Contain bishop’s weed

In the front of my house, between the sidewalk and the carport, I planted a yellow/green plant that flowers, called bishop’s weed. I bought it several years ago to make a border plant.

This summer at the farmers’ market, I learned that this plant will take over everything. I have cut off the blossoms so that they won’t go to seed.

My question is, should I uproot it now and plant another flower? What say you?

Peter Genco, Moses Lake

Bishop’s weed, goutweed or technically Aegopodium podagraria, is a plant that gardeners either love or hate. It does have a habit of traveling everywhere it can get its roots into.

I have it moving from the side of our shop through the pavers in a garden path. Other friends have ongoing battles with their neighbor’s plants.

Still others have given it enough room, and it has made a beautiful ground cover in light shade.

So I’d say this: If it is bounded on two sides by concrete in your carport and sidewalk, you have it well corralled on two sides.

If it can get in trouble on the remaining two sides, consider putting some kind of an in-ground barrier down to box it in.

This could be a concrete barrier a foot into the ground or good quality, commercial lawn edging (12-inch depth available from landscape supply companies) or some pressure treated 2-by-12 lumber.

Be sure to use solid pieces without breaks, as the roots will find their way through any crack.

If this isn’t the case, sharpen your shovel, and any time a portion of the plant tries to escape, chop off its head.

Past time for pruning lilacs

Is it too lake to prune lilacs?

Carole Tabakma, Spokane

I think it is, Carole. The lilacs bloomed about mid-May this year and immediately sent out their new growth.

Most of it has hardened off by now into full new branches. At the tips of these fully formed new branches are all the buds for next year’s flowers.

If you were to prune them now, the plant probably would put out more new growth, but it would not have time to set new buds and be ready for winter.

If you are thinking of doing a major renovation to an overgrown shrub, do it in the late winter, so the plant has the whole growing season to recover.

The best thing you can do for your lilacs now is prepare them for the hot, dry weather by deeply watering them about every 10 days. We have had lots of rain this year, but we need to keep that soil moisture up.

The plants will thank you next spring with a good flower display.