GARDENER BUZZ
Garden Plants
You could spend days upon days researching different types of plants looking for the right garden plant for you, but before you start delving into the fun of looking at plants, there are a couple of constants that you need to consider first when planting a garden. These are things that you can’t really change – without moving anyway. They are:
The amount of sun or shade your yard receives -The climate where you live (hot, cold, dry, wet, etc.) -
Then, think about what you would like to grow because you may want to grow almonds and apricots, but if you live in a cold climate where things get a bit chilly and winters can be long, that’s probably not going to be an option (not easily anyway). Or if you want a big vegetable garden with corn, peppers, squash and more, but live on a wooded piece of property with little sun, the types of vegetable you grow will be limited without trying to open up areas to more sun. It doesn’t mean you can’t grow some vegetables. You just are going to have to be more creative and you will not have as many choices of what to grow
Let’s take a closer look:
First, think about your region.Does it get really cold during the winter or do you live in a dry and arid location?Check out our page to understand hardiness zones and how they apply to the plants you grow. You will need to know this before you select your plants.Next, think about your yard.Are there lots of areas that get full sun or is it mostly shady? In order to be successful, you will want to have a clear picture of your region and yard to know what kind of plants will grow and where.Our page has fun and easy ideas for planning.
Next, think about what garden plants you would like to grow.If you have several projects you want to tackle, it is best to narrow it down to one area at first.If you start working on too many areas at the same time, it is easy to get overwhelmed and costly. You’re fortunate if there is only one project at hand like a vegetable garden.It will simplify things by just focusing on that, but landscaping a whole yard can also be quite exciting, just more areas to play with. So…do you need some basic landscaping plants like perennial shrubs that come back every year or are evergreen?Maybe you want vegetable gardens or a basic herb garden.Or perhaps you’ve always wanted to try your hand at growing roses. What excites you and makes you want to get out there and play in the dirt...hmm….soil?
Once you know the particulars of your region and yard and know what garden plants you want to grow first, you can start to look at the different plants available.
There are numerous ways to find just the right garden plant for you and your area.
In the end, you may buy some plants that are already started in pots, as well as starting seeds indoors.For step-by-step directions on transplanting seedlings and starting seeds indoors visit our plants and seeds page.
Finally, we know it’s good to be practical when choosing the right garden plant for you and your yard. We all want our time, money and effort to “pay off” in the end, so it’s an intelligent choice to pick plants that have virtually everything in their favor to allow them to thrive where they’re planted.
However, if you’ve really wanted to try a more temperamental plant like a Paw tree or a Gardenia and you live in an area that will at least support them, give them a try! As long as you’re okay with taking a chance with the money you’ll invest or the time you’ll spend if for some reason they don’t make it. Many people already have so many boundaries in their lives for one reason or another; enjoy the liberation a garden can provide.
Now you’re off and running – or planting – in this case. Enjoy yourself!
The internet is always a good resource and we’ve listed some of our favorite online sites that can be found by clicking here.
Seed catalogs are also a great way to learn about plants. There is nothing like opening your mailbox to find your favorite seed catalogs waiting there. Visit our seed catalogs page to see what is available.
One of the most enjoyable things to do is visit garden nursery to see firsthand what plants look like.
Do you have a local person known for their “green thumb” who would like to share their wisdom?
Getting gardening information from someone in your area that knows what has or has not worked, is an excellent way of obtaining information! However, keep in mind that just because something hasn’t worked for one person, doesn’t mean it won’t work for another. Be open to what people have to say, but draw your own conclusions.
A couple of great online plant resources….
