topic Re: Invasive Blackeyed Susans in Garden

Invasive Blackeyed Susans

Biftu — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 20:12:20 GMT

I love Blackeyed Susans but they have taken over my garden. If they were somewhere else in my garden it would be ok, but they are in an area in the back of my house and have taken over everything. Last year I dug some out but they are back and drooping over. They even moved to another section that had day lilies, now they have taken over that section too. If I try digging them out again, I really have no where to plant them. My neighbor across the street has them in her front garden and they made their way and invaded the area around my lamppost. What to do?

Re: Invasive Blackeyed Susans

BklynKinsey — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 20:16:48 GMT

I have them in my front garden. I have to really work at it to keep them in check. If I find some growing in another area, I just pull them up and discard them as weeds.

Re: Invasive Blackeyed Susans

ValuSkr — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 20:25:32 GMT

Pull them out by hand in the spring and stay on top of ithe situation through summer.

My neighbor used to garden a little, but seems to have lost all interest. Blackeyed susans have taken over his front and back gardens, and spread to a neighbor's garden across the road (similarly, she has little interest in gardening). .In back, his gardens are adjacent to mine, so I'm ever on the watch for volunteers.

I think blackeyed susans are pretty as wildflowers, but they have no place in most home gardens.

Re: Invasive Blackeyed Susans

Patriot3 — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 20:27:16 GMT

I grew them just once. Yes, invasive and so are columbines. I just kept pulling them out until they were gone. They're pretty, but............

Re: Invasive Blackeyed Susans

PA Mom-mom — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 20:43:04 GMT

@Biftu I agree with @ValuSkr . You have to spot them in the spring and pull them. Then be on the lookout through the summer and continue to pull. Only allow them where you want them. I allow them to grow near my birdbaths, so the birds have somewhere to perch and will have seeds for the fall. I also cut back the plants around July 4. They seem to be less leggy that way.

Re: Invasive Blackeyed Susans

Biftu — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 21:21:17 GMT

Thanks everyone, I was beginning to think it was just me. I did not plant them, they were here when I moved in. I feel bad just throwing them out, but they asked for it!

Re: Invasive Blackeyed Susans

goldensrbest — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 11:23:37 GMT

They do spread, what i had a problem with was bee balm,i planted one bunch 3 yrs. ago,and they just took over,dug up,pulled up.

Re: Invasive Blackeyed Susans

ValuSkr — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 11:30:03 GMT

@goldensrbest wrote:
They do spread, what i had a problem with was bee balm,i planted one bunch 3 yrs. ago,and they just took over,dug up,pulled up.

Yes, bee balm is another one that spreads like crazy. I had it for three or four years before removing altogther. It was taking over my small garden. I believe it spreads by rhizome, unlike blackeyed susan which spreads by reseeding.

Re: Invasive Blackeyed Susans

goldensrbest — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 11:33:58 GMT

@ValuSkr wrote:
@goldensrbest wrote:
They do spread, what i had a problem with was bee balm,i planted one bunch 3 yrs. ago,and they just took over,dug up,pulled up.
Yes, bee balm is another one that spreads like crazy. I had it for three or four years before removing altogther. It was taking over my small garden. I believe it spreads by rhizome, unlike blackeyed susan which spreads by reseeding.

Yes,it does it is in the family of mint.I put plants out by my driveway,advertised in local online site,i had for free,people just kept coming to get them.

Re: Invasive Blackeyed Susans

Dazlin — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 12:01:32 GMT

I love blackeyed Susie's...i bought a potted plant and it died. Did any of you start these from seeds? I'd like to try again...my husband is working on a new area in our side pasture, plenty of room. Im in Florida, still warm here...maybe he could start a few in small pots and plant in early spring??

Re: Invasive Blackeyed Susans

goldensrbest — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 12:08:13 GMT

@Dazlin wrote:
I love blackeyed Susie's...i bought a potted plant and it died. Did any of you start these from seeds? I'd like to try again...my husband is working on a new area in our side pasture, plenty of room. Im in Florida, still warm here...maybe he could start a few in small pots and plant in early spring??

One plant is what i started with many years ago,wish i could give you mine.

Re: Invasive Blackeyed Susans

Dazlin — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 14:20:16 GMT

@goldensrbest ...LOL...I was going to ask if I can have some😄. Ill see if stores still have seeds out...i wonder if they are a cool weather flower, but ill give it shot again.

Re: Invasive Blackeyed Susans

depglass — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 22:00:44 GMT

They are one of the plants on our state's (Michigan) invasive species list. After reading this thread I now know why. The most prolific around here is purple loosestrife. The strange thing is I just love that plant. It grows mainly along the road in ditches, it makes the road look better IMHO.

Re: Invasive Blackeyed Susans

Lilysmom — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 10:59:27 GMT

@Dazlin , I am in zone 5 and they thrive here as well. LM

Re: Invasive Blackeyed Susans

Dazlin — Sat, 12 Sep 2020 16:25:04 GMT

Stores are not selling seeds now, so hubby ordered online. Hes going to start in small pots...hopefully I'll have pics to share next summer. We don't mind if they spread. I love them, they remind me of old country flowers 💐

Re: Invasive Blackeyed Susans

GoneButNotForgotten — Sun, 13 Sep 2020 15:23:16 GMT

speaking of invasive...I dare anyone here to try to get rid of feverfew...I've been trying for 20+years and they keep coming back.

Re: Invasive Blackeyed Susans

Wahoogaz — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 03:23:51 GMT

I wish I had that problem. I never had a problem growing them in MD, but I can't keep them alive through a summer here in NM.

Re: Invasive Blackeyed Susans

bonnielu — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 23:52:20 GMT

I wish I had them taking over. Having trouble even growing them. I will just give you my contact information and you can mail them to me. LOL

Re: Invasive Blackeyed Susans

gardenman — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 13:21:33 GMT

I've grown them here for years and they've never been invasive for me. In fact, they don't spread at all. Maybe the local goldfinch population eats the seeds before they can spread?