(NaturalNews) Whether you're planting a vegetable garden or designing a back yard garden landscaping project, if you're not starting with seeds, it's important to buy healthy nursery plants from the start.
Shopping for plants for a garden landscaping job or to add some color to your windowsill is usually a pleasurable activity. Most people instinctively choose healthy, robust garden landscaping plants; however, there are subtle signs of poor health to look for when you're out shopping.
Here's a checklist of items to take along when choosing nursery plants for a garden landscaping project or vegetables from the hot house or other grower.
Check overall condition and examine plants by species before choosing individuals
Evaluate the nursery first to reassure yourself that plants are well cared for in general. Examine the overall state of the garden plants to make sure they look fresh and healthy. If you're shopping for organic vegetables, buy from a reputable grower and check to be sure you're buying truly organic stock. Examine the leaves and stems on a variety of plants to get an overview of the nursery's quality.
Check the shape of a group of nursery plants in a particular species for conformity and health. Choose one or more that is healthy looking and uniform in size and shape within that group. Larger or taller plants are not always better, sometimes being weakened from being overgrown.
Check plants for diseases, insect damage, and root integrity
Look for the presence of insect damage on several plants and in surrounding soil. Dark spots, mildew, distortions, juicy areas, holes, white powdery areas and sliminess may indicate disease or insect infestation. Avoid these
plants and any in their grouping.
Examine nursery plant roots to make sure they're healthy and not so overgrown they need immediate re-potting. Ensure that the root ball is not broken or showing evidence of rot. The root ball should be firm with a slight bounce when gently squeezed. If the root ball is broken, it may indicate that the roots are damaged and be a tell tale sign that the plant will have future growing problems.
Check flowering
nursery plants for large numbers of unopened buds. Flowers tend to bloom better after the plant is re-potted or has been planted in the ground.
Evergreen plants and shrubs should be healthy and well formed
If you're buying evergreen plants for your landscape garden, examine the needles for overall health. Large sections of brown needles indicate poor health, the presence of insects, or overall lack of care.
Evergreen nursery plants should be bright green and robust with some recent growing tips showing new growth. This ensures easy transplanting for your garden landscape and extends the odds for long-term survival.
A plant nursery guarantee is an added bonus for live plants
Ask the nursery whether they offer a guarantee on their garden and landscape plants. Most will not on vegetables; however, some nurseries allow up to a year to return certain plants if they fail to survive after replanting or during the following growing season. Tuck receipts away safely in the event you may later need them.
Allow ample time when shopping for landscape
garden or vegetable nursery plants. Taking a little extra time to choose your new plants carefully is sure to result in your buying beautiful, healthy specimens for decorating your home, pond or landscape garden.
Sources for this article include:http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p0666.pdfhttp://www.thegardencentral.com/category/lawns-landscaping/http://www.hgtvgardens.com/garden-basics/http://ediblelandscaping.com/http://www.pikenursery.com/pages/plant-guideshttp://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/buying-plants2.htmAbout the author:READ MORE OF JEAN (JB) BARDOT'S ARTICLES AT THE FOLLOWING LINKS:
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http://www.realhealthtalk.com/JB_Bardot_Published_Articles.htmlJB Bardot is an herbalist and a classical homeopath, and has a post graduate degree in holistic nutrition. Bardot cares for both people and animals, using alternative approaches to health care and lifestyle. She writes about wellness, green living, alternative medicine, holistic nutrition, homeopathy, herbs and naturopathic medicine. You can find her on Facebook at
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