7 Things to Keep in Mind When Shopping at a Plant Nursery

Planting your own garden and then watching it come to life in late spring and summer is a rewarding experience. And, an especially fun aspect of creating a garden is plant selection. But, before you head out to your local plant nursery, you need to keep several important things in mind.

1. Soil Quality

Check your soil before you buy and plant anything in it. Soil comes in three types:

• Sandy soil
• Loamy soil
• Clay soil

Find out what type of soil you have, and then choose plants that can thrive in that soil. If you fail to do this, your newly planted garden might not last very long.

2. Sun Exposure

Just as with soil, plants vary in terms of how much sun they need. Before you put plants anywhere in your garden, note how much sun that area receives. Some plants love full sun, while others need shade. Be prepared to adapt your garden to create shade if necessary.

3. Maintenance Requirements

Caring for plants takes time. A garden full of high maintenance plants will need a lot of love. If you don't have time for that, be sure to choose low-maintenance plants like feather reed grass, which is hardy and beautiful to look at.

4. Space Availability

Be sure to understand how you will use your space before you start buying plants from a plant nursery. If you plant too many fast-growing plants in one area, your plants could start to compete for space and water.

5. Plant Types

If you are new to gardening, research plant types before you head out to buy some. For instance, perennial plants will last several years, while annuals will die after one year. You need to know beforehand so you can plan. Otherwise, you could end up with half of your plants dying off within a year. If you want longevity, buy perennials.

6. Plant Quality

Check plants for quality and health before you place them into your basket. If a plant's roots are soft and brown for instance, put it back. And, if a plant's leaves are discoloured or wilted, it might be diseased. Also, remember that if you buy a plant already in full bloom, with few buds, you won't see much more growth the year you plant it. Buy plants that still have plenty of buds to open.

7. Pests

Beware of pests. Although plant nurseries usually have excellent control standards, pests can sometimes get through the net. Check the undersides of leaves for pests like aphids and scales before you buy a plant.

If you are planning to shop for plants at a plant nursery soon, be sure to keep this information in mind before you start shopping.

 

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