Gardener tells of “drama” after discovering uninvited “guest” in the garden next to the plant tent: “What should I do?”

A gardener came home to find an invasive species had been planted next to his container garden in front of his apartment. The gardener posted some pictures of the newly planted mint branches next to his container plants on the r/ContainerGardening subreddit.

“Drama in the garden… what do I do?” they wrote.

Someone planted this mint very close to my plant tent? And buried a big chunk of my watermelon vine in the process? Is this…the gardening equivalent of someone putting a horse’s head in your bed?” the original poster asked, referencing an infamous scene in The Godfather.

For context, the OP had shared that many of her neighbors had praised her garden in front of the apartment – including her landlord, who said the garden was “a great idea”.

Mint has been known to overgrow garden beds and almost requires an exorcism to get rid of it. If left to grow freely, it will “cover the entire garden,” the OP wrote.

Invasive species outcompete native plants for water and nutrients in the soil, contributing to their rapid growth. Invasive plants disrupt ecosystems as pollinators and native species that rely on native plants for food and shelter find their native plants “crowded out” of the garden.

Pulling out the invasive plant by hand may be the best method to completely remove the plant’s root system and ensure that it does not go wild or grow back aggressively. As many mint owners have discovered, planting mint in a pot is the best way to control mint growth and protect a native garden.

Native lawns and gardens composed of native plants attract pollinators that protect our food supply. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 35% of the world’s food crops rely on pollinators for reproduction.

A lawn with native plants and low-growing ground covers will save you money and energy on lawn care while requiring less water for maintenance. Consider replacing your lawn with native plants that attract pollinators, such as buffalo grass or clover, or planting it with drought-tolerant plants to reduce lawn care hassle and free up more time for what matters.

🗣️ What’s the worst thing about garden maintenance?

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“I’m sure the neighbors were just trying to get involved and have no idea they did anything offensive,” one user suggested.

Another joked: “Send me the mint! No seriously, I use so much of it in cooking that I can’t keep enough in my containers!”

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