With the overwhelming number of plants available, it is possible to wander for hours in a nursery, struggling to decide which plants to buy. One way to make this process easier is to do your homework before ever making a trip to the nursery or garden center.
Because landscape plants will potentially be in the yard for many decades, purchasing plants can be comparable to buying a car. Before purchasing a car, most people consider such things as budget, what the vehicle will be used for and reliability. Similarly with plants, thinking through what is needed and researching what would work best for individual situations will be financially beneficial.
When choosing plants for the yard, it is actually best not to have a particular plant in mind until other steps are first taken. Things to consider are if the site is in full sun or shade, how much wind is present, what the soil is like and how much room is available for a plant to grow. Consider this information.
• The majority of plants at garden centers are adapted to full or part sun. Fewer plants are available for shaded areas, but most garden centers will still have an excellent selection, especially in the spring.
• In extremely windy situations, some plants are too delicate for use. Those with fern-like foliage and those that may be likely to tip over are two types you may reconsider.
• Determining particular characteristics of soil is very important. Things to observe include how well the soil drains, how well other plant species grow in surrounding areas and how wet or dry the soil stays over a period of days. When in doubt, an inexpensive soil test can be very useful. For more information about soil testing go to: www.usual.usu.edu.
• After looking at the soil, the next step is determining the size of the area where plants will be transplanted. Keep in mind that many plants grow large, even though they were small when purchased. It is unfortunate when a shrub or tree matures and overwhelms an area, making it difficult to pass by, and in some situations, it becomes a safety hazard. Removing mature shrubs and trees is hard work for property owners and can cost thousands of dollars if the project has to be hired out.
• Once all of these factors are determined, it is time to start researching particular plants. There are many plant books available from local libraries and book stores, and information is also available online. Two free resources from USU Extension include the Tree Browser, www.treebrowser.org, an interactive program that assists in choosing trees for the yard, and a comprehensive bulletin about shrubs grown in the Utah climate found at http://tinyurl.com/usushrubs. Local garden center sales employees are also helpful in assisting as you decide on particular plants and will be happy that you have done your homework.
By: Taun Beddes - Feb. 21, 2012