Don't Just Buy a Beautiful Flower!

Joanne K., Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer

Spring is almost sprung, and gardeners are dreaming about colorful summer blooms. Browsing through nurseries and garden centers, they're planning for what to plant in this year's beds and containers.

But before plant shopping, think about where you want your new plants to grow. Is the site in full sun, partial shade, or deep shade? How many hours is it sunny or shady and at what times of the day?

Is the site dry or well drained? Is the soil loamy, clay, or a mix? Is it acidic or alkaline? Is there enough space for the mature plant?

Reading the plant label will provide you with the growing requirements for your plant. Nursery staff can also help you select the right plant for your site. Right Plant/Right Place will make both you and your plant happy.

The back of the plant tag provides the plant's growing requirements—Joanne K.

Oxalis deppei Iron Cross buds have not opened, allowing for a longer bloom time—Joanne K.

Plants should be firm and upright. Don't purchase wilted plants as the roots may be damaged—Wilting Impatiens sp.—4-impatients_wilting  pdic.jpg—NC State PDIC.

Look for vigorous plants with a healthy green color. Know what your plant should look like. It's shape should be balanced and well formed, not too big or too small for its container.

But don't be fooled by a pretty face! Beautiful flowers don't necessarily indicate a healthy, high-quality plant. Lots of foliage with few, if any flowers open, is desirable. It's best to buy plants before the buds break to extend bloom time.

Bigger is not necessarily better! Spindly or lanky plants, especially with annuals, don't transplant well. Also avoid ones that are misshapen, potted too deeply, pot bound, or wilted.

Oxalis deppei Iron Cross roots are white and loose, a good sign of plant health—Joanne K.

Roots should be white and not too tight around the root ball. If the roots are dark or the plant has an off odor, pass it by.

Too many roots coming out of the pot bottom may mean the plant was in there too long. If the soil is too wet or too dry, the plant was not properly maintained, and you don't want to bring any problems home.

Check the plant for insects on both sides of the leaves and near the crown. Avoid plants with discolored leaves or missing, dropped, or chewed leaves that may indicate disease or insect problems.

To find out if the plant has any major insect or disease issues, go to the NC Extension Gardener Tool Box at https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/ This site also has an abundance of information about plant characteristics and care.

Look for signs of disease on the plants before buying—Ringspot on a Philodendron sp. — 4  — Philodendron_pdic.jpg — NC State PDIC.

The risk of frost is still with us so it's too early to plant your summer annuals. However, this is the time to plant your new perennials when cooler temperatures allow them to put down their roots before summer heat, humidity, and drought are here.

Before digging your plants into the ground or a container, remove the top inch of soil in the pot, which contains weed seeds. Throw that soil into your yard waste to avoid adding new weeds to your garden. Water thoroughly until the plant starts to grow. Then water and fertilize as needed.

Careful research and selection of your garden plants will be time and dollars well spent to help you achieve a more pleasing result in your landscape.