Managing Aggressively Spreading Plants

Plants
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John F. Abate is the sole owner of multiple companies, including Marketforce, Wintrack, and Success Publishers, LLC. Outside of his professional life, John F. Abate enjoys gardening.

One thing every gardener eventually deals with is aggressively growing plants. If left too long, an aggressive species can begin to choke out the other plants in your garden. Fortunately, there are precautions you can take to help prevent this from happening to your garden.

Plants spread in one of two ways, through seeds or through their root system. The type of propagation your plant utilizes will dictate the method you use to prevent spreading.

For plants that spread through seeding, deadheading the flowers before the plants go to seed will prevent the process entirely. To deadhead a plant, wait until the flower is starting to die and cut it off. The plant will focus its energy on growing the flower again instead of growing seeds.

For plants that spread through their root system, your best defense is to plant them in a pot. Bury the pot partially in the ground after drilling or cutting a hole in the bottom for drainage. The hole will also allow your plant’s roots to grow further down into the soil without letting them spread.

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The Health Benefits of Gardening

 

Gardening
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A two-time graduate of Monmouth University, John F. Abate is a New Jersey resident whose professional work centers on the ownership and operation of the websites Marketforce, Wintrack, and Success Publishers, LLC. When he is offline, John F. Abate enjoys spending his free time engaging in hobbies like gardening.

Beyond its value as a relaxing pastime, recent studies have shown that gardening may actually have a number of important health benefits. One study conducted by researchers in the Netherlands found that gardening outside was particularly useful for lowering stress. Those who participated in the activity had lower levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, and displayed more elevated mood levels than study participants who engaged in a session of reading indoors.

Another study from 2013 indicates that people who garden regularly may reduce the likelihood of both stroke and heart disease. Spending time in a garden has also been shown to have a positive effect on immune regulation, symptoms of depression, and may even help reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Additionally, when performed in a social setting, such as a community garden, this dynamic hobby has also been proven to deter loneliness. It allows gardeners to bond and connect with others who share common interests.