Buying Healthy Plants To Avoid Problems
Every minute of every day, the plants in your yard are defending themselves from their natural enemies. When a gust of wind breaks a tree branch, chemicals concentrated at the base of the plant mobilize into a protective wall to prevent pests from invading the healthy parts of the tree.
A shrub that is being attacked by insects nibbling on its leaves will respond by changing its leaf chemistry, thus making its leaves less appetizing. As earthworms break off pieces of grass roots in their endless tunneling, the grass may turn injury into opportunity by growing two new roots where there used to be one.
Starting out with healthy plants is a great way to ensure a healthy garden. When you are buying plants, look for a garden center that is obviously taking care of the plants on display. If plants are out on a sidewalk, or a similar place that is receiving too much sun and heat, then plants will wilt and if they are being watered infrequently, then they will not be healthy plants when you get them home, no matter what kind of bargain they seemed to be.
The other danger sign that you should look for is, if there is a group of plants and some of them look sad, then go somewhere else and buy your plants. Try to shop early in the season, when selection is good and plants are young. You may also want to examine the roots. Gently shake a plant out of its container - roots should be plentiful, but not wrapped tightly into a spiral.
When buying annuals that may be already in flower, pinch off the blossoms (to gardeners this is sacrilege!) but it does direct the plant’s energy into growing more roots, so it will be a healthier plant in your garden and will be able to support more flowers over the season.
Some plants are naturally prone to disease; others are like beacons to hungry insects. You can eliminate many problems by avoiding pest-or disease-prone plants. Tomatoes, for instance, are prone to pest problems, but I don’t know of a gardener who would not agree that they are well worth the trouble. Think of a fresh vine-ripe tomato in your salad, and you will know what I mean!
Leave a Comment