Small backyards have the potential to produce an abundance of flowers and vegetables with proper planning. However, there are certain plants and trees that can overwhelm your limited space and impede overall growth. To help you maximize your garden and avoid any plants that may dominate or deplete resources, we consulted experts on what to avoid cultivating in a small area.
Expert Contributors:
– Charlotte Glen, Horticulturist and Master Gardener Program Manager at North Carolina State University
– John Lorusso, Horticulturist and Master Gardener Program Coordinator at the University of Connecticut
Lilac:
Lilac is renowned for its beautiful, fragrant blooms, making it a tempting choice for a small yard. However, the maintenance can be demanding. According to Lorusso, Syringa species can grow very large and require frequent pruning. This advice also applies to buckeye (Aesculus) and bottlebrush (Melaleuca) species. While a dwarf lilac may be suitable for your space, they can still expand significantly in width and height.
Willow Trees:
Willow trees are known for their majestic appearance, long drooping branches, and delicate leaves. They thrive in moist environments, which might be challenging to maintain in a small yard. Additionally, their extensive root system needs ample space. Lorusso warns that willow roots grow near the surface, potentially disrupting other plantings and causing damage to infrastructure like sidewalks and driveways. Their susceptibility to high winds can also pose a risk, especially if planted near buildings.
Peppermint or Spearmint:
Mint plants are aromatic and resilient, thriving in sunny conditions with minimal watering requirements. Glen advises against planting them in the ground as they can spread rapidly and take over your yard. Instead, keep mint in containers alongside other herbs. Place the containers on solid surfaces like brick or concrete to prevent root escape.
Golden Bamboo:
While bamboo can serve as an effective garden screen due to its dense growth, it can be challenging to control in a small yard. Golden bamboo, in particular, is known for its aggressive spreading tendencies and invasive nature. Glen cautions that it can penetrate concrete and flooring, causing damage. She highlights the existence of non-invasive clumping bamboo varieties, emphasizing the importance of research when selecting bamboo species.
Leyland Cypress:
Cypress trees are commonly used as a fast-growing screen to fill empty spaces rapidly. However, if you have a small yard, this tree may dominate most of the available space. According to Glen, a horticulturist, Leyland cypress can grow up to 60 feet tall and 10 feet wide, quickly overwhelming smaller areas. Even in larger yards, this tree should be avoided due to its susceptibility to serious diseases that may lead to plant death within a few years of symptoms appearing.
Similarly, the green giant thuja poses similar challenges as the Leyland cypress, making it unsuitable for planting in smaller yards. While it has fewer disease issues, its large size and rapid growth can quickly take over limited spaces. Glen recommends considering slower-growing varieties like Holmstrup or smaller evergreens as better alternatives.
In the case of coral honeysuckle, it may have a pleasant scent and attract pollinators, but its vines can overtake any structure in their path. Glen advises against planting it in small yards as it can easily climb to 20 feet and overwhelm structures like trellises or mailboxes. When choosing vines, it’s important to select non-invasive varieties that match your support structures.
Some perennials, such as bee balm, spread aggressively through rhizomatous root systems. While bee balm attracts pollinators and has a pleasant fragrance, it can quickly spread across a small area and outcompete less aggressive plants. These plants are suitable for filling large natural areas quickly but are too aggressive for smaller spaces.
