Choosing Healthy Plants for Your Garden
When working at a nursery, you are supposed to be an expert on everything. Well, I work at a nursery and I sure don’t know everything. However, I am considered an expert on certain plants, fertilizers, and habitats. Things happen fast this time of year and for the next few months. Flowers, trees and shrubs come and go as if there is a revolving door. Here today, gone tomorrow. Blooms fade in a matter of days. Plants get beat up by customers. ID tags are lost. Often I am asked to ID a certain plant and its growth habits. If you don’t trust your local nurseryman or garden center workers, here are a few tips when buying annuals and perennials. When buying perennials, look for ID tags. What is the name of the plant, what growing conditions are required and what are the plants habits? But it has a pretty flower and I like it! Will you like the same plant next year when it has invaded your prized lilies? The plant you bought was only 2 feet tall and in bloom, why is it 4 feet tall this year? ID tags will assist you in this. A nurseryman may not always know or be as helpful. You may have thought it was something else. Growers pinch or cut back plants to make them bushier and to produce more blooms. Ask questions and read tags. Look for plants that are budding, not in bloom. (more…)