Adding some plant life to your yard can be a simple way to make your yard look beautiful! However, there are many factors to consider when choosing the plants for your yard. Not only do you need to think about the look of the plants, but you also need to think about how they will affect your yard and home. Some plants can harm your property, while others don’t look very good. So to help you know which ones to avoid, this article will give you a list of the absolute worst trees and plants to have in your yard!
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Siberian Elm Tree
This is a fast-growing tree that can grow up to 50 feet tall. It forms an attractive canopy, but it also drops dozens of seeds every year that sprout into saplings and spread like weeds. This tree can easily invade your yard and quickly become an overwhelming nuisance. On top of this, the Siberian Elm Tree also produces a chemical in its leaves that kills many plants. This means your yard will probably have very few plants or grass growing under this tree.
Japanese Barberry Bush
This is a small thorny plant that forms thickets and quickly invades any areas of your yard. It can even grow in pavement cracks, making it very hard to remove. Not only that, but it also produces berries that can be harmful to humans. Along with this, the bush’s leaves contain a chemical called berberine, which makes any other plants around it brown and die. You do not want this invasive plant growing in your yard!
Weeping Willow
When seen along the beach, the weeping willow is a stunning tree, but it’s far too big and unkempt for most people’s yards. In addition, because the roots seek out water all over the place, it becomes especially problematic near septic systems and sewage pipes. If you want a tree that looks messy and invasive around your house as well as near underground pipes, then this is the one for you!
Trumpet Vines
These vines are another invasive plant that quickly grows and covers everything in its path. Because it needs little sunlight, it will completely cover trees and plants until the only thing you can see is the leaves of this vile vine covering them up! The trumpet vines also produce seeds that grow new vines and attach themselves to anything they touch, including buildings and cars. So to avoid a mess of vines growing in and around your yard, it’s best to stay far away!
Mulberry Bush
This bush is another invasive plant that forms thickets and quickly spreads like a weed. The fruit leaves stains on everything it comes into contact with. The roots also spread under sidewalks and buildings and lift them, causing damage to the structures. This plant also attracts birds and other types of animals that can cause a lot of damage to other plants in your yard! And because it attracts so many insects, it also requires frequent pesticides.
English Ivy
This plant looks terrific on brick buildings or rocks along the creek, but no one wants it growing in their yard! These plants can become up to 20 feet in length and grow in thickets. When the ivy is not growing on a structure, it takes over any other plant around itself and kills them. In addition, this vine is difficult to remove from brick walls because of its strong roots that cling tightly to everything it touches.
Paulownia Tree
This tree produces seeds that grow small trees out of the ground within a year, so it quickly begins to spread across your yard. Paulownias are also prized for their rapid growth. So if you have one in your yard, you can expect it to take over very quickly! On top of this, the Paulownia Tree sheds large amounts of leaves in the springtime. This makes for a lot more raking in your yard!
Cotton Wood Tree
These trees are some of the biggest and messiest trees around. Their roots grow from the tree in every direction, making it difficult to remove from sidewalks or other areas where you don’t want roots growing. These trees also produce a lot of seeds that quickly spread across the ground, which means you’ll have cottonwood trees popping up all around your yard.
Scotch Broom
This invasive plant is known for quickly spreading over large areas and becoming very difficult to remove. In addition, they produce seeds that grow new plants and a sticky substance that covers the ground and anything else it touches! This poisonous plant also contains chemicals called psoralen, which makes the effects of sunlight much more intense. When this plant is touched, these chemicals are released into the air and cause severe lung damage!
Russian Olive Tree
This tree is another invasive plant, which means it quickly spreads and takes over any other plant around itself. The roots are very deep and difficult to remove, so once this tree gets in your yard you can expect it never to leave! And because this tree grows quickly, you will need to prune it often, or you’ll find yourself with the most expansive tree in the neighborhood.
White Ash Tree
If you have allergies, the male white ash trees are among the worst you could have in your yard. Each spring, they release vast amounts of pollen that causes allergy symptoms to spike. This tree also has thin bark that splits easily and creates the perfect place for pests like carpenter ants to set up home. And because this type of ash grows in large groups, it becomes difficult to remove them from your yard after they have grown.
Conclusion
If you plan to landscape your yard, make sure not to plant any of these trees or plants! They can become a real pain in the yard if they become invasive or spread quickly. If you do have one already growing in your yard, you can hire an expert to help remove it, so it doesn’t take over any more plants around itself. It is best to be safe rather than sorry!