Weeds

How do I get rid of a huge infestation of invasive Bishop’s Weed?  It is into and under everything!   I do not want to use Roundup.

The qualities that make a plant a good ground cover also make them terrible weeds. A ground cover needs to be resilient, able to spread quickly to fill a space and recover from any damage. They need to be relentless—like Roman legions—tightly grouped together and marching forward to take over new lands with a constant supply of fresh troops. Bishop’s weed—also known as box elder (Aegopodium podagraria)—is a similar invader. At first, it tempts us with its civilized ways—so attractive, so tidy, so bright. It seemed to be on our side, crowding out other weeds while supporting our garden culture.

Soon enough, though, its aggressive nature turned on us. It started crowding out other plants and dominating every bed it was in. It spread through fleshy underground roots (rhizomes) that could withstand a lot of damage and quickly bounce back. Worst of all, it sent out saboteurs through its seeds. These little spies would pop up in unsuspecting places—everywhere from other gardens to neglected areas, and, worst of all, our woods. It also lost its veneer of civility as new generations of seedlings stopped being variegated. Now, we have to live with the terror of its subsequent generations.

It's tough to root out. The roots are resilient, and they break easily, making it very difficult to eliminate. The seeds will always be there. I’m afraid the only way to deal with them is a constant battle.

1. Keep digging - you may not win the battle, but constant attrition will weaken it.

2. If you cannot dig it out, cut back the foliage - this doesn’t help much but it will reduce its food source and it will help eliminate the flowers 

3. Don’t let it set seed!

Fewer seeds and reduced vigor won’t eliminate it, but it will make it a less formidable enemy. 

Keep fighting the good fight!

Dividing Yucca

I have an Adam’s Needle Yucca which has two flower stalks. I would like to divide it but have no idea how or when to do this. What do you advise? Mary B

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Answer:

Yucca divide well but you have to dig deep. Sometimes the root junction is pretty close to the surface so you can try to separate the offshoot by digging around it to find where it connects to the main root. When you find the junction use a folding pruning saw to cut it off. The parent plant likely won't even notice the separation. 

I would wait until early spring (March) and use the folding saw to cut off ALL the foliage (don't worry, it will grow back.)

If you'd want to dig up the entire plant, use a narrow spade to dig around it, going at least a foot deep. The root system will resemble a horseradish that you can divide so each new plant has some root. The parent is immortal: the  roots are very deep and tough, and it is almost impossible to dig it all up by hand. 

If you only want to remove some extra flower stems, just cut them off when you see them (usually around May). 

While I’ve never dug up a whole yucca myself, I would imagine its root system can be as big as your arm!

In this image, the quarter is at the root junction and you can cut off the two offshoots. It’s easier to see if you dig the whole thing up, but you can feel around in the soil - they aren’t that hard to find with your fingers.

The roots can get much thicker than this , Source: Arkansas Native Plant Society

Why I Don’t Keep Things Simple

Gardening Advice for the Real World

In the world of gardening, there’s no shortage of advice—often oversimplified and occasionally a bit misleading. You've probably seen headlines like "5 Easy Plants to Grow" or "Garden in 10 Minutes a Day!" And while I get the appeal of simple, quick fixes, here's the reality: gardening isn’t simple, and it shouldn’t be.

I’ve spent 30 years gardening, am a Master Gardener here in Connecticut, and I’m deeply involved with my local garden club and as a professional in horticulture and garden design. Over all these years, I’ve done a lot of experimenting and learned a ton by trying things out in my own garden. I’ve found that while there are some guidelines to follow, gardening is a lot more flexible than we’re often told.

A lot of the standard advice out there is overly rigid, and much of it doesn’t always work in every situation. Some tips are outdated, others feel like they’re more rooted in tradition than practical experience, and some are just plain myths. It’s important to approach gardening with a mindset of flexibility and experimentation.

Why I’m Not Here to “Dumb Things Down”

It’s easy to see the appeal of simplified advice—the kind that says “just plant this and water that.” But if you’ve been gardening for a while, you know that things aren’t always that simple. While some gardening tips are perfectly solid, others are based on outdated information or are just too doctrinaire to be helpful in the long run.

Take, for example, the standard advice about sun exposure. We’ve all heard that certain plants need “full sun,” meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight. And sometimes, yes, that’s absolutely correct. But in many cases, you’ll find that plants are more adaptable than we give them credit for. You can grow a lot of plants in less-than-ideal conditions, and they’ll be perfectly happy. I’ve had plants thrive in areas with less sun or in soil that doesn’t meet the “ideal” specifications. It’s about working with the conditions you have, not just following rigid rules.

The Real Truth About Gardening

Through years of experimenting, I’ve learned that gardening is about adaptability. It’s not about blindly following rules. Some advice—like when to prune certain shrubs or how to space your plants—is pretty solid. But much of it leaves out the nuances, the things that truly matter when you’re working with live, growing things that have a mind of their own.

For example, there’s plenty of advice out there that says you have to “plant in well-drained soil” for a plant to thrive. That’s a good rule of thumb, but there’s more to the story. If you learn how to amend your soil or choose the right plant for your environment, you can make less-than-ideal soil work. The key is knowing how to adjust and problem-solve as you go.

The Dangers of “One-Size-Fits-All” Advice

I get why gardening advice is often simplified—it’s easier to digest and share. But in my experience, gardening isn’t a one-size-fits-all endeavor. The plants in your garden will grow differently than mine because our conditions—sun, soil, water—are different. And just because something worked for someone else doesn’t mean it’s the best solution for you.

That’s why I don’t believe in oversimplifying things. Instead, I focus on practical advice based on real-world experimentation. I’ll tell you about the times I’ve broken the rules, the times I’ve made mistakes, and the times I’ve learned something new that completely changed how I approach my garden.

What You Can Expect Here

If you’re looking for the latest “quick fix” or a set of rules that promise to make your garden perfect with minimal effort, this may not be the place for you. But if you’re ready for honest, thoughtful gardening advice, based on years of experience and hands-on experimentation, then welcome. Here’s what you’ll find:

• Practical tips that come from real-life experience, not just theory.

• A flexible approach to gardening that recognizes the uniqueness of every garden.

• Insights into why things work (or don’t work), so you can make informed decisions.

• Strategies for adapting to the challenges that every gardener faces, from soil issues to unpredictable weather.

Gardening isn’t about following a set of hard and fast rules. It’s about understanding the conditions you have, experimenting with what works for you, and adjusting as needed. I’m here to help you navigate that process—no gimmicks, no oversimplified advice.

So, if you’re looking for gardening advice that’s down-to-earth and grounded in reality, stick around. I’m here to give you the tools to deal with the complexities—and make your garden thrive.