A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Plants and Flowers Forum Alyssums spreading into lawn.

Two years ago I had rocks and evergreens in my front flowerbed. It looked drab so I added white alyssum seeds for color. They never grew. For some odd reason they are now growing in the lawn. They are spreading like wildfire. I continue to pull them out but they keep coming back. How do I get rid of them once and for all? They have spread into a 3 foot by 1 foot area. Its denser by the flowerbed and the rest is one here and there, but they are continuing to spread. Not sure if it matters, but I added hostas with the evergreens and replaced the rocks with mulch last year.

Once an invasive plant gets going in an area, they are hard to get rid of. All the sprays will kill your lawn and other plants..I have been hand plucking things for years.

thats amusing that you can get alysum to grow like that I never get more then one or two small clusters. What about instead of getting rid of it help it along if it withstands the mower then add more. Have a lawn of alysum mixed with grass. I find that some times its just easier to join with nature then fight it.

This year I have noticed my Dianthus(Pinks)doing the same, and I've had them for years..now they are everywhere.

I like allyssum in lawns. So I have never tried hard to remove it. It also grows in my pathways and things. Your additions and changes had nothing to do with the spread of alyssum though. It just reseeds too readily in any area that gets regular water.

Well, looks like I have to live with them. Unless could I dig up the grass down to the clay and just put in new soil and reseed with grass seed? Or would that not work? Its not that big of an area.

Would be worth a try, dig a bit wider than where you see them.

If it really irritates you you could, but I would think it too be too much work.