Pulling weeds and removing invasive plants isn't exactly the most enjoyable gardening task, but there's definitely a sense of satisfaction in seeing the pile of unwanted undergrowth you've pulled from the soil.
One Reddit user posted a picture of a huge amount of honeysuckle they'd pulled out of their garden to the r/NativePlantGardening community.
Photo credit: Reddit
“And that's just in the front yard,” they commented. “There's plenty more in the back yard. Unfortunately, all the way across the lawn is marshland and the town already threatened me once for trying to get rid of invasive plants in my back yard. It must be a lot worse in the marshland, but there's honeysuckle, wisteria and bittersweet and you can't even touch it.”
The town's attitude towards gardeners removing invasive plants is a bit puzzling. The negative reaction may be to protect the wetlands from harsh herbicides, but removing invasive plants is supposed to be good for the ecosystem.
According to the Invasive Species Center, honeysuckle competes with native plants for sunlight, nutrients and space, leading to monocultures and potentially impacting biodiversity. Wisteria has a similar effect, and wormwood vines can wrap around trees, effectively suffocating them to death.
But addressing invasive species in your yard as soon as possible can help prevent them from spreading too quickly. Native plants that are well suited to local conditions and require little maintenance compared to a typical monoculture lawn will thank you, and your important pollinators and neighbors will thank you, too.
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Reddit users shared similar tales of woe involving honeysuckle.
“Great job!” said one user after seeing the torn up piles. “There's stuff lying around all over the neighborhood.”
“They're everywhere in my area,” another added. “It's crazy.”
Some people shared tips for getting rid of the plants.
“I cut down my honeysuckle and then just pulled it out whenever new shoots appeared,” one gardener told me. “It took two seasons to use up all the root reserves, but it eventually died. It's not quick, but it's chemical-free and easy (once you've cut it down).”
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