing distance and far from being limited to the place they have been allocated. Such aggressors are conditionally called "invaders of territories". They are able to appear where they do not want to see.

In large areas and areas where you can afford to create large natural groups and plantings, aggressors can be a real find and a means to create spectacular landscape compositions. In modest-sized gardens, in flowerbeds, flower beds and flower beds, they can quickly turn from decoration, modest background or space filler into the biggest problem. In the design of flower beds, in the design of small gardens, many prefer to avoid "invaders" in every possible way, believing that even their over-decorativeness is not worth the effort. Such plants in decorative compositions have to be restrained, strictly controlled.

5 most beautiful invaders:

Spotted loosestrife

Spotted loosestrife ( Lysimachia punctata) - perennial is not just spectacular. Few plants can compete with him in large size, splendor and beauty of curtains. Straight, weakly branching shoots form dense bushes from 50 to 80 cm high, show off large ovate leaves in whorls and star-like bell-shaped bright yellow flowers, collected in spike-shaped inflorescences up to 50 cm long. This is one of the most indispensable garden plants for landscape compositions , creating large natural plantings and filling the soil with lush thickets. And definitely one of the most spectacular plants with a bright yellow color. But in the advantages of loosestrife lies its main disadvantages. This culture is growing so uncontrollably that it can become one of the most intrusive garden aggressors. The thing is that loosestrife actively releases creeping shoots collected in whorls and constantly expands the territory, forming dense thickets. At the same time, it looks, of course, amazing, but it forces out all its neighbors and subtly captures those territories that are not intended for it. The loosestrife must be monitored constantly.

Maclea heart-shaped

Maclea heart-shaped ( Macleaya Cordata) - another beauty is not for everyone. Large, carved, with a filigree edge of the plates and a grayish-green color, seeming emerald in the garden, the leaves, decorated with almost white veins, can become a unique backdrop for any decorative composition. This beauty grows up to 2 m in height, forms powerful bushes, surprises with textures, creates unique spots and is virtually unrivaled among large-leaved herbaceous plants. But at the same time, Maclea is so aggressive that it can ruthlessly displace nearby crops and literally suppress even the most persistent herbaceous perennials.

Common ostrich

One of the most spectacular ferns is the ostrich ( matteuccia struthiopteris) has powerful creeping rhizomes and bunched fronds up to 170 cm long. Fern greenery is extremely attractive and seems delicate and elegant. Thin, rushing upwards, blossoming from "snails", elongated, relatively narrow and long ostrich fronds seem almost straight. This fern has a unique talent for creating luxurious architectural accents. But its aggressive nature can outshine even the most annoying grassy competitors. Under favorable circumstances, the ostrich does not just spread, but weeds.

Stag sumac

Sumac deer-horned, or vinegar tree (rhus typhina). Equal sumacs large plants hard to find in the garden. The special beauty of feathery leaves, pyramids of inflorescences and seedlings is just a prelude to a bright autumn show, a picturesque fire in fiery tones that embraces these large shrubs or trees. The width of the crown of the sumac always exceeds its height. Even if you choose relatively compact varieties and restrain the growth of this tree, it will still constantly increase its volume. Sumac, which tends to constantly grow, literally spread out in breadth, in addition to its large size, has one more interesting advantage. This shrub is characterized by a unique ability to turn any wound on the roots into a new growth point. Any attempt to cut off its rhizome, chop off excess parts and simply separate the shoots and root shoots will only lead to the fact that this tree giant will release even more new and very strong shoots from each wound.

Bamboo

For those who are lucky enough to live in regions with mild winters, it is difficult to find a more aggressive and beautiful garden dweller than bamboo. At the same time, the ability to aggressively capture any free space is characteristic of both the largest varieties and dwarf bamboos. But there are species that are also suitable for regions with severe winters, when sheltered, they grow up to 2 m and fully show their aggressiveness - sazes ( saza) and fargesia ( fargesia). Charming, fast-growing shoots that make noise and tapping, can add several tens of centimeters per day. But the main growth of bamboo is always horizontal: it grows literally before our eyes.

Poisonous garden aggressors

Another category of aggressors is poisonous crops. Their leaves, shoots, flowers and berries, and sometimes roots contain toxins and volatile essential oils that can irritate the skin, lead to burns or infections. And the most dangerous such plants in sunny days. Contact with such aggressors can cause serious injury and health problems. They absolutely cannot be placed near paths, paths, recreation areas or terraces, in places with active movement in the garden.

5 most dangerous poisonous beauties:

Daphne

Charming wolfberry ( Daphne), we have known under the popular name "wolf's bast" - one of the most beautiful shrubs that bloom in early spring. Pink-red, seemingly catchy, almost bloody, flowers on its shoots create a truly magnificent sight and stand out even against the background of rhododendrons. A compact shrub up to 1.5 m high, whose foliage resembles laurels, forms a wide cupped crown and is very picturesque. The flowers are fragrant, with a long tube, densely sitting on the shoots. A very beautiful and very dangerous wolfberry can be one of the most spectacular accents in landscape design. But this plant requires an exceptionally balanced approach. This beautiful shrub is poisonous and requires exceptionally careful handling. It is ranked among the most dangerous horticultural crops. The use of the wolfberry is prohibited in the design of gardens where people come to relax with children and pets.

Hogweed Mantegazzi

Hogweed Mantegazzi ( heracleum mantegazzianum) conquers territory in a completely different way. This plant does not spread around the garden, but they scatter their seeds over very large areas and thus quickly conquer all new areas of soil. But this plant is called a “natural disaster” not at all for its tendency to uncontrolled spread. The thing is that the plant, or rather the glandular edge of its shoots and leaves, releases toxic, highly irritating substances to the skin, the consequences of contact with which are not so easy to overcome. As a result of the action of these toxins on the epidermis, the skin becomes hypersensitive to sunlight, blisters and burns appear on it, even from ambient lighting. Although outwardly hogweed is irresistible. This large herbaceous perennial produces shoots up to 3-5 m high, rising above the cushion of lower dissected, huge leaves with sharp lobes and white umbrella inflorescences up to 100 cm wide, hovering above the greenery with a hat. The flowering of hogweed in June-July, despite the specific smell, is unforgettable. And the beauty of the plant retains until frost.

Fighter

Unlike more "straightforward" pests, wrestler, or aconite ( aconite) does not leave a trace on the skin. But its poison is so strong that it penetrates under the skin and, without external damage, can cause considerable harm to the body. With this plant, you also need to work very carefully, trying to avoid the slightest careless contact. Straight-growing or climbing perennials with palmately divided leaves, irregular drooping bells of flowers in branched racemes of inflorescences up to 50 cm long adorn gardens from July to early October. And the luxurious colors of the blue palette only add to their charm.

Rue

Burns and blisters on sunny days are also left by plants that seem very modest. Ruta fragrant ( ruta graveolens) - a wonderful herbaceous perennial that can be used for spectacular borders, decorating decorative beds and herb gardens, creating a special textural effect on flower beds, leaves second-degree burns with its gray-green leaves. The beauty of the greenery of an evergreen shrub, pinnately dissected, creating an airy openwork pillow, is stunningly spectacular. And worth all the effort to follow the rules of safe handling. The reason for such aggressiveness of fragrant rue is in essential oils, which are released in striking amounts in sunlight, leading to severe burns.

castor oil

The largest of the annual plants, the soloist is the castor bean ( ricinus communis) with its huge leaves, under favorable conditions and on fertile soil, in just a few months it turns into a luxurious “palm tree” - the plant is also poisonous. But it is not the contact that is dangerous at all, but the seeds. Even one seed can lead to fatal poisoning. This plant should not be used in the design of the garden if children or pets play in it.

How to tame garden aggressors

Despite all their aggressiveness, large and dangerous garden dwellers are still considered indispensable tools. landscape design. In fact, they have much more talents than shortcomings. It's just that handling garden aggressors needs to be approached a little differently. You should not give up such plants for fear of uncontrolled seizure of the territory or too strong toxicity, unless you have small children. Just use the plants in your garden the right way. All strongly growing cultures are actually quite easy to curb.

When planting such plants, it is enough to install special screens or protective partitions in the soil along the perimeter of the planting pits or the territory in which they can grow.

The easiest option is to use old, no longer usable or damaged buckets and other large plastic containers. It is enough to cut off the bottom of the bucket to get rid of the risk of water stagnation in the substrate and acidification of the soil, the spread of rot. And plant herbaceous perennials not just in the planting hole, but in the plastic buckets installed in it. Curtains of even the most aggressive herbaceous perennials will not be able to go beyond the volume of the bucket, its walls will prevent expansion in breadth. In this case, you can save yourself from creeping shoots, and from unexpected root offspring that appear at a considerable distance.

But other techniques can also be used. For containment, it is enough to dig a limiter into the ground in the form of a strip of any synthetic material about 50-70 cm high along the perimeter of the area allowed for filling. As a barrier or screen, you can use materials left after construction or intended for disposal - acrylic, plastic, any synthetic material is fine. You can even use slate, linoleum or similar materials. To fully deter even such aggressors as sumac, ferns or bamboo, a screen thickness of about 2 mm will suffice.

To contain such plants without installing a barrier, you will have to regularly remove, cut off the excess, interfering shoots to the soil level.

To fight with poisonous plants much more difficult. First of all, you should always remember to protect the skin and take all necessary safety measures when working with plants. For most crops, special measures should only be taken on sunny days. But it is better to be more careful and always protect your hands with gloves, wear long sleeves. If contact with poisonous plants cannot be avoided, the skin must be thoroughly washed immediately.

If burns or severe irritation occur, do not self-medicate. If you have been in contact with dangerous garden plants, forgot about safety rules and violated all the rules when transplanting or pruning, seek medical help immediately. In the first aid kit, be sure to keep first aid and anti-allergy drugs, which, due to the vasoconstrictor effect, will help to reduce the affected area. But still, with any skin irritations, you should seek professional help.

Some plants are quite insidious. Some of them annoy us with an unbridled onslaught, others irritate the skin, and still others are generally very poisonous.

Plants are not always harmless. So, some of them are able to completely change the look of a carefully manicured flower bed in a short time. Thanks to creeping underground shoots, they suddenly emerge where we did not expect them at all and would not like to see them. In small gardens such aggressor plants should be avoided or kept in "hedgehogs".

These are, in particular: Macleia cordial(Macleaya cordata); the greyish-green leaves of Macleia are a delightful garden decoration. But timid neighbors are ruthlessly crowded out by MacLeia.

Or vinegar tree(Rhus typhina). Sumac is unusually beautiful in autumn attire. Unfortunately, he can be extremely intrusive, occupying an area that was not intended for him. Be careful with sumac: any wound on the roots stimulates the formation of a new shoot.

fern ostrich(Matteucia struthiopteris). The delicate green of ferns is deceptive. Many of them, like an ostrich, have a clearly aggressive character. Interfering shoots should be cut regularly, and part of the plants can simply be cut with the roots with a shovel. It is not worth abandoning completely overgrown plants. Many of them are quite manageable. For example, if you plant such a plant in a bucket without a bottom, its underground creeping shoots will not have a chance to go to the sides.

Growing tree species like sumac or plants that have already occupied a fairly large area, for example, dwarf bamboo or some types of ferns, can be kept within the desired boundaries by digging a root limiter into the ground - a strip of synthetic material 2 mm thick and 70 cm high.

A real disaster in the garden can be hogweed spreading by seeds. Its glandular hairs secrete substances that irritate the skin and make it unusually sensitive to sunlight.

This leads to burns and painful blisters. About the same thing will happen to you if you touch grayish-green leaves on sunny days. fragrant rue. Second-degree burns can be a sad consequence. The same applies to ash. So immediately wash the skin that comes into contact with these plants in sunlight.

In addition to the "irritating" plants, there are those that can cause severe poisoning.

Wolf's bast, or wolfberry (Daphne mezereum) in early spring sparkles with magnificent decoration of pink-red flowers. Remember that all parts of this beautiful shrub are highly poisonous.

There are poisonous plants in almost every garden, and often they are not even aware of it. Children should be seriously introduced to what is growing in the garden as early as possible. Where children play, do not plant plants with highly poisonous seeds, such as bean (golden rain), yew, lily of the valley and castor beans - after all, it is the fruits and seeds that are most attractive to children.

Castor bean (Ricinus communis) is sometimes called the miracle tree. But the poison of just one of his seeds can be a lethal dose! Some poisons act already with one touch to the plant.

The strong poison of aconite penetrates under the skin without even causing external damage. So this plant next to children is an undeniable taboo. And gardeners working with aconite are advised to wear gloves.

When poisoning, it is important to know: never experiment with home remedies. Sometimes even those that have proven themselves can, on the contrary, increase the consequences of poisoning. Be sure to see a doctor. This also applies to cases of skin irritation caused by substances contained in plants. And be especially careful and careful when children play in the garden.

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