They Bought a House Sight Unseen, Only To Arrive To Find the Yard ‘Invaded’ by These 5 Aggressive Plants

A woman posted on Reddit that she and her spouse recently bought a house sight unseen. When they arrived at their dream home, they received a very unpleasant surprise in their new garden and backyard.

"Y’all, I have inherited years-old neglected plants, tons of weeds, and hardcore invasive plants galore," the homeowner shared.

She explained that Japanese barberry, spiderwort, mint, English ivy, and trumpet vine were taking over her yard, and begged for advice on what she could do.

Luckily, with persistence and the right approach, it's possible to rein these invasive plants in—and homeowners should prioritize eliminating these plants as soon as possible, according to experts.

Japanese barberry

Japanese barberry is an exotic shrub that forms dense, prickly thickets and disrupts native ecosystems. It's a fast-growing invasive plant that creates a favorable climate for deer ticks, contributing to higher Lyme disease risk. As a result, Japanese barberry is banned for sale in several states, including New York and Pennsylvania.

It is reported to be invasive throughout the northeastern U.S., from Maine to North Carolina, and west to Wisconsin and Missouri.

"Homeowners should start to worry when they see it spreading beyond a single shrub or popping up in wild areas of their property," says Alexander Betz, landscape designer and founder of Plant by Number in Chester, NJ.

Cutting Japanese barberry will not control it. Instead, use herbicides with the active ingredients glyphosate or triclopyr.

"Read and follow all label instructions and warnings," advises arborist Scott Seargeant, owner of Seargeant Landscape & Arboriculture.

Japanese barberry can also be removed through controlled burning with a propane torch or flame-weeder, but the fire risk makes this a task for professionals.

Spiderwort

Spiderwort is known for its three-petaled flower in shades of blue, purple, pink, or white. Certain species of spiderwort are invasive and difficult to control, spreading rapidly in moist soil. They form dense mats that can choke out other plants and crops.

Spiderwort is most invasive in the Southeast and along the Atlantic Coast

"Spiderwort seems harmless at first with its little flowers, but it spreads aggressively by both seeds and underground stems," says Betz. "It can quickly take over beds and crowd out other perennials. It becomes a problem when you realize it is popping up everywhere, often in places you never planted it."

To get rid of spiderwort, "hand-pulling works in small patches," says Betz. "But when it’s widespread, a professional crew is often needed to excavate and reestablish the area with more manageable plants."

Mint

Mint is an invasive plant that spreads aggressively and quickly takes over garden beds.

Mint favors moist conditions and is invasive in the Pacific Northwest and the Midwest.

"I have successfully removed mint by cutting the foliage close to the ground, then using a sod cutter set to the deepest setting," Seargeant says. "The root mass can be rolled or raked up and hauled away. There will be some roots you will have to rake or pull out, but you will get the majority of them."

Seargeant notes that sod cutters don’t hold up well against debris-laden ground, so when rock, stone, or concrete is present, it’s best to leave mint removal to the pros.

English ivy

English ivy is an evergreen climbing plant. It grows quickly, smothers native plants, and damages trees. The dense mats formed by its vines frequently become a haven for rats and mosquitoes.

English ivy thrives in cool, rainy weather and is most invasive on the West Coast and in the mid-Atlantic. But Seargeant says English ivy is controllable if you have patience.

"Mow, chop, or weed-eat the tops down to as close to the ground as possible," Seargeant advises. "Rake debris into a pile and put into trash cans. If the area doesn’t have trees or other plants of value, cover the area with black plastic. Put down sandbags, rock, bricks, or other material to hold the plastic in place."

He says you should let the black plastic sit for three weeks with no water or sunlight.

"The heat and lack of sunlight will dehydrate and starve the plants," he says.

Then remove the plastic, water the area, and wait to see if any shoots come up.

"If they do, repeat these steps," Seargeant advises. "You may have some shoots reappear even after several attempts. In these situations, you can dig them up, spray with a weed killer, or just put plastic over the areas that resprout."

Trumpet vine

A trumpet vine is a dense climbing vine with trumpet-shaped flowers. It spreads rapidly and can potentially damage structures by weakening wood and brick as it climbs up a house.

Trumpet vine thrives in humid environments and is considered invasive in New England.

To eradicate trumpet vine, Seargeant says to cut the foliage back to as close to the ground as possible.

"Till the area where the roots are growing," he advises. "Then rake out the roots and stems. Shoots will sprout, but they will be easy to remove from the soil if you pull them out as they emerge. Repeat as needed."

According to Betz, trumpet vine can latch on to foundations, fences, and trees.

"If you don’t keep after it regularly, it will dominate a landscape," he warns.

If trumpet vine is damaging your property by cracking surfaces, trapping moisture, and creating rot, professional removal is recommended.