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Answers to your gardening questions |
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Five-part article series on flower-drying starts here Eight-part article series on vegetable gardening starts here Asian
Lily Beetles Japanese
Beetles An
effective Deer Fence! |
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Getting
Your Money's Worth
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Welcome through Fred's Garden Gate! So many exciting things are happening in the garden this time of year (this was originally written in mid-Spring). Plants are popping up all over the place and tons of fertilizer, lime, compost, peatmoss and mulch are finding their way from retail outlets to the gardens which so many of us have longed to get into since winter finally released its icy grip. Nurseries, garden centers and other sellers of spring plant materials are in the midst of their busiest time of the year...a time of difficult deadlines and greatly increased customer traffic. I've noticed that many of those customers are largely ill-informed about how to insure that the quality of plants they intend to purchase are up to standard. I've also noted that, on average, gardeners are all too willing to accept just about anything purchasable at a nursery or garden center as being the best quality available. That assumption is not always correct and can be fraught with serious economic dangers. This seems like an appropriate time to talk about getting the most and the best from your spring gardening dollar. First, the obvious: the earlier in the season you visit the establishment, the better the selection and quality. Plants – whether annuals, perennials, vegetables or trees and shrubs – that spend more time in the hot sun in a tiny (usually black) container than they should, become weakened by the stress. Quite often weeds proliferate and unless removed (which happens rarely in the madness of spring sales) can quickly grow larger than the desirable plant, "hogging" precious moisture, light and nutrients. Early purchases have almost always escaped the kind of stresses that interfere with health and growth. You have a right to plants that are free of weeds. Most nurseries feed their stock at least once every week...some more frequently. Plants that haven't been properly cared for are usually weak looking with small, pale or discolored leaves and spindly growth. Look for sturdy stems, lush green leaves and, if flowering, clean, strong colors, firm buds and upright growth. One good indicator of a healthy plant is its root system. Very few nursery operators would object to you gently tipping a plant out of its container to take a fast look at its roots. Things to look for: feeder roots of most annuals and perennials are almost white when healthy. The presence of dark colored and "mushy" roots usually indicates heavy stress or rot, probably brought about by over- or under-watering. On the other hand, even healthy-appearing roots, if crammed into a container (root-bound) in a solid and tightly wound circular arrangement is a sure sign of trouble. It takes time to "up-pot" plants that become potbound and some plant merchants find it easier (and cheaper) to just toss on a little more fertilizer and hope that someone buys is quick. You should avoid purchasing plants that are rootbound or are next to impossible to shake out of their pots. Look also for signs of soil insects. Tiny dark gnats that fly up or crawl around on the soil surface when disturbed are probably fungus gnats. Their larva feed on tiny feeder roots, weakening the plant. Very small white flying insects that cling to undersides of leaves are usually whiteflies. Immature stages pierce and suck plant juices. So do aphids. Some live on tender, young parts of the plant while others reside in the soil and look like white "fluff" or residue that clings to roots. If you purchase a plant infested with insects of plagued by some disease, it or they will spread all over your house or garden. You have a right to expect insect and disease free plants. If you see harmful "bugs" on the plants in a nursery, take the time to inform the proprietor...then take your business somewhere else. It is common practice in some nurseries to fertilize with an extended-release product called Osmokote, small b-b-sized yellowish beads that are sprinkled (in some cases, poured) on the surface. The most frequently used formula provides the plant with 14-14-14 for about four months. When exhausted, they remain intact but appear almost clear. There should never be more than about a tablespoonful in any nursery container, especially this early in the season. Remember, also, that plants given a fresh dose of Osmokote anytime after the middle of July will be getting too much nitrogen into the middle of November. Nitrogen is for new growth and November is the wrong time for a plant – especially a perennial – to be putting on new growth. (Understanding Controlled-Release Fertilizers) So remember, as a customer in a nursery or garden center, you have a right to healthy plants. But the responsibility for insuring you get healthy ones is yours. Keep your eyes open and don't be afraid to insist on the quality you and your dollars deserve. Additional reading on the subject: This Can't Be True! "Fall is for planting"...What that statement really means. |
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© 10/2007 Hill Gardens of Maine; 107 Route 3, Palermo, Maine 04354. All Rights Reserved. Updated: 08/07/11 |
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