Right Plant, Right Place - Bay Weekly
Many plant problems in your landscape can be avoided by choosing the right plant for the purpose and the site. Many insects and diseases are opportunists, taking advantage of plants that are stressed and aren’t healthy enough to fight back.
Whether your landscape plants are having issues with insects, diseases, lack of blooming or just overall poor performance, chances are that they were not suited for the location in the first place.
What function do you want the plants to serve in your landscape and what are the site conditions? Answer these two questions to help resolve existing problems and help select the best plants for the job. Plants that are appropriate for the site require a lot less maintenance. Consider the following conditions of your site when choosing plants:
Visit your local garden center to see what is available. Then search your library or the internet to find or confirm the plant’s basic requirements and mature size. It is best to evaluate your entire property instead of reacting to problems on a plant-by-plant basis.
Mark up a copy of your home’s plat map with your landscaping ideas. Your plan will be a combination of existing features in your landscape, plants to be retained and new features and plants to incorporate.
Mature plant size is one of the most important factors to consider when evaluating an existing landscape or selecting plants for a new site. Always consider the full-grown height and width of a plant when making your selection. The full-grown plant should fit well within your property line. It should not extend over sidewalks or driveways or touch structures like houses or sheds.