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How To Get Rid Of Unwanted Plants From Your Yard

Wouldn’t it be nice if every plant in your yard was just what you wanted? Unfortunately, weeds, poisonous plants, and invasive species make their way into our gardens more easily than we’d like. So, how do you get rid of unwanted plants?

a collage of unwanted plants.
Image credit: Backyard Garden Lover.

Some ways you can kill unwanted plants are:

  • mow over them repeatedly
  • pull them by hand
  • pour boiling water on their roots
  • pour vinegar over the roots
  • lay down some kind of barrier: newspaper, cardboard, black plastic, old carpet, etc.
  • mulch the area heavily
  • when all else fails, you might want to try a chemical method, though we try not to use anything that might harm wildlife

I like flipping the pages of a book, and if you are like that too, the book below has a lot of great information about invasive species.

Beyond the War on Invasive Species: A Permaculture Approach to Ecosystem Restoration

Another book that will help is The Gardener’s Weed Book.

It’s hard to keep unwanted plants out of the garden, but it’s not impossible. Here are guides to eliminating some of the more popular unwelcome plants you may find around your home.

How To Get Rid Of Weeds For Good

wheelbarrow filled with weeds.
Image credit: Backyard Garden Lover.

Weeds can make your garden look untended, suck up the nutrients, hog the water, and spread uncontrollably.

Here’s how to get rid of weeds.

How To Get Rid Of Periwinkle Ground Cover

purple periwinkle flowers.
Image credit: Backyard Garden Lover.

Vinca plants (periwinkle) are beautiful and easy to grow but can be invasive. If your yard has been invaded by it, here’s how to remove periwinkle from your yard.

How to Get Rid of Tree of Heaven

Tree of heaven.
Image credit: Backyard Garden Lover.

Tree of Heaven can cause allergies, irritate the skin, suppress other plants’ growth, and host other invasive species. You don’t want it in your yard. and if it’s there, you need to get rid of it before it takes over.

Here’s how to get rid of tree of heaven.

Why And How To Get Rid Of Jimsonweed

blooming Jimsonweed.
Image credit: Backyard Garden Lover.

Jimsonweed has gorgeous-looking flowers, but did you know that every part of it is poisonous?

Learn how (and why) to get rid of it from your yard.

Say Goodbye to Poison Ivy: Your Ultimate Guide to a Rash-Free Yard

poison ivy plants.
Image credit: Backyard Garden Lover.

Poison ivy benefits birds and wildlife but can wreak havoc on your family if you’re allergic to it.

Learn how to get rid of poison ivy plants around your house so you can enjoy spending time outdoors with your family.

3 Ways To Effectively Kill Poison Oak And Reclaim Your Backyard

poison oak leaves.
Image credit: Depositphotos.

Are you worried that your family will get poison oak rash from the poison oak in your yard? Here are 3 easy ways to get rid of poison oak plants from your backyard before you come into contact with it.

How To Get Rid Of Poison Sumac

poison sumac.
By Doug McGrady from Warwick, RI, USA – Toxicodendron vernix (poison-sumac), Dartmouth, MA, CC BY 2.0

Learn how to recognize poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) and ways to remove it from your backyard. And if you happen to touch it, you’ll find out how to keep from getting infected.

Here are 2 ways to remove poison sumac from your yard.

How To Get Rid Of English Ivy Naturally & Why You Should

house covered in English ivy.
Image credit: YAY Images.

Some people like the look of a house covered in English ivy, but this vine is destructive! If you need to know how to get rid of it without using harmful chemicals, Here are a few methods you can use to eradicate this nasty invasive vine.

Do you have an unwanted plant you’d like to get rid of from your yard? Let us know and we’ll try to help.

Many invasive plants are pretty, but make no mistake: you’ll be sorry if you plant them around your house. Learn more about invasive plants by state here. If you already have invasive species growing on your property, the guides at the link above will give you instructions on how to get rid of them. You’ll also find suggestions for native plants you can plant instead.

How to get rid of unwanted plants from your yard
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Adriana Copaceanu is a passionate nature lover living in the country on her dream property where she grows vegetables, lavender, and wildflowers that she shares with the wildlife they attract. When she's not in the garden, she loves spending time with her chickens and planning her next nature project. Check out her books below:

How to Grow Lavender for Fun and Profit: Lessons Learned from Planting Three Hundred Lavender Plants

How to Raise Chickens for Eggs: A Guide to Raising Happy, Healthy Chickens for Nutritious, Organic Eggs at Home

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Tuesday 23rd of August 2022

[…] Poison oak is a plant that grows wild in many areas, including the backyard and garden areas of many homeowners. If you’re allergic to poison oak, it can generate a severe reaction that causes an itchy rash. This rash can be very uncomfortable and it can spread easily to other parts of your body. For this reason, you need a fast easy way to get rid of this annoying plant. […]

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How To Get Rid Of Poison Sumac For Good

Tuesday 23rd of August 2022

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