Containing 'Limelight' Artemesia, Spiderwort and Monarda?

I just love my limelight artemesia, hot pink dwarf spiderwort and the various monardas I have. But they quickly overtake everything in their paths. I know I can't live without them in my gardens, but I don't want ALL my gardens invaded. So is it possible for me to pot these and plant the pots and control them a bit better that way? If I can do that, I could use them in so many places in my gardens. Can I keep them in their places somehow?

NancyAnn

Divide, divide, divide. Seriously, that's the best way I know of to keep the rampant growers in check. As for all those new plants - pot 'em up and sell 'em or give 'em away. I have the 'Oriental Limelight' scampering around my Pulmonarias and a few hosta. They do pretty well there, and I pull up anything I don't want. Makes a nice groundcover after the Pulmonarias are done blooming.

I also do the divide. I cut back my spiderwort (hot pink dwarf-huh!!?) and it doesn't seed out, so helps delay the spread, as well as give me late color.
Extras make for excellant trades and gifts for neighbors etc.
I don't let my limelight go to seed either and pinch off the young plants that come up where they aren't wanted.

Well, I have TONS of this stuff. I've traded, sold, gave it away, and just trashed some. And I still have tons. I have 1000's of plants and just don't have time to continually keep on top of these. So I was looking for an easier way to control them.

None of you do the pot method? I've heard it works with other invasives. I pot up all my mints so they don't go everywhere. I'll try that with these plants and see what I can do. It's just too much!! Anyone wanna come and get some? I won't mail anymore of them, but if you're in the area, drop by.

NancyAnn

There is no way to contain Limelight in 10b.

It grows all winter, which of course would be the perfect time to pull up all the little guys, but I never do.

Now they are big burly teenagers running rampant in the garden....it's a good thing it is so attractive. :-)

Pots should be fine, but you'll have to make sure you get all the roots out. 'Limelight' has roots everywhere. Obedient plant is another one that likes to go crazy. I just dug up everything I didn't want and put them in pots to give away when they grow up a bit. I trade them and the 'Limelight' with big warning signs flashing. The only things I find with the pots is that they can look sloppy if they are scattered about haphazardly and they have to be checked a little more for watering (at least out here in the hot dry summers).

I could probably be persuaded to take some of that spiderwort off your hands. ;)