Revised Article
Gardening Mistakes to Avoid: Discover the Plants I Regret Growing in My Garden
Hey there, green thumb! I'm here to share my disappointing garden tales, the painful lessons I've learned and the plants I wish I'd never grown. As a gardening editor, I've planted all sorts of perennials and climbing plants, but even a pro like me ends up with more flops than showstoppers.
Sure, having a professional gardener for a hubby could be seen as living the dream, but it's actually the ultimate busman's holiday... and then there's the pesky pests, droughts, and a mischievous toddler with a love for carrot seeds. Here's my personal blacklist of plants I won't be growing again.
(Yes, it's me who let the mint loose in the garden borders. Don't tell my husband.)
9 Plants I Won't Be Growing Again
From slug-ravaged hostas to thirsty-as-a-fish bamboo, here are the plants I regret growing and have put on my permanent do-not-grow list.
1. Hostas
Despite being a shady garden staple, I have officially declared hostas a no-go for me. Why? Because they seem to be hosting a never-ending slug party in my garden! I'd rather enjoy my herb garden than spend hours battling slimy invaders each night.
2. Potatoes
I was thrilled when I decided to grow potatoes, but let's just say, someone else had already claimed them. Rodents, I suspect. The thought of little, furry hands rummaging through the soil with mischievous intent ruins my appetite for homegrown spuds.
3. Jasmine (In the Wrong Spot)
Jasmine is a beautiful, fragrant plant that thrives in the right conditions. But when I planted it in full sun, it fried and died. I'll stick to part-shade spots for my jasmine in the future.
4. Fatsia Japonica (In the Wrong Spot)
Much like jasmine, fatsia japonica is a shade-loving plant that turns yellow in full sun. It's either off to a new spot or out with the old and in with the new for this one.
5. Bamboo
Bamboo can be a real beast, growing wild and invasive in no time. Even in pots, it's high-maintenance and drinks like crazy. With water-saving measures on the rise, bamboo just doesn't fit in my garden plan.
6. Hops (For Now)
I'll admit it: I don't love hops. My husband does, though, and we've reached a compromise. If he can't tame the wild, tangled mess it becomes, though, it's off to the compost bin.
7. Mint (In the Ground!)
I've learned my lesson about mint the hard way. It's better to grow it in a pot, where its roots won't take over the entire garden.
8. Box Hedging
Between box blight and box caterpillars, box hedging has become too risky for my taste. I've swapped mine out for laurel, which is glossy, evergreen, and (so far) far less drama.
9. Toddler-Sown Carrot Seeds
This one isn't a plant I planted, but it deserves a mention. My toddler once "sowed" an entire pack of carrot seeds in the flower beds and pots. While carrots are great for companion planting, it's just too chaotic to have them popping up everywhere.
Learn From My Mistakes
Whether you're new to gardening or just prone to making mistakes like me, the key is to learn from them. A garden is always a work in progress, and sometimes knowing what not to grow can make all the difference. Now that you know my mistakes, what will you avoid growing in your own garden? Good luck!
Kayleigh DrayKayleigh Dray has been a journalist and editor for over a decade, working across a variety of leading lifestyle brands. She has a deep love for plants and a questionable track record when it comes to growing them. Kayleigh is the Acting Content Editor for our platform.
In terms of gardening, I've discovered that hostas, despite their popularity, have been a constant battleground against slugs for me. Instead, I prefer focusing on my herb garden (home-and-garden).
On the other hand, I've also learned the hard way about growing mint in the ground, as it has a tendency to overtake my garden borders. To keep my garden under control, I now opt for growing mint in containers.
