Debate: Is it better to let invasive weeds grow for pollinators or rip them all out?

So here's the thing that happened last week. I was in my backyard in Columbus trying to pull all this creeping charlie that's taken over the shady spot near the fence. Then a neighbor comes over and says I'm ruining the bee habitat. She says the bees are all over it and I should leave it alone. But I'm thinking, man, this stuff chokes out everything else and spreads like crazy. I pulled it all anyway but now I feel kinda guilty. My question is - do you guys prioritize native plants even if it means less flowers for bees right now? Or do you let the weeds go for the sake of the bugs? I'm torn.

2 comments

2 Comments

matthewh281mo ago

Pull the charlie, plant some native wildflowers in that spot instead.

perry.lee1mo ago

Oh man, my buddy Jen tried that exact thing last spring. She pulled all the creeping charlie from her backyard and threw in some black-eyed susans and bee balm. Said the bees went absolutely nuts for it, way better than that stupid ground ivy ever looked.