“Before you plant that fruit tree, wait! 🚨 Some trees and edible plants can quickly take over your garden, compete with other plants, or struggle in certain conditions.
Want free gardening tips? Sign up for the Tuesday Tips Newsletter here: https://sustainableholly.kit.com/0293b0ce8f
Today, I’m sharing 15 fruit trees and plants that you might want to think twice about planting in the ground—especially in urban gardens!
These aren’t strict rules, but they are important things to consider to make the best choice for your space. Some have invasive roots, aggressive growth, or tricky soil needs, making them better suited for pots, raised beds, or controlled areas.
💚 SUBSCRIBE for more gardening projects coming this year!
💚 For free garden-to-plate recipes and tips visit: https://sustainableholly.com/
► More about me & my edible gardens:
🌱 I am a Kiwi 🥝
🌱 Located in Perth, Australia
🌱 Zone 10b ish
🌱 720sqm urban property
🌱 Sandy-based soil
🌱 Hot, dry climate
🌱 Permaculture Practices
🌱 Fruit tree collector
🌱 Creating long-term sustainable gardens
MORE VIDEOS YOU MIGHT LIKE //
Full garden tour: https://youtu.be/Qhm4ki8u7XM
Unusual Composting: https://youtu.be/9zeoqA-0PNg
MY GARDENING ESSENTIALS //
Retractable hose: https://bit.ly/30mretractablehose
Pruning Shears: https://bit.ly/gardenloppers
Pink Secateurs: https://bit.ly/3qytl6s
More gardening tools: https://bit.ly/32IQmbD
CREATING EXTRA INCOME FOR YOUR HOMESTEAD//
Online surveys: https://bit.ly/3Bg0XNr
Ebook templates: https://bit.ly/2UfOXsr
Email lists: https://bit.ly/3VNXRbT
Photography editing: https://bit.ly/3cPfXW8
Create an online community: https://bit.ly/3W6s8mv
DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. I may receive a small commission if you purchase a product or service with my links. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting my channel so I can continue providing free weekly content!
23 Comments
Passionfruit!! It pops up all over my front yard even though it's growing on one fence. But I'm still glad to have it and so are the butterflies!
The sun choke is impossible to dig up, and it grows 12’ tall! The only thing that got rid of this pest when it appeared was another pest: Voles! They ate ALL the roots. Another pest was eliminated by a pest in my yard, a groundhog (terrible, destructive, eats EVERYTHING) moved out after the spearmint flooded over its den, HA! Get bent, monster!!
Maybe yacon? I have it in a pot for now but I suspect it will be like potatoes – leave a piece behind and it will grow.
Never ever EVER plant youngberries, they’re the worst. I daily curse the nursery man who encouraged this newbie to cold-climate gardening (Tassie) to buy a number of plants. This was 24 years ago, before the explosion of online info. I battle this prickly menace every day.
Another one to avoid is bronze fennel, the herb. Twenty years after planting some I’m still pulling it out all over the yard.
Was just looking at my 2 x Fig trees planted last year to be espaliered and wondering if I’d done the wrong thing because they are right along a concrete path and not far from the house, my gut is telling me to move them. That will be a job and a half and Hubby won’t be happy.
Yes, Lemon Balm was a nightmare, still have seedlings popping up after 5 years, but they are easy to remove when young. Parsley was an issue when it seeded between pavers and moss rocks, the tap root makes it impossible to pull up. Rocket can be a prolific self seeder in my garden, along with Queen Anne’s Lace.
Have all my berries in pots but the brambles don’t do so well, neither does the mulberry in a pot.
Also have Achillea and the roots have to be managed and seedlings constantly pulled. Erigeron also took over my garden.
Another problem climber is the Pandorea, roots travel and plants pop up randomly and are hard to remove.
#South Australia
My number 1 is CHERRY TOMATO, last season I filled 7 x trailers full with wild cherry toms. Here in Qld they are a pest.
I have all my mint varieties and lemon balm in self watering hanging baskets in my shade house. They look so pretty hanging down, easy to prune, not invasive, well watered.
Yes, the grafted passionfruit vines are "enthusiastic" to say the least (I had one in a pot waiting to plant out). However, I am in Victoria, and I read that non-grafted will not handle our temperatures. Even the Nellie Kelly, supposedly can handle the cold, but let's say I am zero for three in that regard (officially given up). Still needs a very sheltered position, probably needs frost protection and mulching for its first 2-3 years. They will grow in Gippsland, but I have not really known of anyone having much success elsewhere in Victoria, including me.
Blackberry, regarded as a weed in Victoria, don't grow it! Birds eat the fruit, and distribute new plants everywhere. I do not think blackberry (and possibly elderberry) are as much of a problem in the UK, but nor did I grow them there.
I would add, tomatoes! Uber-fertile little beggars, you will not see it in the first season, but the season after that. Self-sown seedlings everywhere. I did re-pot a couple of these as there was a variety I could not get this year (and forgot to seed save), growing those later starters for a few fruits to seed save for next year. Even in the UK, tomato seedlings would pop up everywhere, including cracks in walkways. But I do love my tomatoes, so that is not going to stop me.
I do have blackberries, in larger pots. They really are fussy on the soil, and won't give you the goods unless you give them what they want (citrus potting mix, but I believe matured manure, eg chook, helps bring down the pH). Maybe not so much blackberries, as much as blackmailers. You need to net to keep the birds off.
Very helpful video, thank you so much for making it!
Never plant nasturtiums! I've been weeding them out for years since a well meaning friend gave me a cutting.
Also, if you know what to plant together, you can contain certain trees. For example, citrus next to a fig will control the fig.
NEVER buy and plant grafted passionfruit. They take over the neighbourhood. Buy ungraded or plant from seeds.
This is great! Thanks.
Good video! This makes me happy I am limited to just grow bags.
strawberries are another one. after a while they can take over. i even had them popping up in my lawn
Cucamelon 🤦🏻♂️
Chinese lantern was my mistake and leftover bamboo from the previous owners. We got rid of an eucalyptus tree as well, in the UK. What were they thinking?
Mint also can take over, lime lemon balm.
Borage and chamomile lawn and soapwart are a pain, as can cape gooseberry be!
Can you dig fig trees out successfully? I have 2 planted near some limestone walls, realise as they got bigger how much of a problem they might be! 😬
Great list. I'm in WA too.
Banana trees also can be a pest! No bananas but loads of babies and they get BIG! And boysenberries…same as blackberries and rasps I guess!
I'm in the Northeast U.S. Perfect place for blueberries. But I know that other parts of the world are different.
Thanks, Holly.
You are right. My fig tree has so many deep roots . It took so much effort and time to transfer it to another place .
How can I put it into a big pot , some one from permaculture background told me in pots you have to put extra effort and nutrients, which im not good at.
Can you please show your fig pot .
Nasturtium, mint and lemon balm are really big problem.
Thanks for goji berries.
Nothing has grown in pot so yesterday, I put it in the ground so it might get good nutrients. Looks like it has to go back in pot 😅
Banana plant. I really have hard time getting rid of these banana plants. Started from only 1, now they are invading my place 😰
Sweet potato! It’s gone wild in my front yard, it’s absolutely everywhere. Of course I think it’s a good idea to have just in case!