There truly is a lot to planning a garden, and each step is crucial, as one thing directly affects another.  For example, you can buy the healthiest plants at the nursery, but if you put them into poor soil, obviously, they’re not going to thrive; and that’s just one of hundreds of important details.

Remember, your garden is an integral part of your outdoor living space, and picking the right flowers and plants is just as important as selecting the perfect patio furniture.  Of course, the latter is much easier; you just have to figure out whether to get wood, metal, or synthetic outdoor furniture.  Well, maybe there are a few more decisions to make, such as whether you want, say, an outdoor dining table, as opposed to a picnic table, a bistro set, or even a bar set.  Then, there are definitely many more color choices than there used to be; but, all in all, porch furniture is a lot simpler to choose, and to care for, than plants.

For instance, one common mistake that people make, when shopping for plants, is buying ones that are unhealthy.  When trying to gauge the condition of any particular plant, the leaves can be a dead – or a near-death – giveaway.  If they are wilted, brown, or yellow, there’s a good chance that the plant is diseased, or, at least, has been neglected.

You should also check the foliage for insects, such as aphids, which are tiny, green bugs, or any signs of damage that they may have caused.  Other undesirables include spider mites, which might make their presence known through the existence of tiny webs, and scale insects, some of which can appear as translucent bumps or blisters on the leaves.  Leave plants with any such indications alone; the thousands of pests that are already in your garden don’t need any outside help.  Take home only those plants with vibrant, thriving foliage.

Avoid anything that’s root-bound as well.  A plant in this condition will have a mass of roots coming out of the bottom of its container.  Tangled roots can suffocate a plant, and keep it from getting all of its nutrients, so root these poor specimens out of your collection.  On the other hand, you don’t want any that have underdeveloped roots, either; but, because these can be harder to recognize, you may have to ask an employee at the nursery for help.

Another thing that many people do, which I find surprising, is to ignore the labels on plants.

These contain vital information about light, water, and nutrient requirements, when they will bloom, how large they will get, and everything else you need to know.  So, unless you’re already familiar with a certain plant, pay attention to those little plastic tags sticking out of the soil.

This applies to everything that you will grow in your garden, including vegetables.  In fact, I believe there’s a famous motto that reminds us all just how important it is: “Always Look for the Onion Label.”

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Integrate your outdoor living spaces with your well-planned gardens to create serene and beautiful areas for relaxing and socializing!

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