Make Sure You Read This Before Buying New Plants
Follow these 10 helpful tips when buying plants to avoid buyer’s remorse
Noelle Johnson
19 June 2016
Spring and autumn may be the best planting times, but many of us will shop for plants to perk up our garden during the summer, when we’re spending the most time outside. However, it can be all too easy to end up with an empty wallet and a garden filled with struggling, diseased or even dead plants.
Thankfully, visits to the nursery can be enjoyable, and successful, as long as you arm yourself with the knowledge to ensure you’ll come home with beautiful, healthy plants.
Thankfully, visits to the nursery can be enjoyable, and successful, as long as you arm yourself with the knowledge to ensure you’ll come home with beautiful, healthy plants.
Plan before buying
Before you head out to the nursery, it’s important to study the area in your garden where you plan to add your new plant or plants. Here’s what you’ll need to know about the proposed planting location:
Before you head out to the nursery, it’s important to study the area in your garden where you plan to add your new plant or plants. Here’s what you’ll need to know about the proposed planting location:
- Exposure Does it get full sun, filtered sun or shade? Towards which direction does the plant location point? For example, areas that face west often get hot, full sun in the late afternoon, while northern exposures tend to be shady. Planting sites that face east get morning sun and afternoon shade, and southern exposures get an even amount of sun all day.
- Space How much room is there for a plant to grow? If it’s a large area, you may need several smaller plants or a single plant that will grow large.
- Soil What type of soil do you have? There are three main types – clay, loam and sandy – and often plants have a preference for a specific type.
Avoid impulse buys
It can be easy to fall in love with the vibrant blooming plant prominently displayed at the nursery and then buy it without knowing where it will go in the garden or even if it will do well in your climate. This can result in a plant that has a decreased chance of survival.
Sadly, it isn’t uncommon for some large chains to sell plants that are ill-suited to the particular climate they’re located in. Your best bet is to walk on by that pretty plant, unless you have time to do a little research.
Get expert ideas for growing a successful container garden
It can be easy to fall in love with the vibrant blooming plant prominently displayed at the nursery and then buy it without knowing where it will go in the garden or even if it will do well in your climate. This can result in a plant that has a decreased chance of survival.
Sadly, it isn’t uncommon for some large chains to sell plants that are ill-suited to the particular climate they’re located in. Your best bet is to walk on by that pretty plant, unless you have time to do a little research.
Get expert ideas for growing a successful container garden
Read the label
Most plants come with their own instruction manual in the form of a plant tag. Types of information you can find on the tag include the name of the plant, how big it will grow, when it will bloom, what exposure it needs and its water requirements. All of the plant’s information isn’t always listed on its tag, but with the name, you can do a little online research yourself.
Read expert advice on jobs to do in the garden in June
Most plants come with their own instruction manual in the form of a plant tag. Types of information you can find on the tag include the name of the plant, how big it will grow, when it will bloom, what exposure it needs and its water requirements. All of the plant’s information isn’t always listed on its tag, but with the name, you can do a little online research yourself.
Read expert advice on jobs to do in the garden in June
Know the signs of unhealthy plants
Unfortunately, there can be some unhealthy plants present at the nursery. Here are some warning signs to look out for so you can make sure you won’t take home an ailing plant.
Unfortunately, there can be some unhealthy plants present at the nursery. Here are some warning signs to look out for so you can make sure you won’t take home an ailing plant.
- Yellowing leaves This can be an indicator of nutrient deficiency, overwatering or both.
- Pot-bound plants When plants have been growing in their nursery container too long, their roots begin to grow in circles, making it hard for them to absorb water or nutrients. A sign of a pot-bound plant includes its roots growing through the container’s drainage holes, or you can ask the nursery professional to carefully pull the plant from the pot so you can see the root system. Pot-bound plants will have a thick mat of roots at the bottom and around the sides of the plant, as shown in this photo.
- Pests or disease Plants at the nursery can be harbouring harmful insect pests or diseases, which can infect nearby plants in your garden. Check the leaves for spots or speckling, which can be a sign of damage. Insects tend to hide underneath leaves or on stems.
- Weeds Look closely at the top of a plant’s rootball to be sure there aren’t any weeds lurking, trying to hitchhike their way to your home. You can simply pull the weeds out before planting.
- Wilting leaves It’s obvious a plant hasn’t been watered enough at the nursery when its leaves begin to wilt. Sometimes all plants need is a good deep watering to recover.
Choose buds over blooms
Let’s face it, the flowering plants are what draw our attention as we stroll down the nursery aisles. As tempting as shrubs in full bloom are, it’s wiser to buy a plant that hasn’t flowered yet.
Imagine if you came home with a hydrangea plant that was covered with colourful flowers, and you planted it. You would expect to enjoy its flowers for a long time. A good portion of its flowering occurred while it sat at the nursery, however, so the amount of time the flowers will remain open at your home is limited.
In addition, transplanting new plants is stressful and can cause flowers to drop. If you’d bought the hydrangea that had unopened blooms, its flowers would have opened shortly after planting and you would have enjoyed a longer bloom season.
Let’s face it, the flowering plants are what draw our attention as we stroll down the nursery aisles. As tempting as shrubs in full bloom are, it’s wiser to buy a plant that hasn’t flowered yet.
Imagine if you came home with a hydrangea plant that was covered with colourful flowers, and you planted it. You would expect to enjoy its flowers for a long time. A good portion of its flowering occurred while it sat at the nursery, however, so the amount of time the flowers will remain open at your home is limited.
In addition, transplanting new plants is stressful and can cause flowers to drop. If you’d bought the hydrangea that had unopened blooms, its flowers would have opened shortly after planting and you would have enjoyed a longer bloom season.
Don’t be afraid of small plants
We may be tempted to buy a larger, more mature plant, as opposed to a smaller one, but you may be wasting your money. For example, a 4 litre perennial or shrub is younger and better able to handle the stresses of planting than a 20 litre plant. In addition, smaller plants initially grow more quickly than larger ones do. They also cost less money and save you time when planting.
There are times, however, when a larger plant is a better choice. If you are looking for instant impact or have chosen a slow-growing plant, then the bigger size may be the best choice.
We may be tempted to buy a larger, more mature plant, as opposed to a smaller one, but you may be wasting your money. For example, a 4 litre perennial or shrub is younger and better able to handle the stresses of planting than a 20 litre plant. In addition, smaller plants initially grow more quickly than larger ones do. They also cost less money and save you time when planting.
There are times, however, when a larger plant is a better choice. If you are looking for instant impact or have chosen a slow-growing plant, then the bigger size may be the best choice.
Buy local plants whenever possible
Plants have a much higher chance of survival if they’re planted close to where they were grown, where the climates are similar. Plants that have been brought in from a different climate may not have had the chance to acclimatise to new weather conditions.
For example, plants grown in a mild, Mediterranean climate can suffer and even die after arriving in a cooler climate if the plants haven’t had a chance to ‘harden off’ – that is, to gradually get used to a change in temperatures.
Whenever possible, ask your nursery professional for plants that come from local growers.
Discover tips for growing a Mediterranean-style garden
Plants have a much higher chance of survival if they’re planted close to where they were grown, where the climates are similar. Plants that have been brought in from a different climate may not have had the chance to acclimatise to new weather conditions.
For example, plants grown in a mild, Mediterranean climate can suffer and even die after arriving in a cooler climate if the plants haven’t had a chance to ‘harden off’ – that is, to gradually get used to a change in temperatures.
Whenever possible, ask your nursery professional for plants that come from local growers.
Discover tips for growing a Mediterranean-style garden
Check for a warranty
Does the nursery where you shop offer a warranty? There are some nurseries, usually larger ones, that offer warranties in case plants die within a few months after planting.
Many smaller, local nurseries don’t. The reason for this is that they can’t control how the customer waters or cares for the plant, which may result in its death.
If you’re choosing a plant that isn’t easy to grow, you may want to find a nursery that will offer a warranty for that plant. Or you can always buy a plant that’s easy to grow in your area, so a guarantee probably won’t be needed.
Does the nursery where you shop offer a warranty? There are some nurseries, usually larger ones, that offer warranties in case plants die within a few months after planting.
Many smaller, local nurseries don’t. The reason for this is that they can’t control how the customer waters or cares for the plant, which may result in its death.
If you’re choosing a plant that isn’t easy to grow, you may want to find a nursery that will offer a warranty for that plant. Or you can always buy a plant that’s easy to grow in your area, so a guarantee probably won’t be needed.
Ask a certified nursery professional
If you have questions about a particular plant or need help selecting the right type of plant for your landscape, ask the certified nursery professional or horticulturist at the nursery where you are shopping. They have completed lengthy training and can be an invaluable resource.
It’s important to note that not everyone who works at a nursery knows a lot about plants, so don’t be afraid to ask to speak with the certified nursery professional on staff about your questions.
If you have questions about a particular plant or need help selecting the right type of plant for your landscape, ask the certified nursery professional or horticulturist at the nursery where you are shopping. They have completed lengthy training and can be an invaluable resource.
It’s important to note that not everyone who works at a nursery knows a lot about plants, so don’t be afraid to ask to speak with the certified nursery professional on staff about your questions.
Find a nursery that suits your needs
There are several types of places where you can go to buy plants.
Do you have any tips for plant-buyers? Share them in the Comments below.
There are several types of places where you can go to buy plants.
- Local nursery These nurseries are usually locally owned, with one to several locations scattered throughout a city or region. They tend to be the best resource for a wide variety of plants that are locally grown and are adapted to your area. The staff is also generally very knowledgeable about the gardening challenges that are unique to your area and how to deal with them.
- Large-chain garden centre Because of their size and buying power, they offer the cheapest prices, and new plants are delivered frequently. Guarantees are also more likely to be offered at these types of nurseries.
- Botanical garden plant sales This is a great resource for both common and hard-to-find plants that are well-adapted to your climate. These sales are typically offered in spring and sometimes also in the autumn. Some gardens have a year-round nursery where visitors can buy plants.
Do you have any tips for plant-buyers? Share them in the Comments below.
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Many a time I’ve planned, made lists, sternly told myself not to do… what I end up doing every time - getting seduced by beautiful plants at the plant place, then wandering around my yard trying to figure out where to put them.
Plant only natives
Trying my hand at growing from seeds this spring. So far, so good. They are germinating. If they continue to do well I'll have enough flowers for my 3 window boxes. Maybe even enough for a hanging basket or two.