Be sure to read this column next week because there will be a big announcement that you won’t want to miss. It will be good news for all of you who love plants and landscaping.
Some of the plants are houseplants for people buying them in northern states, but no one at the store knows that, and if you don’t know what you’re buying, then you may be in for a shock. I’ve seen entire front yards planted with plants bought at these types of stores, and none of the plants could possibly survive the winter. It is a shame the homeowner spent so much money and time and effort in planting an entire landscape that was doomed to failure.
If you want to buy plants for your permanent landscape, then go to a local store that sells plants all year. They will know what will survive in your climate and they'll have people who can help you pick the right plants. Just because they have a plant doesn’t mean it will grow well in your yard. Some plants grow best in certain soil types or in certain amounts of sun or shade, and if your yard doesn’t have these soil or sun conditions, then the plant won’t perform the way you want.
If you’re a novice at planting your landscape, ask for as much advice as you can get. Ask at each store and then continue shopping at the store that helps you the most and gives the best advice. If you’re an experienced gardener and know what you’re looking at when you go to one of these stores, you may be able to find a bargain, but you should probably also shop at the local permanent nursery if you wish to keep it permanent. Every sale lost to a temporary store means the real nursery has less opportunity to stay in business.
How can we mark the beds without making everything ugly with fencing, strings, and flags?
Once the leaves start to turn yellow, the bulbs can be dug up. Letting them completely die back is best, but in this case, you can start earlier. You don’t have to wait until fall to dig them up or to plant them in your new garden, but you can wait until fall to plant them if you want to.