Most self-seeders I leave until they're going over, then just leave a few to go completely to seed. The white honesty have really gone over over these last few warm days so they'll be next to go, followed by the forget-me-nots.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
I pull out the honesty before the flowers go over too much. I like the seed pods but they give me flashbacks to my mother's 80s dried flower arrangements. Statice and honesty abounded. And horrible sharp crackly strawflowers.😨
I can identify with your problem @B3. For me it's Verbena bonariensis which this year has seeded far more than it's ever done previously. I love the plant but I'm not sure I want it everywhere. Ironically I had to buy three new plants last year when the late severe weather finished my existing ones off
Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
I like self seeders and grow as much native stuff as I can but some are great for wildlife but have a very short season (it's ok if it's early in the year because you can just take them out and replace) whereas other plants can be valuable to wildlife all year round. I don't throw anything away, it either goes down the allotment or for the local charity sales/given away.
One of our boundaries is a river, and over the years we've developed an earth bund just in case the river gets a bit too close for comfort. I pop any self seeders into the garden facing side of the bund. They just get bunged in without any thought, so it's a real mishmash. Sometimes I think it's the loveliest bit of the garden
Bee x
Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
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I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
I don't throw anything away, it either goes down the allotment or for the local charity sales/given away.
I pop any self seeders into the garden facing side of the bund. They just get bunged in without any thought, so it's a real mishmash.
Sometimes I think it's the loveliest bit of the garden
Bee x
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime