"REALLY, You're NOT Going to Buy That Plant, are You?"

People love to tell me that they have a black thumb.  They say that everything they grow dies.  Some die a quick, painless death, and others dwindle for some time.  It doesn’t have to be that way.  Black thumbs can turn green with a little guidance and handholding.  Let me be that hand.

First of all, think about where you buy your plants.  Do you try and save some money and hit the “big box” stores?  Sometimes that’s OK and you can find some real bargains.  A few weeks ago I got the most beautiful pink ‘Invincible Spirit’ hydrangea at Home Depot.  It’s the new pink Annabelle hydrangea.  It was large, lush and full of buds.  Plus, at $19.99 it was a real bargain.  More important than the price, though, was the fact it had just been delivered from Monrovia.  It hadn’t been sitting in the hot sun on an asphalt driveway, getting only an occasional drink and no fertilizer.  As I left with my prize I kicked myself for not getting more! 

Look at the blue hydrangea in the photo to the right.  Notice that the flowers look charred, almost burned.  Ditto for the hole on the leaf.  This is NOT a sign of a good purchase.  Most likely, this plant has been in the sun way to long- there’s scald on the leaf, attributed to sporadic drinks of water.  The brown flowers (they should be blue!) show stress from under watering and sun exposure as well.  Now, do you want to purchase a plant that is going to start its new life off at your house stressed?  Of course not!  Keep shopping!

There are a few things to look for when you purchase a plant, be it annual or perennial.  Long and leggy might be great where horses and humans are concerned, but not so much in plants.  Go for the plant that fills out the pot, not just a few spindly branches in the center.  Look at the two ‘Supertunias’ shown in the photos in this post.  The one on the right has four spindly stems and very little growth in the center.  The plant on the left fills out the pot plus has foliage ready to bloom.  “Pass the leggy, pick the chunky” should be your mantra when purchasing plant material.

Ok, say you’re looking for a new tree to fill an empty spot in your landscape.  Do your homework first.  Check the light in the area where you’ll be planting your new tree.  That means that every few hours you’ll need to take a peek. 

If you have sun until 10 a.m. and no sun after that, purchase a shade tree.  If you have sun after 10 a.m. with shade kicking in about 4 p.m., get a tree in the “full sun” category.  If you have hot sun beating down on that empty spot all day long, make sure you get a tree that can withstand the elements. 

The best source for this type of information is the Missouri Botanical Garden website.  It has a “Plantfinder” tab that actually allows you to enter data and it will provide you with a selection of plant material that fit your criteria.  Give it a shot.  You’ll go back to it time after time. 

My last suggestion about purchasing a tree is this- if you’re a novice, go to a nursery and ask questions.  Let them guide you through your first purchase.  It’s worth the extra money when you’re just starting out.  Ask them why the tree they are suggesting is the best choice.   This is how you learn, by asking questions.  Just don’t become a pest.

Lastly, I’d like for you to take a look at the photo of the sod.  It’s stacked up, in the sun and very distressed looking, an inch away from certain death.  Don’t even think about bringing one single piece of that sod home.  Even if the store gives it to you for 25 cents.  The sod is already dead; you just don’t know it yet.  Let that “little voice” in your head be your guide.  Pass it by.  Sod is best purchased at a nursery that turns over stock quickly and keeps the tender sod in the shade.

Throughout the summer, I’ll do some more blogs about proper shopping and planting practices.  Furthermore, if there is a topic you’d like to see covered in my blog, drop me a note in the “Comment” section.  If I can’t find an answer for you, I’ll do some networking and get you that answer!