Yes, I've tend to get negative on some plants, think about it for a few weeks then transfer the plants in the Fall to other locations, neighbors, the trash. You have some invasive plants; did you check on this issue before you planted? For example, I'm pulling wormwood out this Fall and replacing them with heuchera (Palace Purple) and rue which I am transferring from sunnier locations to the new mostly shade location where they do well for me. I'm also moving hibiscus and ROS to other sunny locations. We redecorate our gardens as our interests, experience, knowledge, evolves. Change is a normal human condition. Remember, mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. Enjoy your change. Suggestion, plan your change; I still regret impulsively pulling out gaillardia about ten years ago and giving them all to neighbors. That experience has become my caution signal. Good luck!

I checked nothing...3 years ago, I was about as "green" a gardener can get. I bought a box mix, sprinkled it around, then waited for the show.
Shoot first, ask questions later...I have learned a lot in 3 years, most of which is what I DON'T want in my gardens.
Not sure what the mosquito comment was in reference to??

You know you really must read the thread titled 'Oh no, I feel a rampage coming on' authored by mxk3 recently. Definitely a lot of us share your perspective.

This is the time of year for me where anything that I have been patient with is all season long is gone. Composted. It feels good! Plus it helps me get a little jump on the winter prep when I toss something and can then amend the soil or start composting that bed with leaves, grass clippings etc.,

For what its worth I tore out all my Queen Anne lace last week. Of course it is cheerfully growing back so this weekend I will be working out all the roots, adding manure and covering with plastic to try and win the battle.

Good luck with your garden. I think it looks pretty the way it is:)

Kate

Here is a link that might be useful: The rampage thread..,

Oh, yea.....

I started a thread recently, the one Kate linked to. Seems we are not alone. Feels good to commisserate, doesn't it.

Maximillian Sunflower? That does not bloom till fall, when you start to really need coulor.

Too late. It's gone. Nothing but a stub of a root-ball left to donate AWAY...
I figured as much...but took a deep breath, and hacked.

So far I've been moving the plants I don't like anymore in the front garden to the back to put in between the roses. I've got lots of room back there and once it gets tucked away I don't notice it until it blooms. But I'd definitely get rid of the Queen Anne's Lace. It's all over the neighborhood lawns and while it was nice to have flowers during the drought it is definitely a weed here.

Although, I will admit that I've started to pull out anything that looks dead. I think I might have pulled a dormant columbine but it really did look quite dead. I wanted to redo that area anyway.

I'm ALWAYS changing things around - I love to do that. I'd get bored too if I didn't. I've had my share of the invasive also...oh did I regret planting the gooseneck loosestrife a few years back...I ripped most of it out but it kept coming back. The problem is solved now...I MOVED!

And...how would you know when you started out gardening what your tastes were? I learned through trial and error, for example, that I don't care for formal or Japanese style gardens; I prefer the carefree color and informality of cottage gardens. In fact, I kind of like yours, especially the lupines...which I can't seem to grow to save my life! But that is my taste/style and you have to find yours. Look at lots of gardening magazines and books from your local library this winter to try to discover your style and what you DO like.

Good luck,

Char

Yep, been there, done that. My problem is that I like to "try" almost anything. Then - I wind up with aggressive self-seeders, or things that send out a million runners underground or - well, you get the picture. Then I get sick of it, rip it all out and start over. Life is too short to grow the same thing all the time or not to try new and exciting stuff.

I've never completely leveled a garden but I've gone nuts before. This is my usual MO:

I photograph my beds throughout the season & study them in winter to see what should be changed. I research the plants I'm interested in & make mental lists. Fortunuately, I tend to get a few garden center gift certificates at Christmas, so I plan.

Then as soon as spring is in the air, I go shopping. I end up with some things from my list & some impulse buys. Then I store everything on the back deck during the spring rains & replan.

I wait until a day with light rain & go nuts. I start digging things up, moving things around, tossing stuff I never realized I hated, planting the new plants in areas I never planned to plant them, get myself all muddy, take days to get all the dirt out of my fingernails, take aleve for back pain (lol) and sit back & wait to see what it does.

I've found those beds turn out much better than the ones I planned. I tweak a bit until the 3rd year & then consider another overhaul though not as major. Anything that underperforms gets replanted out back or tossed in the woods.

Eventually I'll just buy a new house/yard & start the whole process all over again. =P

Well, I have to admit, when I found out my coneflowers had Aster Yellows I hated the thought of yanking all of it (there was ALOT). It was in bed that is about 6 years old and nice and full, but the more I've thought about it, the more excited I am to finally have a reason to re-do the whole bed! If my husband heard me say that, he'd probably shoot me. Little does he know that I spent the day searching garden centers for late season bargains. LOL! Found a few but not ENOUGH yet.

Hello, Mehearty: You know, I've had the same experience... the beds that I sort of threw together higgledy-piggledy often wind up looking really nice, better than the carefully planned ones! Now, why is that?