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Are you feeling frustrated because the pretty blue star vine you planted as a ground cover or lawn alternative is quickly taking over your garden and spreading out of control? This attractive vine will keep weeds from growing and is considered an excellent ground cover plant to grow instead of grassbut the Disadvantages of Choosing Blue Star Creeper as a Grass Alternative for Your Yard are that it grows quite aggressively and can choke out other plants. But fear not, because there are clever tactics you can use to keep this plant from completely taking over. You can try installing a physical barrier, trimming it regularly, or pulling out stray shoots by hand. If your blue star vine has really gotten out of hand, you can get rid of it completely by digging it up manually or using a weed killer.

Blue star creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis) is native to Australia and can be grown in USDA plant hardiness zones 6 through 8. It forms a dense mat and spreads through runners that take root when they come into contact with the ground. The Blue Star Creeper is a plant that is very adaptable to different soil conditions and will grow happily in either full sunlight or partial shade. All of these qualities make the blue star vine a popular substitute for turf, but they can also make the plant difficult to group into a single corner. Because Isotoma fluviatilis spreads quickly – up to 18 inches per year – it tends to invade neighboring areas of your yard.

Learn more: Plants You Shouldn’t Grow Right Next to Your House

Smart Ways to Control and Remove Blue Star Creeper

To prevent your blue star vine from invading your lawn or other garden areas, consider installing a strong physical barrier like this one. Laveve corrugated metal garden edging. Choose a border that is at least 12 inches high so you can push it deep into the ground, leaving only a few inches above the ground. This should confine the roots and prevent the plant from spreading too far, so you will only need to cut back the growing stems. Planting a blue star vine between concrete, stepping stones or stone barriers can work the same way. You should also avoid giving this plant too much water or fertilizer, as this will only make it grow faster. Prune the plant once a year in late fall and cut off any escaping shoots if necessary.

But if all this seems like too much effort, you may want to get rid of the blue star creeper altogether. Although the plant can spread quickly, its roots are relatively shallow. You can dig up this plant manually, but you need to make sure you have all the roots as well as any small plants that have germinated nearby. It is important to monitor the area at all times and remove all plants as soon as they appear. Alternatively, a broadleaf herbicide can be effective in killing the vine, but you will need to be careful not to let the spray drift onto your other plants. If you like the look of this plant but can’t stand the constant pruning, blue star creeper is one of many trailing flowers perfect for hanging baskets.

Read the original article on House Digest.