No, not the social and economic demographic you probably belong to. I'm referring to the plant middle class. In my garden I have plants that I love and care for like a doting mother (banana tree, climbing rose, tatsoi.) I have plants that are the object of regular search and destroy missions (violet, ground ivy, mulberry tree).
Blaze climbing rose, garden aristocrat
I also have a class of plants somewhere in between. The middle class includes plants usually considered weeds by most gardeners, but ones that aren't terribly aggressive and are kind of nice to have around. Many of them have medicinal properties or are attractive. Plants that I've added to the garden, but propagate themselves a little too enthusiastically, make up the rest of the botanical bourgeoisie.
Ground ivy breaches the Siberian iris barrier
Like a true oligarch I've learned to set the classes against each other: I use the middle class to protect the upper class, while I persecute and marginalize the lower. Don't judge me--it works.
Here's an example. Mullein is a statuesque biennial that visits the garden from time to time. Traditionally used to treat respiratory problems, it's well-behaved, but I don't really want a lot of individuals to crowd and shade other plants. Leaving it during its first year of growth to block weeds works well, however, and there's plenty of time to remove it before it produces seed.
Mullein blocks weeds at the base of Baptisia
Dutch white clover is a useful volunteer to leave in place. It's a nitrogen fixer and creates a comfortable walking surface when left in paths. It's mat-like growth habit keeps undesirables like ground ivy from taking hold. Weeds eventually find their way through, but I just pull up the whole mess for composting. Surprisingly, dandelions and dock really behave themselves in the garden, as if they (like many Americans) desperately want to cling to middleclass-hood. While not as good as mullein at blocking weeds with living leaves, they offer an almost endless supply of mulchable material. As I pass by I just pull off all the leaves I can and throw them down for instant mulch. In a week or two they've grown more.
The real stars of the middle class are the aggressive desirables. Plants such as catnip, feverfew, and wild arugula. In the real world of the woods these paper tigers would quickly be put in their place, but inside the protective garden fence they pretend they're tough. They pop up here and there, but unless they're really interfering with the elites, I let them stay to prevent summer annuals and grasses from making a stand. When they get out of hand I shear them back, letting the cuttings fall in place.
Catnip lovingly tended by Joe
Strawberry plants make so many delicious fruits and produce babies like crazy, making them my favorite plant to use this way. I leave them in odd corners and edges all around the garden. Dozens go to the compost every year, but there are always plenty left. They make great living mulch around taller plants like asparagus and rhubarb.
Strawberry plants are beautiful in the fall
Plants that make up a middle class in your garden might be totally different from mine, but if you're interested in using plants in this way, a little observation and rumination should yield ideas for plants that will work.
Clover and feverfew nestle in an edge
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