How To Choose A Plant

One of the questions I get the most often is what plant to choose for a given garden space. This time of year, folks are getting out of the house and wanting spruce up their curb appeal. I'm always happy to offer suggestions but anyone can make a few observations and then find an appropriate plant on their own. Here is what to pay attention to.

1. How big is the space you have to fill? If your garden bed is only 3 feet deep, then don't buy a plant that will grow to 10 feet wide. My pet peeve is seeing windows overgrown by bushes that are far too big for their space. Take measurements first!

2. How much light will the spot get? Be sure to watch the spot at multiple times a day, ideally at different times of the year. If you plant a cotoneaster in full shade, it will struggle horribly and planting hostas in full sun will burn them up by July.

3. What is the dirt like? Is it sandy, clay or somewhere in between? Does the soil tend to dry out quickly or stay wet?

4. What other plants are growing near by and are thriving? If you know what other plants are already happy, it will give you a clue as to what else will do well.

Once you've got this stuff written down, you are ready to head over to the garden center. I'm not against big box stores but in my experience, a garden center or green house will have better trained staff. You can choose to find someone to help or you can venture on your own. When asking for input, be sure to ask about ease of care. If you're not into regular pruning or spraying, be sure to get a low maintenance plant.

No matter what - read the tag on the plant you're interested in. Don't skip this step! When you bring the plant home, keep the plant tag somewhere for future reference.

What questions do you have about how to pick out a plant? Feel free to post in the comments below!