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Bluebells spreading like crazy!

8000wildflowers8000wildflowers Posts: 278
in Problem solving
Hi, I have a flowerbed near the bottom area of my garden, and having seen some bluebells (Spanish and English) and red campion spread in there, I let them be as they’re quite nice.

Ironically, given my user name, I’m now overrun with too many wild bluebells, campion, buttercup and ground elder in the bed, taking over my plants. 

Genuinely overwhelmed, the bed is c4m x5m. Two thirds of this has been taken over. Having tried to dig some out (not easy, the bluebells are really deep), I see the tiny bulbs scattered everywhere- these will be back for years. Reluctant to just let it go as they’re starting to pop up in other beds. 

Suggestions? 
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Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,269
    Dig it out or weedkiller.

  • B3B3 Posts: 26,531
    Another long-term option is to hoe the leaves off the bluebells before they set seed and next year as soon as they pop through the soil. They will give up - eventually
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • 8000wildflowers8000wildflowers Posts: 278
    Hi, thanks.

    At the moment I’m trying to ‘thin out’, as I don’t think I’ll shift them all in one weekend (or 10!)
     :D 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 9,613
    Get out as many bulbs as you can, pull the leaves and flowers off the rest (and don't whatever you do let them set seed), repeat every year.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • 8000wildflowers8000wildflowers Posts: 278
    Thanks Jenny. 

    I should’ve asked the forum 2 years ago. Unfortunately I ummm..let them seed. I have never seen so many teeny tiny white bulbs in the soil in my life! O oh. Stopped now to have a glass of wine. 

    I’ll be dreaming of bluebells, campion and creeping (it really does creep) buttercup for the rest of my life I think!

    My actual wildflower meadow further on looks empty. 

    I wonder if Adam Frost does house visits?? 

  • B3B3 Posts: 26,531
    Repeat every year for ever . But there will be fewer if that's any comfort
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • hobsonrichard19hobsonrichard19 Posts: 8
    Try to dig out all of those. While digging up make one thing sure that you get all the roots, bulbs and bulblets out. It is a time-consuming process. You can also think about giving this task to some local maintenance company which performs lawn cutting.
    Richard Hobson



  • 8000wildflowers8000wildflowers Posts: 278
    In for the long run then! 
  • jackpjackp Posts: 43
    I have had similar problems with them spreading out of control.they are a bit like trying to control ground elder i have found they can sometimes be pulled out slowly in handfuls and the bulbs come out still attached or digging up the clumps with a fork works .you may want to think about just removing as much as possible as it's likely some small ones will still be in the soil which will only re establish anyway .
  • DampGardenManDampGardenMan Posts: 1,054
    I'm in year two of what I've been told will be a seven-year plan. If I'm lucky. It's the Spanish ones I'm trying to get rid of, I've actually been planting English ones underneath trees and am hoping they will spread. I reserve the right to change my mind in a few years' time :)
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