I realize that may be an oxymoron.

Trying to post in Meadows & prairies but site making me pick another forum?

Also, not sure if best forum, because I’m not growing a meadow or prairie, but am “ managing “ a weedy , irregular, sloped side of my property that is in the category of a “ disturbed “ area, was a lot of volunteer trees like gum , but power company cut them down as overhead power line runs along property line . This happened shortly after I bought it, so I really never got a full, 4- season, gardener’s assessment of what it used to be like. But I think became more weed- prone due to increased sunlight and less tree root competition. This forum tends to discuss some of the issues in this type of area, what is realistic vs fantasy.

I made rough pathways that stay pretty clear, whacked tall weeds & brush, and did start working to have a few manageable small areas of native plants & sedges for “ fun”, areas I was willing to tend, pull tree sprouts, etc. Sort of pocket gardens.

But, now that I see these are goldenrod, I’m a bit flummoxed, because , they make flowers, and they’re clearly surviving ( and multiplying, haha!) . Before I knew what they were, I actually planted a few smaller varieties of goldenrod, Showy goldenrod is one, but not sure they will take hold.

These tall ones are all scattered about and very tall. So, the suburban gardener in me wishes something like this would be in a mass, to be more of a presence, and maybe in one area, and maybe not become something that in a few years I wished I’d massacred.

I am definitely a Roundup user in defined spots, as part of doing my best to add some tough shrubs& plants for erosion, wildlife, & a bit of enjoyment but whack or spray the competition.

I have major deer issues, as they have already chomped coneflowers and rudbeckia that I previously grew for years amongst grazing deer who ignored them, and that I had naively thought I would use as a major flowering plant in the various areas of my new property . So have been trying to see what survives and doing a reboot on what I THOUGHT I would grow.

Would it be likely that I could keep and “curate” this aggressive species in a kind of goldenrod zone, since I can recognize it before flowering & pull up, I like to use the cut flowers , etc.

Or, is it already a hopeless thug, or will be soon if I don’t wage war?