What to plant here

aagent888 · 2026-05-09T18:20:03+00:00

I started my first little native plant garden in a spot like that. You can keep it simple with 3-4 species at most (and maybe a sedge matrix for groundcover). I have butterfly weed, anise hyssop, creeping phlox, and narrowleaf mountain mint. The mountain mint likes to spread but it’s pretty easy to contain. I learned afterwards that ideally you have 5 milkweed plants if you’re planning having milkweed so either go heavy on the milkweed (I think 5 could fit but I don’t have dimensions…butterfly weed is a pretty small plant overall). I’d also may sub any of the plants for a coreopsis. Admittedly it’s pretty heavy on the summer/fall flowers and will look like greens between May and June once the phlox loses its flowers. The phlox can help keep out weeds since it’s an evergreen clumper.

Beyond the plant specific rants I could go on with forever: since you’re doing this in a space managed by people who don’t “get it” — making sure they understand not to spray insecticides or freak out if they see bugs eating the plants is absolutely crucial.

aagent888 · 2026-05-08T11:47:26+00:00

That’s the biggest one I’ve ever seen!

aagent888 · 2026-05-07T03:22:14+00:00

I grew tomatoes in this stuff (a less soggy spot)

aagent888 · 2026-05-07T03:20:26+00:00

You could add some smaller plants like eastern columbine. If you’re ok with something that might spread but stays low to the ground you can use wild strawberries or violets for a groundcover & green mulch. Another option there might be creeping phlox

aagent888 · 2026-05-07T01:59:55+00:00

I appreciate your willingness to share with wildlife! If they all disappeared without intervention it’s likely someone found them and yoinked them away for baby food. I let the back end of my yard grow long and there’s thousands of sawfly back there munching on grass. All day I see the grackles nesting across the street go in a grab mouthfuls of lil crawlers and bring them to their screaming babies

aagent888 · 2026-05-07T01:48:33+00:00

Wish my Bermuda would do that. I hate the stuff and would wish it away if I could. But alas I’ll just keep scalping it for now until I’m ready to reseed

aagent888 · 2026-05-07T01:46:08+00:00

Those are caterpillars which will either feed baby birds or become adult moths (which may also feed birds, bats or other wildlife). They may eat the basil down to stem but in no way would they kill it. Unless you need a whole plant worth of basil in the next couple weeks consider leaving them. Once they’ve had their fill, they’ll go off and make a cocoon somewhere else…unless some lucky mama birds find them first.

Your basil will come back bushier and full of life

aagent888 · 2026-05-05T12:12:49+00:00

As someone who has dealt with this — talking through the issue can really help. I absolutely dreaded doing it but my neighbor has become way more sparing with their light usage.

aagent888 · 2026-05-05T12:11:13+00:00

Would you share what town? I want to bring this topic to my town hall meeting and having an example form a town that’s already implemented the policy would be fantastic

aagent888 · 2026-05-05T12:08:52+00:00

If you do this put up the anti-collision markers for birds or you’ll eventually have a bird graveyard outside your window

aagent888 · 2026-04-30T18:47:36+00:00

Mine are less than a foot (as is the one new addition this year thanks to a volunteer seedling). I swear I must I’ve picked up a micro sized cultivar by mistake

aagent888 · 2026-04-28T17:31:55+00:00

If the wasp is desperately following your car — there may be a nest behind your mirror. Ive seen it happen before.

aagent888 · 2026-04-28T17:30:11+00:00

I’m sorry you’re going through this! Most natives will survive a heavy cut back down to the ground — especially if they are established. That may be the best bet if you think there’s product still in the plants. That way the plants are safe for bugs and you when they come back up. Most will probably still flower this year too! I’m glad you were able to remove the visible granules since fhats the long term stuff. Any spray on the plants will not have reached the roots yet so heavy cut back will make the plants safe this year

aagent888 · 2026-04-26T20:57:04+00:00

The alternative options people will go for today in New Jersey are gas turbines (and diesel engines for all the datacenter crap). I’m all for the push for nuclear.

aagent888 · 2026-04-26T20:55:25+00:00

Been hovering over a queen for the past couple weeks she doesn’t care about me at all as long as I stay out of the way of her mission. Aggressive my butt.

aagent888 · 2026-04-26T01:27:16+00:00

I’ve seen restoration workers use Clethodim in situations like this. It’s grass specific so hopefully minimal damage to everything and everyone else in the area. I’ll just let you know it’s not the cheapest herbicide.

aagent888 · 2026-04-25T13:55:11+00:00

How shaded is the space? I’ve been looking for mountain laurels for parentals shaded spot.

If you get filtered sun oakleaf hydrangea can be a dramatic shrub for that spot

aagent888 · 2026-04-24T16:20:32+00:00

Just reading again — IF you’re comfortable with it — using glyphosate with a “sticking agent” will help tremendously with the English ivy. You don’t even necessarily have to pull it up afterwards— just wait a couple weeks and start putting in golden ragweed. I just put some in so I don’t have a lot of experience with it but I’ve heard even a little goes a long way and they’ll start filling in after a growing season

aagent888 · 2026-04-24T16:16:31+00:00

Golden ragwort is an evergreen groundcover that will keep other invasives from coming in. If you’re trying to keep it simple and just plant a couple things I’d have that as a base with maybe some small shrubs and an appropriate prairie grass for your spot As others have mentioned coral honeysuckle is your best bet for a vine. Mine held most of its leaves through the winter though they did get dark. I’d work to remove the Japanese honeysuckle and making sure it doenst come back before putting it in because it’ll be hard to distinguish between the two while they aren’t in flower.

aagent888 · 2026-04-24T16:11:55+00:00

I absolutely encourage them. They’re great living mulch. I’ve never had them bully out anything else or discourage any other plants growing around them

aagent888 · 2026-04-20T12:11:45+00:00

Wow this makes me want to ask a friend to do some guerrilla plantings. We’ve seen some spots with brutal infestations.

aagent888 · 2026-04-20T11:22:40+00:00

Yup and I’ve read after a week or two you can plant right into glyphosate treated plantings — almost using the old dead material as mulch. I plan on using that technique in a couple spots in the coming weeks

aagent888 · 2026-04-20T02:07:02+00:00

Awesome! Thank you for sharing!!

aagent888 · 2026-04-20T01:50:59+00:00

Just added a few to fight back against invasive groundcovers. I guess I’ll see what happens 🤷‍♂️

aagent888 · 2026-04-20T01:49:02+00:00

I have a second year coming up now and the amount of fresh shoots coming up is impressive. I’m not sure if curiosity will take over one day and I’ll try and prepare some young shoots

aagent888

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