Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Choosing the Right Landscape Plants
Question: I recently saw some plants on the Internet that I thought would look great in a bed that borders my house. After purchasing and planting, the shrubs died within a couple of weeks. What's the problem?”
Thanks so much for your question. It is fairly common to fall in love with a particular plant, only to find it die a miserable death when planted. The reason for this is that, depending upon where you live in the United States, some shrubs or plants are just not suited for that particular region. As with most homeowners, your preferences take into account color, size, shape, texture, flowers, fruit, and other qualities. These are natural qualities to compare when selecting a landscape plant. But it is important to remember that looks and location aren't everything when selecting the best ornamental plants for your landscape.
Just because you are able to buy a plant online or from a mail-order catalog doesn't mean it is well adapted to your particular climate. This is a common mistake to make. The USDA has divided the United States into 11 zones for plant hardiness based on the low temperatures experienced in that zone. This rating system serves as a fairly accurate guide when choosing landscape plants. Even regionally, such as in California or Texas, there are major climactic differences between areas in close proximity, such as amount of rainfall, that are more favorable to some plants than others. When you purchase plants, they should be listed with the hardiness rating. So check the plant hardiness rating before making a commitment.
Other aspects to consider are site and soil conditions, size and type selection, pest resistance, and the initial health of the particular plant you are interested in. All of these factors come together to effect the growth and survival of your plants.
Thanks so much for your question. It is fairly common to fall in love with a particular plant, only to find it die a miserable death when planted. The reason for this is that, depending upon where you live in the United States, some shrubs or plants are just not suited for that particular region. As with most homeowners, your preferences take into account color, size, shape, texture, flowers, fruit, and other qualities. These are natural qualities to compare when selecting a landscape plant. But it is important to remember that looks and location aren't everything when selecting the best ornamental plants for your landscape.
Just because you are able to buy a plant online or from a mail-order catalog doesn't mean it is well adapted to your particular climate. This is a common mistake to make. The USDA has divided the United States into 11 zones for plant hardiness based on the low temperatures experienced in that zone. This rating system serves as a fairly accurate guide when choosing landscape plants. Even regionally, such as in California or Texas, there are major climactic differences between areas in close proximity, such as amount of rainfall, that are more favorable to some plants than others. When you purchase plants, they should be listed with the hardiness rating. So check the plant hardiness rating before making a commitment.
Other aspects to consider are site and soil conditions, size and type selection, pest resistance, and the initial health of the particular plant you are interested in. All of these factors come together to effect the growth and survival of your plants.
