Q.Daisies are spreading over everything
I live in Northeast PA, zone 6a. Every year my shasta daisies take over more of my sunny flower bed. I have cut them, pulled them, and threatened them in autumn, and by July, they’re as spread out as ever. I dug up several clumps this autumn and gave to family in Wisconsin (who said they want a tough abundant flower, but they have no idea haha). Is there a tough plant that I can plant next to the daisies that will not be overrun by the daisies? I tried coneflowers, veronica and salvia. It has to be deer and bunny resistant. Any suggestions? Thanks.
I'm not convinced that another aggressive plant is what your garden needs. Something like daylily, phlox or perennial hibiscus may make good neighbors. Also refrain from using fertilizer or compost on the daisy. Can you place plants near the daisy that will shade it and not let it have ideal conditions? Make sure what you have is shasta daisy, a clump-forming plant where the clump slowly enlarges every year. You may instead have "field daisy", Leucanthemum vulgare, which is invasive and self-sows everywhere. The later should be removed and replaced with the more sedate shasta daisy, Leucanthemum × superbum. A final option is to dig up the entire clump and secure it inside a large diameter pipe like a sewer pipe. Bury it so the pipe sticks above the ground an inch or two. This prevents the clump from enlarging. (I have used sections of chimney liner to contain Russian sage.) If all this seems absurd, then perhaps shasta daisy isn't the right plant for you. While it may be hard to do, removing a healthy plant gives you an opportunity to try something new and less aggravating. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/weeds/aggressive-garden-plants.htm
