POTTSTOWN PA – Spring garden season is in full swing. Local garden centers are already packed with colorful, tempting plants. But how do you know which ones will thrive in your garden?
When it comes to evaluating individual specimens, Eric Stallknecht has one surprising tip: look at the roots.
Stallknecht is a Cooperative Extension greenhouse specialist and assistant professor in the Virginia Tech School of Plant and Environmental Sciences. He regularly offers gardeners guidelines they can follow to pick plants that will blossom at home.
“It’s OK to gently pull a plant out of its pot and look at its root system,” Stallknecht says. “When you buy a plant, you’re not just buying the foliage you see above ground. You’re also buying the roots. You should evaluate those as well.”
For summer annuals – petunias, marigolds, or vegetables – slide the plant out of its container and look for white roots visible around the outside of the root ball. A robust network of roots indicates a healthy plant that’s ready to be transplanted.
But if the plant pulls entirely free of the soil, or if the clump of soil feels like it could fall apart in your hand, it lacks a well-developed root system. That’s not an ideal candidate for purchase, he adds.
Choose Plants for Their Future
When selecting long-term plants such as perennials, trees, or shrubs, consider their mature size, not just how they look in the container.
“Ask yourself whether the space you have is compatible with the plant’s eventual size and shape,” Stallknecht suggests. “Thinking ahead can save you from having to remove a plant late, and save you a lot of heartache.”
Most plants come with an informational tag that describes mature size and light requirements. Stallknecht says the light requirements are often intentionally vague. Homeowners can generally think of “part sun” as equivalent to a planting location east or west side of their house Think “shade” in the north, and “full sun” at the south side of the house.
For help deciding if a particular plant is appropriate for your location, local Cooperative Extension agents or independent garden centers can offer good advice. For additional assistance and expert guidance on everything from soil testing to insect identification, gardeners should to reach out to local Extension offices.
Written by Devon Johnson for Newswise
Top photo by Eric Stallknecht, provided by Virginia Tech University
This article was provided to Travels With The Post by Newswise, a Charlottesville VA-based distributor of university and research association news. Find other Newswise articles here.
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