“How much time do I have left?” »

Fast-growing invasive plants can quickly take over your garden – and your neighbor’s – if left unchecked. This fear sparked a conversation on Reddit as a homeowner shared concerns about a neighbor’s plant.

The homeowner shared a photo of a raised bed in his neighbor’s yard. The bed contained a large mint plant that could be seen spilling out of the bed and growing across the lawn.

The OP also indicated that the raised bed was close to the property line and asked, “How long do I have before my lawn becomes a mint farm?”

The OP is right to be concerned. Some species of mint plants are invasive and spread incredibly quickly. Invasive plants compete with native plants for moisture, sunlight, nutrients and space and often win, causing native plant populations to decline. This reduces biodiversity and contributes to the degradation of wildlife habitats.

Invasive plants can also be difficult to control, requiring hours of tearing up escaped vegetation or applying harmful chemicals to ensure they no longer grow in certain areas. Not only is this time consuming, but it can also pose a risk to people and pets, as well as harm healthy plants in your garden.

Keeping your garden away from invasive plants and planting native plants instead can save you time and money, and you don’t have to worry about plants escaping. Planting native plants is a great way to rewild your garden and save time and money while keeping your garden looking good. Native plants have adapted to the natural environment, so they require much less water than non-native plants, reducing water bills and keeping money in your pocket.

Other ways to reduce gardening costs include switching to a natural clover or buffalo grass lawn. Natural lawns are low maintenance because they don’t require a lot of water. Additionally, these plants do not need to be mowed regularly, saving you time.

Natural lawns and native plants also benefit the environment. They provide habitat for local wildlife, including pollinators, which are so important to agricultural production and food security.

People in the comments confirmed the OP’s fear, with one person writing: “I think it’s becoming your mint. I see it everywhere in this yard!”

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Others have given the OP advice on how to get rid of it quickly. “Mint doesn’t tolerate regular mowing very well,” one commenter said. “Keep an eye on this area and mow it.”

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