Does anyone do any Guerrilla Gardening?

[Methe]

I've just been for a walk and littered my neighbourhood with aquilegia seeds from the plants in my garden - not people's gardens but the verges and any other unadorned or neglected space. I'm also planning to 'adopt' a verge in my street to plant some flowers as I've run out of space in the garden.

has anyone else done anything like this? I wonder how long it'd take to notice a difference if I just threw all my collected seeds about the place.

Pheasant! Pheasant! Pheasant! You're posting! Hooray!

Hello, lovely!

I am alive and well!

Please dont chuck random seeds into woodland!

Guerrila gardening is about adding plants to bits of land that are vacant of plantlife, not about messing with already established areas.

Yes, I used to look after some abandoned council planters near my flat. It's a commitment , you have to weed and water regularly (and litter pick) and the soil is usually poor so needs compost and feeding. I loved it though and had lots of nice chats with people passing by.

I think Totallybewildered should change name to Totallymiserable.

Aw Daffolil, your mum sounds lovely.

I wouldn't put garden plants into wild areas, that could end up destroying the native ecology.

I do, however, often scatter garden seeds (aquilegia, poppies, nigella, cornflower, sunflower etc.) into neglected gardens

I lived on a mixed rented / owned estate, which on the whole was not too badly kept, except for paths / planting leading to and from areas with shops.

So I swept and tidied up verges and the paths around my home that led from the shops. I litter picked, cleaned up food waste and tidied the path edges. A neighbour noticed and started to clean up outside their home and you know what, it became cleaner! If you care, you can make a difference.

I'm not sure about distributing plants about, as some plants can rapidly take over, after all that's what weeds are!

Someone locally planted some cannabis plants outside the local police station

I don't think thats what you're talking about though

Pantone

@Pantone

arf @ pantone

I like the idea of broadcasting more seeds, especially if they're good for wildlife.

My understanding is that rather a lot of conservation areas are managed to maintain ecosystems otherwise natural succession would result in the loss of heathland and marginal aquatic environments. There are some invasive and undesirable plants that you wouldn't deliberately sow but leaving land 'to nature' is not always the environmentalists choice.

Without 'weeds' we would have far fewer butterflies, bees etc. they need specific wild plants to lay their eggs on. Too many gardens are tidied up too much. I'm not sure about guerilla gardening.

I've always thought it's a shame cannabis is illegal as it'd make a useful foliage plant in the garden otherwise.

I'm glad this is an anonymous site because we have a 'certain' type of poppy growing in our garden, they have literally just arrived this year .

Very beautiful they are too.

I've seen poppies everywhere this year. They must like it hot!

That's interesting Methe are you seeing the large pink carnationy looking ones?

Most of the leaves have fallen off now but I think they were reddy. they're all huge. Like triffids! Opium poppies don't usually grow well here I thought.

Not leaves.. Petals.. Ffs

I love the idea of guerrilla gardening. There's no derelict land near me, but I think it's a lovely idea. Especially when it's one thing councils have to cut back on. There's plenty of plants that aren't invasive, are good for wildlife don't grow too tall etc etc.

i would definitely approve of native plants. Fabulous. Be wonderful for bugs, bees, birds, bats.

You know when you drive through the countryside, and there are daffodils/daisies/cornflowers growing along the soft shoulders? They're planted by residents. I didn't realise until I came to live here!

Love the idea of reviving neglected city planters and hard-trodden earth.

Obviously don't love the idea of 'gardening' areas of natural wilderness, for reasons already posted. River & railway banks, in particular, are essential for normal eco-life. The best thing you can do for such areas is join the litter-pickers and dredgers; in cities they are often volunteer groups who post information around the area.

i think I have been the victim of some guerrilla gardening and I do not appreciate it.

I had a number of well chosen low maintenance plants that had required little care for years. Now the garden is full of flowery weeds.

Yeah they look beautiful when they are flowering but I live alone with my son, work very long hours and do not enjoy gardening, so I really resent being lumped with the maintenance work these plants require in order to look tidy. And that's before we get to the huge amount of time I have to devote to remove any seedlings growing between the floor bricks.

I have wasted a lot of money in herbicides that do not work and do not help the planet, so I would say that no mater how good the intention, it would be a good idea to respect other people's gardens and verges, and leave them alone.

Don't forget birds naturally guerrilla garden with bird seed.