I'm a Master Gardener, and Here's What I'll Never Plant in My Yard Again

"As a master gardener, I've spent decades digging in the dirt and have made my fair share of mistakes doing it. But I've also learned a lot, including which plants I'll never add to my yard again. Even as someone with tons of experience, there are some plants that are just more trouble than they're worth, and I'm here to save you from the headaches I've had along the way. Here are the four plants that are permanently banned from my yard - and why you should consider skipping them, too."

"It was abundant in my yard when I bought the house, and after 20 years I'm still battling it.Yes, monkey grass can make a nice border or ground cover, and its little purple flowers and black berries are cute. But its tough-as-nails nature makes it hard to control, it spreads aggressively, and its roots are almost impossible to pull. Plus it grows so thick that weeds and yard debris always get caught in its clumps, and it looks so messy."

"A few years ago I planted a pair of these next to my house because I was drawn to their exotic look and dramatic stalks of white blooms. Big mistake! Once they matured, I discovered why they're called bayonets and daggers - their spikes are like lethal weapons. Forget about weeding around them; and if anything gets caught in their spikes, good luck retrieving them without getting impaled. I finally removed the yuccas this spring, and i"

Gardening requires trial and error over years to determine which plants thrive, coexist, and match gardener preferences. Some species prove more trouble than they are worth, spreading aggressively, resisting removal, and creating maintenance headaches. Monkey grass (Liriope) spreads relentlessly, develops dense clumps that trap weeds and debris, has roots that are difficult to pull, and creates a messy border despite attractive flowers and berries. Yucca (Spanish bayonet) offers exotic form and dramatic white bloom stalks but bears sharp, dagger-like spikes that hinder weeding, can injure gardeners, and complicate debris retrieval; removal may become necessary.

Read at Apartment Therapy