When you fall in love with a plant at the garden center, you might not realize the challenges it may face at home. How many times have you had to fight back stems from a too-large plant that’s eating your sidewalk, pull unwanted seedlings, watch deer eat stems to the ground or water, water, water a gasping plant? At some point, enough is enough and the plant has to go. That’s not to say that it isn’t a perfectly good plant—it’s just that there might be better alternatives in certain situations. So you can move the offender to a new place in the garden better suited to its characteristics, give it to a friend or even just toss it on the compost pile, but that still leaves a hole to fill. The good news is that there are usually other plant options, whether you need something that’s smaller, more drought-tolerant or less aggressive. Let’s take a look at some smart swaps.
Try a Smaller Plant
Cutting zinnia
Zinnia elegans
Zinnias for cutting are great for bouquets and they bloom nonstop. But sometimes you want a smaller plant that brings long-lasting color to the front of the border.
Bedding zinnia
Zinnia hybrids
For long-lasting color on a pint-sized
